Wotherspoon won’t wilt against his old club after Saints’ dismal Dons defeat

Defiant David Wotherspoon insists St Johnstone can make an instant return to form against his former club this afternoon.

The Perth Saints failed to make capital from home advantage against Aberdeen on Thursday, suffering a narrow defeat in an encounter that was anything but easy on the eye in the front of the SKY cameras.

“It was a tough game. We knew would be and that is just the way turned out,” said Wotherspoon.

“I don’t think we deserved to get beaten by Aberdeen, but I also don’t think we can say we deserved to win. “We did not create that many clear-cut chances, but we did not have many saves to make, either.

“So we just need to tidy up in the final third and get better balls into the box, and our decision-making in the final third needs to be better.

“Now we have to go again. We have to prepare right and get ready for Hibs coming to Perth.

“Listen, we have our game plan and we will believe in it.

“We will be positive and raring to go, and hope to bounce back.

“We want to put on a show, of course we do. But it is about getting a result for us.”

The versatile 30-year-old acknowledges that will not be easy, with Hibs having taken an impressive 10 points out of the first 12 available to them. it it

“They have done well,” he said. “They have already won three games and, after drawing one (against Motherwell at Easter Road eight days ago) they’ll be looking to add to their tally.

“We know what they are about because we have already played them in a friendly pre-season, and I have watched them on television as well. “Hopefully they will give us chances. We will try to create as many opportunities as we can and keep a clean sheet at the back.”

If Saints’ loss to Aberdeen last Thursday night was a setback, the players are, in fairness, still coming to terms with the way the new manager, Callum Davidson, wants them to go about their business.

“You could say we are in transition, in as much as the manager has his own methods and style,” said Wotherspoon.

“At the same time he has asked us to up our work-rate, and said that our ability will shine as long as we work hard and do our job.

“Are we more attacking now? To be honest, it is more an all-round system.

“It is all about pressing and defending and playing as a team. We just need to work hard.

“Against Aberdeen we worked hard for 80 minutes – and then we switched off for a minute and conceded the goal.

“I suppose that is football but, as I say, we will be raring to go against Hibs.”