The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Saint shrugs off clash with Bairns
CUP: Midfielder insists tie with former club will be just another game
Blair Alston had only been a St Johnstone player for a day when his new club was drawn to face his old one in the Betfred Cup.
But now that the Falkirk game has arrived, the midfielder will be doing his best to treat the McDiarmid Park clash as he would any other fixture.
He said: “I’ve been at Falkirk for going on 10 years so I’ve not had this sort of experience before.
“It might be strange when the Falkirk players turn up but once the game starts there won’t be an issue.
“It might sound like a cliché but when you start a match everything is the same. It’s just the build-up that’s different.
“There’s probably a few candidates to kick me and I’m sure that the manager will be picking up on all my flaws in the analysis before the game!
“I would imagine that he (Bairns boss Peter Houston) won’t be making an early team selection in case any of the boys are speaking to me.”
Blair Alston wasn’t a spy in the Falkirk camp for long – a mere 24 hours.
The midfielder has revealed that he was still included in Falkirk’s Group Chat mobile phone app after he had signed for St Johnstone. But he was kicked off it as soon as his old club and his new one were drawn together in the Betfred Cup group stages.
Alston, who will come up against the team he was with for nearly a decade, said: “I’d literally just signed with St Johnstone so I was still involved in Falkirk’s Group Chat.
“It’s used to arrange meeting points and travel to matches, things like that.
“As soon as the draw was made there was a wee bit of taking the Mick and then it was ‘out you get’!”
Alston added: “Playing them was always going to happen at some stage. I had a feeling it would be Falkirk when the draw was being made. This way it gets it out of the way early.
“I’ve played against players who I’ve known before. This will just be on a bigger scale.
“I speak to quite a lot of the boys but I’ll be treating it like any other game.”
He added: “I’ve been at Falkirk for going on 10 years so I’ve not had this sort of experience before.
“It might be strange when the Falkirk players turn up, but once the game starts there won’t be an issue.
“It might sound like a cliché but when you start a match everything is the same. It’s just the build-up that’s different.
“There’s probably a few candidates to kick me and I’m sure that the manager will be picking up on all my flaws in the analysis before the game!” he said.
“They’ve signed a few players over the summer so it’s not exactly the same team that I left.
“If we win it puts us in a really good position in the group – two games and two wins – especially when you look at other results.
“Falkirk can’t really afford to slip up again. I’d imagine it will be a tight game.
“I’d be more than happy if they go on to win the league but I want to beat them on Saturday.
“There were no hard feelings when I left. I enjoyed my time and I’d like to think I gave everything I could to Falkirk, just as I will to St Johnstone now.”
Alston isn’t taking it for granted that he will start against Falkirk. None of the many midfielders at the club are. And he believes that will be the case throughout the season.
“We’ve got a really good squad,” he said. I’m sure there will be plenty of occasions when boys aren’t playing who feel they shouldn’t be missing out.
“There’s certainly no guarantee I’ll be playing at the weekend. I just have to train as well as I can and hope the manager picks me.
“I was well aware that there would be tough competition for places.
“I’ve been happy with the amount of football I’ve played so far. The more that continues, the more I’ll fit into the way the team plays.
“I’ve settled in quickly. It’s been good so far.
“The trip to Belfast was really good for the new boys like me.
“I certainly feel part of the club already.”
We’ve got a really good squad… I’m sure there will be plenty of occasions when boys aren’t playing who feel they shouldn’t be missing out. BLAIR ALSTON