MILLAR HAILS DANNY’S DOUGHNUT DIET

WITH six goals in seven matches so far, Danny Swanson has begun the new season like a man possessed. Those figures make him the form player in Scottish football and have been achieved as an old school winger in Tommy Wright’s 4-4-2 system. His performances have been the driving force behind St Johnstone’s terrific start to the new campaign. The Perth men are unbeaten in all competitions, having progressed into the quarter-finals of the Betfred Cup, along with sitting joint-top of the Ladbrokes Premiership. Swanson was at it once again on Saturday, his guile and trickery providing the inspiration for Saints to pick themselves up off the floor and come from behind to defeat Motherwell at Fir Park. His equaliser was a thing of beauty; skipping inside from the right to leave two defenders flummoxed on their backsides, before nutmegging Craig Samson with a classy left-footed finish — yet that would not be the most calamitous moment of the day for the Motherwell goalkeeper. And, in a revelation that will delight every baker in Perth if not the nutritionists at McDiarmid Park, Chris Millar claims that a certain delicacy is the secret ingredient behind Swanson’s ability to chew up opposition full-backs. ‘I read an interview with Swanny recently where he was talking about this new diet of his, but I don’t know what he’s talking about,’ said Millar. ‘I see him eating cakes for fun. Usually, it’s fudge doughnuts — he likes a wee fudge doughnut on Fridays. ‘But he can keep it going because he has been unplayable recently. He’s one of the most technically gifted players in the league. ‘I remember playing against him when he was at Dundee United and he put me on my backside a couple of times. He’s also great around the dressing room, a good character. ‘He didn’t get a transfer down to England for nothing. It was because he has huge ability. For whatever reason, it didn’t work out, but we’re just glad to have him back here. ‘He has a pre-season under his belt now and he looks a lot fitter, so you can see that he is really reaping the rewards. He has been different class for us.’ It was the home side who struck the opener at the start of the second period as Chris Cadden tapped in at the far post from Richard Tait’s cross. Swanson’s equaliser came just nine minutes later to deservedly pull his side back on to level terms. A howler from Samson then sold the jerseys for the home side 15 minutes from time — his fumble from an innocuous Chris Kane shot allowing Steven MacLean to poke the ball home from close range. ‘We fully deserved the victory and it continues our good form,’ added Millar. ‘I think not having to come back so early for European football has helped us. ‘It’s great qualifying for European football, but not having it this year has allowed us to get a good rest in the summer.’ MOTHERWELL (4-2-3-1): Samson 5; Tait 6, Heneghan 5, McManus 6, Chalmers 6; Lasley 6, Cadden 6 (Blyth 64); Ainsworth 6 (Thomas 76), Clay 6, Johnson 6; McDonald 5. Subs not used: Brill, Lucas, McFadden, Ferguson, MacLean. Booked: Tait, Clay, McDonald. ST JOHNSTONE (4-4-2): Mannus 6; Shaughnessy 6, McKay 6, Anderson 7, Easton 6; Alston 7 (Wotherspoon 71), Davidson 7, Millar 7 (Paton 71), Swanson 8 (Craig 88); MacLean 7, Kane 7. Subs not used: Clark, Gordon, Cummins, Comrie. Booked: Kane, Swanson, Davidson. Referee: Euan Anderson. Attendance: 3,739. Man of the match: Danny Swanson.