The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
One-time Davidson target determined to enter top flight
If Callum Davidson had got his way, Robbie Deas would have been part of St Johnstone’s Premiership survival bid.
But instead the Inverness Caledonian Thistle man has got his sights set on sending the Perth club down to the Championship and taking their spot in the top flight.
The Kinross-born defender, who has strong family connections with Saints as his uncle Paul became a Scotland international while playing at left-back and centre-half at McDiarmid Park, was a January signing target for Davidson.
But as the bids got higher, the Highlanders stood firm.
And now Deas is focused on winning the second leg of the play-off winner-takes-all contest and reaching the Premiership through his efforts on the pitch rather than in the transfer window.
“January was out of my hands, thankfully,” he said.
“I’m a Caley Thistle player and I will do everything I can to win and get us promoted back to the Premiership.
“When I signed here two years ago, my goal was to help take this club back to the Premiership.
“If I can do that, it will be a dream come true.”
Deas added: “My uncle played for St Johnstone and I’m from Kinross.
“My family were at the game on Friday, here to support me and I will have a big family and friends support at the game on Monday.
“I want to do them proud, but most of all do myself proud – and just kick on now.
“Surprisingly, the family are not St Johnstone fans.
“They are Caley Thistle fans because I play for them. They’re Robbie Deas fans!
“I was too young to watch my uncle play at St Johnstone but I saw him at Brechin.”
Deas believes the Caley Jags have the play-off momentum after coming back from 2-0 down to draw the first leg 2-2.
“Friday might put doubt in their heads,” he said.
“I’m sure they went in very happy at 2-0 at halftime and rightly so.
“They were playing really well and were creating a lot of chances.
“I think we came out with the bit between our teeth in the second half and dug deep. We were delighted to finish at 2-2.
“We needed a bit of luck and we now go into Monday confident we can turn them over.
“We’re unbeaten in seven games now, so we’re on a good run. “We never say never. “We have a young, wellbalanced team, with some experience.
“In games like this, it’s adrenaline that gets you through. A chance to play in the Premiership is what we all want.
“I think we deserved the result on Friday, albeit we didn’t start anywhere near good enough in the first half.”