The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Saints are recharging batteries ahead of battle for ‘big prize’
Wright has sights set on fourth with hopes of place in Europe
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is taking advantage of a free weekend to let his players recharge their batteries for the post-split Premiership run-in.
The Perth side have got a tough first couple of games when the league season resumes – Aberdeen and Celtic away.
But their four-point gap over fifthplaced Hearts will not be an easy one for the Tynecastle side to overcome.
“At this stage of the season it is all about recovery and getting them refreshed,” said Wright, who only had his squad in for training at the start of the week.
“They will get a few days off, be recharged and ready to go again.
“We know the mindset that is required for the split.
“We have difficult away games against Aberdeen and Celtic, the two best teams in the country.
“You could say that is them out of the way and we then have three home matches, but we need to try to take points from those games.
“But no one knows what is required when the best teams over the last 33 games are playing each other.
“It is just us and Celtic that have won four and drawn one in the split so they are all tough games.”
The Northern Irishman added: “We have a four-point cushion on Hearts and I hope it proves big enough. But we have to take as many points as possible. Every point could be important.
“If we can get two wins out of the five matches then Hearts would need to get 10 points. And we all know how difficult that is.
“We still have a lot to play for and we aren’t relaxed in any way.
“The bottom of the table is exciting for different reasons, but there is still something to determine at the top.
“Celtic have won the title and Aberdeen will get second place. I don’t think there is much of a race there.
“But fourth place is still up for grabs with the possibility of a big prize in European football.”
Fourth place is still up for grabs with the possibility ofabigprize in European football. TOMMY WRIGHT