St Mirren ................ 3 St Johnstone ........ 2 GERS VISIT IS NOT MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
But Tanser admits Saints will have to defend much better
The scale of the task in hand is sizeable – but Scott Tanser has highlighted that no team is invincible. Top-of-the-table Rangers travel to McDiarmid Park on Wednesday having yet to suffer a defeat in 18 league games this season.
Saints, on the other hand, have lost their last two Premiership matches and that has resulted in them slipping to 10th in the standings.
But Tanser realises that the Perth men can provide a stern test to anyone on their day – and proved that against Celtic earlier this month.
“It’s going to be a tough game, like it always is,” Tanser said. “But we proved against Celtic that we can do it.
“Rangers are obviously doing very well. We didn’t get the result we wanted on Saturday but I think we’ll give them a great game.
“They are not invincible. No team is invincible and everyone can be beaten. St Mirren showed that in the cup and hopefully we can do the same.
“When we get the ball we need to work hard to keep it. We can’t be giving it back cheaply because that will make it a hard time.
“The league is still close. We have games coming up fast so we’ll look to get another run going.”
Tanser admits Saints need to take better care of “basic defending” following pain in Paisley on Saturday.
The Perth side, reduced to 10 men before half-time when skipper Jason Kerr was sent off, conceded two late goals to lose 3-2.
Lee Erwin and Jon Obika were both afforded too much space to net free headers in the box.
Tanser said: “It’s two of the same kind of goals in the six-yard box. Two free headers. We need to be better than that.
“We need to stop it because it’s basic defending – staying with your man and not giving him a free header.
“If you are giving someone a free header it’s expected that something will come from it. We’ve got to defend better.
“Even block the player before he gets in. There are things we can work on and we’ve just got to move on now.”
Tanser netted a collector’s item with his right foot to give Saints a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
“I do think a goal has been coming, but I don’t think anybody thought with my right foot,” he said.
“I enjoyed the goal at the time but it’s just unfortunate we didn’t get anything from the game. It should have been the winning goal.”
Saints boss Callum Davidson yesterday revealed Liam Craig, Callum Booth and Chris Kane have extended their stay in Perth.
“They’ve all signed,” he said. “It’s been ongoing in the background for a while and I’m pleased that