Wright expects tough Tynecastle test
ST JOHNSTONE manager Tommy Wright insists his side’s two victories over Hearts this season will count for little when the clubs meet again today. Saints triumphed 3-2 in the Betfred Cup in August and 1-0 when the sides met in the league the following month. However, Hearts have only lost once since and, with the Perth club looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Partick Thistle last week, Wright knows the trip to Tynecastle will be a huge test. ‘Those were a couple of ding-dong games against Hearts,’ said the Saints boss. ‘They are one of the sides who have given us the most problems this season.
‘They will feel aggrieved (at the league game). They probably felt they should have been out of sight. ‘They were really good that day but we stuck in the game and got a goal. ‘We want to try to stay on the coat tails of Aberdeen, Hearts and Rangers for as long as possible. ‘And that is a great challenge for a club our size and our players, to come up against clubs with more resources and try to do as well, if not better, than them.’ Midfielder Liam Craig remembers how difficult it was to get the points against Hearts in Perth. He said: ‘The home game in the league, (Hearts boss) Robbie (Neilson) would maybe say that was one of the best performances of the season. ‘Hearts have really good players and they can hurt, so it is up to us to take chances when we get them. ‘Tynecastle is always a great venue for players to play in and we are looking forward to it.’ Meanwhile, Igor Rossi has hailed fellow Hearts centre-back John Souttar’s hunger for improvement and tipped him for Scotland sooner rather than later. Souttar has been an everpresent for Hearts in the Premiership this season, keeping former captain Alim Ozturk out of the team. The 20-year-old will have high hopes on his shoulders given Scotland’s shortage of options at centre-back. Rossi said: ‘Souttar is a good guy and a good defender. He’s still a young boy but every day after training he says to me: “Come on, let’s go for more training”. ‘I think he can play for Scotland. I look at other centre-backs in Scotland and I think he is in the top three.’ The pair are looking to tighten up on Saturday after conceding five goals in two matches. ‘The game against St Johnstone is very important because we have the same points as them,’ said Rossi. ‘It’s very important that we keep a clean sheet.’