Togetherness is key for Saints on the road

ST JOHNSTONE: Defender insists team morale is high

“Togetherness” is crucial on the road, according to St Johnstone defender Anthony Ralston, who has insisted that will stand Saints in good stead in the Highlands tomorrow when they face in-form Ross County.

They may still be seeking their first league win of the season, but there is no need for Perth fans to worry about squad morale.

“The dressing room is still very much a positive place,” said the right-back.

“We just need to get that first win to get some momentum going. Hopefully when we get that we can continue it through for a number of weeks ahead. “That win will build the confidence. “But, as I said, it’s still a positive vibe and it’s important it stays like that.

“Dingwall is a tough place to go, but we’re hoping we can just put the Motherwell defeat behind us and move into the game fresh.

“We’ll be ready to go.

“Away from home it’s more about the togetherness, especially defensively.

“If we take care of that aspect then hopefully we’ll create chances like we did last Saturday. This time around we’ll need to take them. It’s certainly an easier journey back down the road if you pick up three points.”

Ralston, whose loan from Celtic came after manager Tommy Wright’s fall-out with Richard Foster that ended up with the former Aberdeen man returning to County, has backed the Saints forwards to fire them up the Premiership table.

He said: “The Motherwell game last week was a frustrating one and it’s a setpiece that has cost us in the end.

“What is also frustrating is that we created chances and were, for the majority of the game, the better team.

“We need to put it behind us quickly, learn from it and move on to Saturday.

“We’ve had chances and it’s not as if we’ve been battered throughout a game.

“At times we’ve been the more dominant team, just not taking chances.

“We’ve got great attacking force with the likes of Mikey O’halloran, Stevie May, Drey Wright and Matty Kennedy. They can hurt teams.

“I’ll be looking to help take care of the game defensively then players like that can cause some trouble up the other end.”

● St Johnstone’s Rebecca Mcgowan scored one of Scotland’s goals in their under-19 Uefa qualifying round 4-0 victory against Bulgaria.

“We’ve got a great attacking force... ANTHONY RALSTON

Drey Wright, one of the St Johnstone forwards praised by team-mate Ralston.

Team togetherness will be key to survival, according to Saints defender Anthony Ralston. SNS.