The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Saints boss Wright named manager of month for November.
ST JOHNSTONE: Saints boss collects honour ahead of 250th game in charge of Perth club
Tommy Wright received the perfect gift to mark what will be his 250th match in charge of St Johnstone – the Ladbrokes Premiership manager of the month award.
The McDiarmid Park boss will reach that magical milestone tonight when Saints host Hearts at home.
Wright geared up for the match, which could see his team jump over the Jam Tarts into fourth spot with a game in hand, by accepting the award for November. It was a month that saw the Perth men beat Hibs 1-0 at Easter Road, turn on the style in a 4-0 thrashing of Hamilton Accies and then secure a decent draw with Kilmarnock, all without losing a goal.
Those results continued an excellent unbeaten run that stretches all the way back to October 7, when they were hammered 6-0 at home by Celtic.
Despite the prize and plaudits, Wright reckons he is still learning as a coach and it is the lesson that was dished out by the Hoops that night that has been behind St Johnstone’s success.
“It’s always nice to be recognised for how well you are doing but I am the recipient of an award that has seen a lot of people working hard to enable me to pick it up,” he said.
“My philosophy has always been pretty simple. I want to get the best out of what I have got and that means hard work, man management, being decent tactically and getting players working for each other.
“They will die for you… almost! “Ultimately, it is down to the players because if they don’t perform you don’t get results so everyone has contributed.
“It has been a great month for us and the last six games have been the perfect response to that Celtic defeat.
“It is a nice milestone to reach 250 games in charge here but I am still learning and will never stop learning.
“For example, we possibly played too open that day against Celtic but we learned from it and that is what you have to do in management.
“After that game I said my piece and left the players to it in the dressing room.
“They are an honest bunch and words were spoken. I still haven’t asked what was said but they cleared the air.
“It is great to have players who can get together and have a wee pop at each other without falling out.
“It works here, maybe not anywhere else. There are no prima donnas.
“They have bounced back and worked hard. Now the challenge is to keep it going, starting with a difficult game against Hearts.”
Meanwhile Hearts manager Craig Levein has defended his right to criticise match officials after branding Bobby Madden “abysmal” following Sunday’s defeat by Rangers.
Levein claimed Hearts were playing against 13 men after being frustrated over the failure to flag Alfredo Morelos offside ahead of the Colombian’s winner.
Former referee Steve Conroy described Levein’s comments as “derogatory and demeaning” and
It is a nice milestone to reach 250 games in charge but I am still learning and will never stop learning. TOMMY WRIGHT
claimed criticism of officials was becoming too personal. But Levein disagreed.
“I’m angry about what happened and I’m probably even angrier when you get ex-referees who come out and just talk rubbish,” he said.
“To say I had a personal attack on Bobby. I wasn’t talking about Bobby as a person, I think he’s a great guy. But as a professional performance, that’s completely different. And I think I am entitled to do that.”
Levein added: “I criticise my players, I criticise myself, which I have done recently. So if someone makes a blatant mistake, surely I’m allowed to say?
“And if it continues to happen again and again and again, for the seventh time this season, then surely I’m allowed to say? You’re not allowed to speak to the referees, you can go in 15 minutes after the game. By then it’s too late.”
The Jambos will assess the readiness of Christophe Berra to face Saints after the defender made his comeback against Rangers on Sunday following almost four months out.