Saints frustrated by wait for action

ST JOHNSTONE: Skipper would prefer quick chance to build on unbeaten run

St Johnstone skipper Joe Shaughnessy believed a draw was a fair result against Kilmarnock but he expressed his frustration that there is another break before the next game against Hearts.

Saints may not have been able to make it six wins in a row on Saturday but they did extend their unbeaten run and posted yet another clean sheet.

The result closed the gap on the third-placed Jambos to just two points after Craig Levein’s side lost to St Mirren and Shaughnessy admitted he would have wanted to keep the momentum going and play them this weekend instead of having to wait until a week on Wednesday.

The big Irishman said: “There weren’t many good chances for either side.

“Both sides defended well but probably feel they could have done better going forward.”

“We definitely think it wasn’t one of our better days creating chances, added Shaughnessy.

“So a draw was a fair result especially considering how well they’ve been going since Steve Clarke came in.

“The other results went our way a bit so it is a good point against Killie.

“We will look forward playing Hearts.

“Unfortunately it is another break for us and like I said after the last game going into the international break you don’t really want them when you are on a good run.

“But we will get back into it next week and prepare for the Hearts game.”

Shaughnessy’s boss Tommy Wright agreed with his player in his assessment of Saturday’s game.

He said: “I think a draw’s the right result.

“We’ve kept six clean sheets in a row, we’ve kept the run going and we’ve maintained fifth place in the league and moved closer to Hearts. So it’s been a good day.

“But there are elements of the game that, when I analyse it, will frustrate me a little bit.”

Wright revealed that the injury suffered by Drey Wright in the second half that saw him have to be helped off, was not as bad as first thought.

Wright said: “When a player catches his studs in the ground it is a bit of a shock.

“So he has a knee knock but I don’t think it is going to be serious.”

Meanwhile, St Johnstone have been drawn at home against Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Cup. The tie will take place on the weekend of January 19. to

SNS.