HOT DATE FOR OWEN Saints desperate to bounce back against old boss
Aaron Comrie has started the last three Premiership fixtures Easton, with Callum Davidson, knows Saints will turn the corner soon Brian Easton reckons Owen Coyle’s appointment as Ross County manager is positive for Scottish football.
But the Perth full-back will not be laying out the welcome mat this evening as Saints attempt to halt a poor run of recent results.
Former McDiarmid boss Coyle, who signed Easton for Burnley in 2009, makes his return to the Fair City with a Staggies side buoyed by a weekend win against Hamilton.
“Hopefully we can turn it around against Ross County,” Easton explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.
“Owen Coyle was great and he was a real man manager. He was excellent and I’m sure anyone who has worked with him will say that.
“Even when guys weren’t playing he had a way of keeping them enthusiastic and their spirits up. He also got the most out of the boys who were playing.
“When he got the job I thought it was good for Ross County. They have good players up there and I think Coyle will get the best out of them.
“He has had a few jobs down in England with big clubs. I’m not sure what he was like at other clubs but he was great at Burnley.
“All of the boys thoroughly enjoyed working with him.
“I think it is good for Scottish football because he is a manager of high calibre.
“I’m not sure how long he was out of a job but you know that he would be wanting to get back amongst it.
“He has always loved being a manager and getting involved with training. He never lost it from when he was a player.
“Ross County have a good squad and Coyle will get a lot out of them.
“I’m sure he will know the strength of this league and the job he has on
his hands. The league is so competitive and games are won and lost on very fine lines.”
Easton is certain Saints’fortunes will turn – and insists there is no reason to worry about recent results.
Tommy Wright’s squad have failed to score in their last three games while shipping seven. But Easton says performances have not been overly concerning. Now he is determined to get back on the winning trail when Ross County visit McDiarmid.
“Barring the Aberdeen game at Pittodrie, where we were terrible, we have been playing well,”Easton said.
“Until the sending off against Rangers we were right in it.
“Then, against Hearts on Saturday, it was a fortunate goal from them with the deflection. It was a game with few chances.
“We’re giving away cheap goals, which you can’t do. It’s not worrying us too much because we’re sure it will turn.
“With the start we had, the recent run has been a bit disappointing because it would have been great to build on it.
“We’re still in a strong position but it could have been even stronger.
“But we’ve had a tough run of games and, apart from Aberdeen, our performances have not been too bad.
“We’ve been lacking a killer instinct in the last third or being resolute enough at the back.”
●Saints under-20s are in SFA Youth Cup action against Dundee United on Sunday, October 29.
The third round tie kicks-off at McDiarmid Park at 1pm with season tickets valid.