From sinner to saint: Kyle admits he got side wrong

St Johnstone’s early season struggles saw them branded “hopeless” by Kevin Kyle.

But now the ex-Scotland striker admits he called it wrong.

Speaking on the popular Open Goal Scottish football podcast, Kyle was contrite over his premature judgment of the Perth side, who continued their resurgence at the weekend by claiming a deserved point from Rangers.

“I did say they were hopeless,” Kyle admitted.

“I’m going to be the first to put my hand up – we did give Tommy Wright a bit of a hard time at the beginning of the season.

“It took them forever to win a game. But I think if they’d (beaten Rangers) they’d have been into the top six, or just sitting off it. “What a remarkable turnaround. “Against Rangers they were a bit more direct, played to their strengths and I think that’s where you’re seeing the benefits.”

He added: “St Johnstone deserved their point against Rangers and they deserve to be where they’ve got to because they’ve worked hard.

“They didn’t win a game for five or six games – zero points.

“We had a go, but we did say that Tommy would turn it round and fair play to them. Hands up – apologise.”

Saints’ defensive strength has been a huge part of their turnaround since December.

Having shipped 33 goals in their first 14 games, they have now let in just 13 from their last 13.

But former Hearts and Rangers hitman Kyle, talking to Dundee-born Open Goal host Simon Ferry and former Celtic kid Paul Slane, has been just as impressed with Stevie May’s return to form at the other end of the park.

Kyle: “Stevie May has had a difficult time coming back to Scottish football because he’s not scored the goals that got him away from Scottish football.

“But he looks like he’s enjoying it again.

“It’s very hard to play up front on your own, but now he’s playing with a partner it makes it a wee bit easier.

“It was a good instinctive finish against Rangers and, going back to the Rangers defending, nobody was marking anybody, everybody was just hoping that somebody was going to clear the ball.

“It fell to Stevie and it was a good turn and finish.”