Wright’s delight as team come back from dead
Tommy Wright is convinced there is still plenty of life left in his St Johnstone side after they showed signs of revival in a stirring 2-2 draw with Livingston.
The Perth outfit suffered an embarrassing 7-0 thrashing from Celtic on the opening weekend of the season, a mauling that left the mood at McDiarmid Park resembling a morgue, according to Wright.
Saints certainly looked dead and buried when first-half goals from Scott Pittman and Steven Lawless gave Livingston a fully-merited two-goal advantage by half-time.
However, Wright has praised his players’ character for their comeback and, with fresh faces expected to bolster the squad, is confident they can resurrect hopes and expectations in the coming weeks.
He said: “It was a hard week for them all. I know there is a crematorium out the back here but it was like a morgue here.
“It is only a game of football. They will have to take it because in their careers they will have so many ups and downs and if you can’t ride through the downs then you won’t have a career.
“They showed character. Even though there were a few boos at half-time and early in the second-half, the fans got behind them in the second-half because we gave them something.
“But I know there is still a lot more to come from them.
“We said to them at half-time that it wasn’t about ability but about character and they went out and showed that in abundance.
“We got a wee break. “Livingston probably made a wee mistake and won’t be happy with our first goal but it gets us back in it.
“All of a sudden we are energised, people are playing on the front foot and we are looking to do things properly.
“But it shouldn’t take that.
“I am happy but there is still a lot of work to do.”
Keeper Zander Clark, fresh from penning a new three-year deal, recovered from shipping seven goals at Celtic Park to produce a stunning first-half save from Scott Pittman and a lastminute penalty save from Lyndon Dykes.
But Wright was more exercised by referee Andrew Dallas’s failure to award his team a spotkick for an apparent handball by Marvin Bartley.
He added: “I was told that if it is above your shoulder it is unnatural and Bartley’s arm was above his shoulder when he blocked it.
“Our players said their penalty was soft but that’s what the keeper got his new contract for – to come up with moments like that.”