The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Saints must find ruthless streak in bid to advance
Wright still confident that sharpness and fitness will turn tie
A “ruthless” St Johnstone team can turn their Europa League tie around, according to manager Tommy Wright.
After studying footage of the 2-1 defeat to FK Trakai in the first leg at McDiarmid Park, the Perth boss believes they can progress to the second round by winning in Lithuania.
But he knows that Saints will need to be much more clinical than they were on Thursday to make it happen.
“I’m more confident of winning the game but being 2-1 down in the tie certainly gives Trakai the advantage and they are obviously favourites,” Wright said.
“Having watched the game back on a few occasions, we could have won it quite easily.
“It was a game where we created more chances than the opposition. But they did look dangerous and a threat.
“Ultimately they took their chances which we didn’t do. We need to make sure we are ruthless when we go over there.”
Wright believes increasing match sharpness for his players should be a factor in Vilnius.
He said: “I don’t like making excuses, but this time we should be that little bit sharper and little bit fitter.
“I always say that first competitive game of the season is always important to get out of the way.
“It’s one players don’t really look forward to. No matter how much work you do, you always feel as if you’re trying to get your second wind.
“If we had been playing away first and won 2-1, then you would think it was a great result.
“We know we need to do better and that is the bottom line. We need to do better in terms of how easy it was for their goals. And up the other end of the pitch we need to be clinical.
“This is a squad which has gone to Aberdeen and scored five, can go to Rangers, Celtic and difficult places and get the right result.
“It’s the old cliché that it’s only halftime but they have the advantage with the two away goals.”
The door hasn’t been completely shut on striker Steven MacLean playing in Lithuania, Wright revealed yesterday.
It has become standard practice that the Perth forward sits out matches on artificial pitches in recent seasons, as a result of knee injuries he has suffered.
FK Trakai play on plastic so it was presumed, despite the player putting his hand up for selection in the return leg as usual, the manager wouldn’t entertain the idea.
But the Perth boss will be seeking fresh medical advice before coming to a conclusion on whether the former Aberdeen and Rangers man will be left at home when the rest of the squad fly out to Vilnius tomorrow morning. “I’ll be taking 23 players over,” he said. “MacLean is champing at the bit and is desperate to play.
“But there is a bigger picture. There is a reason why he doesn’t play on plastic pitches and that reason hasn’t gone away.
“The player obviously wants to take the risk but it will be my decision and my decision only.”