Davidson in Call to arms for Saints
CALLUM DAVIDSON insists St Johnstone are fighting fit for Friday’s play-off final against Inverness despite the 4-0 thumping at Hibs.
The Perth boss rested six of his top stars with his eyes firmly on the first leg in the Highlands.
And Davidson re-emphasised that the double header is more important than last season’s cup double as they fight for their top-flight survival.
He insisted his bighitters will be in good shape by the time the whistle goes in the pressure-pot play-off, with Stevie May, Callum Booth and Ali Crawford all expected to return from injury.
In addition Zander Clark, Liam Gordon, Murray Davidson, Melker Hallberg, James Brown and Callum Hendry dropped out of the starting XI in Leith as Elliot Parish, John Mahon, Cammy MacPherson, Tom Sang, Charlie Gilmour and Nadir Cifcti were drafted in.
And Davidson said: “It was really important that we managed the game and no one got sent off or injured.”
He added: “The second half wasn’t acceptable but we are ready for Friday night now.
“Guys who needed games have minutes in their legs, we will have a few boys back from injury for the Inverness game, so we will have a bigger squad available. One or two might struggle but the majority will be there so we will assess them this week.
“We didn’t want to take risks.
“James Brown was on the bench and Callum Hendry had a tight hamstring so they didn’t play.
“This game is more important than the cup finals last season.
“It’s important to the club, the players and everyone involved.
“It’s the different pressures of football. It’s great pressure trying to win cups and leagues.
“But where you are where we are, then it’s the pressure of trying to stay in the league.
“We have dealt with that pressure since January and we have to again.”
Davidson watched Inverness book their final spot with a backs-to-thewall display at Arbroath on Friday.
And he said: “Inverness showed a great spirit against Arbroath.
“They dug in and worked hard as a team and they have good players.
“We have a positive mindset and we have washed away the Hibs game already and we are looking forward to Friday.
“We have 180 minutes to stay in the league and that’s what we want to do.”