The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Wright’s delight as Saints make summer target with games to spare – and now fourth is the goal
Players hit summer target with games to spare, says Wright
St John stone boss Tommy Wright admits his Perth players have secured their summer target of a place in the top six with four games left before the split.
So they can battle Hearts for fourth spot and a potential Europa League spot with no pressure on their shoulders.
Back-to-back wins over Dundee and Motherwell have seen Saints edge past Ian Cathro’s stumbling Jambos.
Wright said: “Fourth place is up for grabs now. Two or three months ago Hearts were sitting second in the league with Aberdeen and Rangers behind them.
“For us to overturn that deficit and get two points ahead at this stage is good but nothing is decided yet.
“Hearts would still be viewed as being favourites for fourth given the resources they have and the quality they brought in during the window to give them strength in depth.
“But we have put ourselves in a position where we are in control of our own destiny now. That is a tremendous achievement by my players.”
Fourth place will secure a passport into Europe alongside Celtic, Aberdeen and Rangers – unless a Hibs team bossed by Wright’s close pal Neil Lennon retains the Scottish Cup.
The Perth manager said: “All clubs like ourselves and Hearts can do is try to secure fourth and see what happens in the cup.
“We will have a clearer picture after the semi-finals. If Hibs are in the final we will have to wait until May 27 and that will be a disaster in terms of planning and organising next season for whichever club finishes fourth.
“If it is Aberdeen versus either Celtic or Rangers in the final it would be a clear path into Europe for the fourth team. Obviously that would help them prepare rather than face a last-minute rush.
“All we have done is put ourselves in a good position. But historically we have finished seasons strongly.
“In a way the pressure is off us because our target was getting into the top six again. We can play with a freedom, knowing that fifth or even sixth is still a great achievement by these players.
“But we are hungry. We have been in Europe before and the carrot is being dangled in front of us again.
“There is a lot of hard work to do and some big games coming up.
“We have something to go for in the last nine games without any real pressure on us. It is exciting for the club and for the supporters.”
Wright admitted the 2-1 weekend win over Motherwell, with a brace from midfielder Liam Craig, was a trademark away display.
“It was another good way performance from us. We controlled large parts of the game.
“We were put under pressure but we are good at defending balls into our box and they didn’t create a lot of chances.”
A hip injury meant keeper Zander Clark had to be replaced at the interval by Northern Ireland international Alan Mannus who, along with midfielder Paul Paton, has teamed-up with the squad for a World Cup qualifier with Norway.
Wright said: “I don’t expect it to be a major problem for Zander. I think it is similar to the knock he picked up against Dundee and he had a week to get fit. This time with the international break he has a couple of weeks.”
Steven Anderson and David Wotherspoon should be available for the Hamilton game but Keith Watson’s season looks to be over.
Wright said: “Keith will see the specialist but we expect he will need a clean-up operation on the knee. Hopefully it is just a small tidy-up and he will be ready for pre-season.”
Meanwhile Saints have tied-up two of their most promising young defenders on two-year contract extensions.
Wright has pinpointed Liam Gordon and Aaron Comrie as players who will have a big part to play in his squad.
Former Hearts youngster Gordon, who hails from Perth, has impressed in several first team outings, and one-time Celtic youth Comrie turned in a solid display at right-back against Hamilton earlier in the campaign. Both players are on loan at League One Peterhead.