Stunning strikes raising Alston profile

Midfielder insists spectacular goals in high-profile games take second place to team efforts

Blair Alston doesn’t do tap-ins.

The St Johnstone midfielder topped a Sky Sports poll for goal of the day on Saturday with his drive through midfield and chip over the keeper at Aberdeen.

And the former Falkirk man believes he has his high-profile strikes against Rangers to thank for his transfer to Perth.

Winning the Sky vote was a nice bonus after helping secure another three points for his team on the back of a goal a few days earlier in the 2-2 draw with Hearts.

“These things are usually won by the biggest club so it was a bit of a surprise,” he admitted.

“I didn’t even think it was the best goal on it. For me Britt Assombalonga’s goal (for Middlesbrough) was better and even Siriki Dembele’s (for Peterborough) was probably better.

“So it was good to win it. You take goals any way they come and I have been lucky to have a few long-range ones in my career.

“I have tended to get them against the bigger teams, which makes them get noticed even more and I think the ones against Rangers a few years ago probably got me my move here.

“It was good to get the recognition on the telly but it’s not about me, it’s about the team and the boys have been flying.”

Alston’s re-emergence from the sidelines after injury is proof that manager Tommy Wright meant it when he was preaching the importance of the strength in depth he has in his squad these days.

“We have a really good squad,” said Alston. “There were a lot of changes over the summer and I think we have come out of that strong.

“It is frustrating for the lads who are not playing – and I was one of those recently after being injured – but we will need everyone.

“The difference this season seems to be the options the manager has.

“When I first came here the team picked itself most weeks. There would maybe be 12 or 13 players who could play but that was it.

“Now we have more and that means the manager has options but it’s probably a headache for him as well at times.

“That competition for places is important and the strength in depth was shown when we lost Drey Wright.

“He has probably been our best player this season along with Zander Clark but, even though losing him is a huge blow, we have been able to bring people in and keep the run going.

“There will be times when people have to go in and out, but this season I think the gaffer has a lot more scope because of the strength he’s built up.”

There are unbeaten runs and there are unbeaten runs. It wasn’t until the start of December that Inverness Caley Thistle were defeated, for example, but that included 11 draws.

What makes Saints’ eight-game streak more significant is the fact that six of those have been wins.

“The run has been incredible,” said Alston. “I don’t think anyone expected us to go on anything like this.

“The eight games unbeaten is brilliant but to have six wins in amongst it – winning away from home at places like Easter Road and Pittodrie – has been great.

“In the first part of the season we were very good against the teams around us but lost to Hearts, Celtic, Rangers and Kilmarnock.

“But looking at it now, those are the only games we have lost so far.

“When I first came here we did better against the better teams because we could sit in, soak up pressure and hit on the counter attack.

“It was the games against the other teams we really struggled with.

“But now we have players to break teams down when they sit in and it’s something we have confidence in doing.

“We have a lot of threats in the team these days. We have players who can conjure up a goal from nothing.

“It’s a younger team now and everyone is comfortable on the ball. You can see in games people want to get it to their feet and play.

“There is just a freshness about the team and the club.”

Alston paid tribute to striker Tony Watt, whose contribution to the team effort isn’t measured in goals.

“Tony has been brilliant for us since he came here,” he said.

“He has been unlucky he hasn’t scored lately and people will probably look at his goals tally.

“But the way he has been playing is the big thing for the team. He causes havoc to defences and that is creating space for others.

It was good to get the recognition on the telly but it’s not about me, it’s about the team and the boys have been flying. BLAIR ALSTON

“Look at my goal against Aberdeen. Tony has one of their centre-halves away out on the touchline and that is why I was able to get through and score.

“I’m sure he is desperate to get scoring again and it will come.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets one and then goes on a run.

“His quality in front of goal is excellent. We see how good his finishing is in training every day.

“But the biggest thing is the impact he’s having on the team as a whole and he has been massive for us.”

Motherwell are up next on Saturday as Saints seek to make it nine games unbeaten.

“Motherwell always give us a tough game and it was scoring late on down there that started our run,” said Alston.

“Both teams were low on confidence that day. We had both been on bad runs.

“Thankfully we got the win and kicked on, so hopefully we can keep it going against them this time too.”

Alston’s contract runs out in the summer and he is keen to extend it.

“My main focus so far has been to get fit again,” he said.

“Obviously I would like to stay and hopefully the club will make me an offer, but my focus is just on playing.”