The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Coulson up for Saints’ festive feast
Michael Coulson can’t wait to cram the matches in over the festive season as he strives to become a St Johnstone regular, writes Ian Roache.
Coulson was signed as a winger on a two-year deal by Saints in the summer after leaving York City but has seen his appearances restricted, mainly because of the form of Danny Swanson.
Indeed, last Saturday’s convincing 3-0 win over Inverness Caley Thistle was his first outing since the home defeat to Partick Thistle on October 29.
It was a successful one, even though Coulson played in a more defensive role than he is used to.
Now the Yorkshireman is keen to crack on over Christmas and New Year.
The Perth team have a busy time of it from now until the bells, with matches against Aberdeen (a), Motherwell (h), Kilmarnock (a), Rangers (h) and Dundee (a).
However, that’s just fine as far as Coulson is concerned.
“It was nice to get a game, even though I spent most of my time defending,” he said.
“It had been quite a long time since my last match,” he said.
“Coming from England, where we tended to play through the international breaks, it has been hard not to have games.
“Down there it can be Saturdaymidweek-Saturday, then the same again all over again.
“It’s constant throughout the year and I played 58 games in one season at one time.
“It has been different up here because it’s not quite such a busy schedule.
“Hopefully, I can get a few matches on the spin now and kick on.
“So coming up to the busy festive period, I am relishing it. It is a big time for me.
“People haven’t seen the best of me yet up here.
“So I’m hoping to get a run and do myself justice.”
While Swanson’s terrific form – he has scored 12 times already this season – has been great for the team, it has meant Coulson has been up against it as he has tried to squeeze into the side.
Manager Tommy Wright solved that conundrum by playing Coulson deep against ICT and it worked well for everyone.
Coulson said: “We got a great result and it was an important victory for the team because we have had some bad ones at home.
“We got the three points we wanted to increase the gap between us and the teams below us.
“I think Saturday showed that I can do the defensive side of things.
“I spent most of the game defending, but hopefully that allowed me to show another side of my game.”
As for the difficulty posed by playing both he and Swanson in the team considering their similar styles, Coulson added: “I think that has been the case all season.
“The gaffer has mentioned to me about Danny and I playing together, and I know he (Swanson) has been absolutely flying.
“Indeed, all the lads have been looking to get the ball to Swanny all season. He has been great for us.
“I can’t really complain about anything, and it’s been one of those where I have just had to wait for my chance.
“So I was just happy to get my opportunity.
“Now that I have gotten my chance, I have to do my best to take it.”
Fifth-placed Saints will head to Pittodrie on Saturday looking to build on the win over the Highlanders, and Coulson feels they can still trouble the sides ahead of them in the table.
He said: “From what I have seen this season we are more than a match for the teams above us.
“We have given Hearts, Rangers and Aberdeen good games and they are not much ahead of us, if at all.
“We should have picked up more points than we have done in certain games.
“Now we have a big game on Saturday against Aberdeen and that will give us a chance to build on the Inverness result.”
People haven’t seen thebestofme yetuphere. MICHAEL COULSON