The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Davidson pleased but says Saints have deserved more
Boss thinks performances should have earned better reward
Seven points from their first six games is a lesser total than the St Johnstone players deserve, according to their manager.
The international break has given Callum Davidson time to reflect on the beginning of the Premiership campaign.
And the conclusion he has reached is that the standard of the Perth team’s play has been higher than their midtable position suggests.
“I’ve been pleased with the players since I came in,” said Davidson.
“Looking back on the games before the break, I’d say the performance levels have probably been higher than the points total would suggest.
“I am a little bit disappointed with seven points but I have no complaints about the way they applied themselves.
“They have worked extremely hard and applied themselves.
“It’s a smallgroup of players and we’ve had a few injuries to contend with.”
Matching points against performances is a subjective business rather than a science, of course, but there is no arguing with the fact that seven through six is much better than three through six after the same number of matches last season.
Most of Davidson’s squad will be able to compare and contrast.
“I’m not sure if the younger players particularlylearnedfromtheexperience of waiting for that first win last season,” he said.
“I think it is probably more about getting game-time under their belts as the season went on and they are another year older now. You all have little bad spells during any season.
“But after what happened at the start of last season I’m sure they didn’t want to go through it again.
“When you are waiting for that first win the media focuses on it.”
Davidson has served a long apprenticeship as a number two – with Saints, Scotland, Stoke City, Dunfermline and Millwall – but there is no coaching course that could replicate the challenge he faced as a rookie boss in the league opener at Tannadice.
“It wasn’t the ideal start as a manager giving away a penalty in the first five minutes against Dundee United and having a man sent off,” he said.
“I don’t think anything really prepares you for being a manager.
“It is brilliant as an assistant. You just think about the football.
“As a manager you have so much more on your plate.
“And it’s been made a bit harder dealing with Covid-19 and the issues surrounding that.
“But I am really enjoying it and what the staff and players have given me.”