Blair blasts critics and says Saints are just fine

IF St Johnstone were playing Real Madrid instead of Rangers then Blair Alston reckons they would be hailed as tactical masters.

Tommy Wright’s side have been engulfed in a feud with Aberdeen that has seen them labelled rugby players and long-ball merchants.

Saints have achieved big goals on a modest budget in recent years, including a Scottish Cup win and four-in-a-row qualification for Europe.

Midfielder Alston, 24, feels the criticism is unfair on a side that is tactically astute, game prepared and physically strong enough to compete with the big boys.

Saints spent Christmas Day one point behind Hearts with a game in hand after their 1-0 win at Kilmarnock on Friday night, which took their unbeaten league record on the road to a fifth month.

Their home form hasn’t been as convincing but Alston reckons they still have enough about them to derail Rangers in Perth tonight.

The ex-Falkirk starlet said: “Teams can say what they want about us. We