The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Craig’s list has avoiding upset at top of priorities
Midfielder wary of Dee despite appalling start to campaign
St Johnstone’s last trip to Dens Park was as an in-form team coming up against a struggling one.
A Hogmanay upset was in store for the Perth men on that occasion and Liam Craig is determined to avoid a repeat this weekend.
The Perth midfielder became accustomed to slow starts in his first spell at the club so the prospect of opening up a 13-point gap on the bottom of the Premiership side by mid-September is one worth striving for.
“It would be incredible to go 13 points clear of the bottom team after only six games,” he said. “I remember when we came back into the Premier League and we couldn’t win games in August. We have been that team at the bottom looking up. It’s not easy playing catch up.
“I looked at Dundee’s games before they played Rangers and it’s obvious they have quality in their team. They can cause problems and it is important we are switched on.
“In the New Year game at Dens we got turned over. A lot of people maybe wondered where our season was going after that 3-0 defeat before a three-week break.”
Dundee assistant manager Graham Gartland is a former team-mate of Craig’s, while manager Neil McCann has also impressed him in their brief time sharing a training ground together.
“Neil used to come in here to train when Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty were here,” he said. “Even after training he would be at the side of the park doing sit-ups. He went back to Dundee for a few games after that but even at the end of his playing career he was incredible and really looking after himself. It was great to work closely with him. I could see how he had played at the highest level for Rangers and Scotland.
“We would play fives, head tennis and even crossing and finishing. Do something wrong and you knew all about it. Neil did strike me as management material but at the time he had his job with Sky.
“He would be doing a Premier League match or Champions League game in the studio down south and jumping on a plane and training with us in the morning. With his determination, drive and winning mentality I could definitely see him going into management.
“Having played with Graham Gartland, I know he is also a winner. So these are two people I would look to as a player. It was a good move by Neil bringing in Garts as his number two.”
The conversations with Gartland will probably be put on hold for the week but Craig has a decent idea of where the Irishman and McCann are trying to improve their side.
He explained: “I have spoken to Garts a lot over the last few months and their problem seems to be scoring.
“Scott Allan is one of the most talented players I have played with and they have other really good players. But we have enough in our squad to win this game.
“It is difficult winning in this league. Look at Hibs, they will tell you they should have beaten us and Dundee but they had to settle for draws.
“To be fair to Dundee they have had a tough start but performances have probably merited more points than what they have got so far. They will be looking to put it right against us.”
Craig has been a substitute for Saints in their last two matches but has made a big impact in both draws.
“I wasn’t expecting to come on at Parkhead after a minute and it was half time against Hibs,” he said. “So players always have to be ready. It was good to set up the goals in both games.
“We know it is going to take a squad effort from everyone to do well again this season. Whether I start or come off the bench I still believe I have plenty to offer.
“Back at the start of the season if you had said we’d win the first three and draw with Celtic and Hibs I’m sure we would have taken it. Now we have a great game against Dundee at Dens to hopefully get back to winning ways, although we know it is going to be difficult.”
“Scott Allan is one of the most talented players I have played with”