Davidson relieved to secure crucial play-off lifeline
ST JOHNSTONE manager Callum Davidson breathed a huge sigh of relief as his players secured a Premiership lifeline via the play-offs. Callum Hendry’s early strike ensured all three points to consign local rivals Dundee to relegation, with second bottom Saints now set to face either Arbroath or Inverness Caley Thistle in the two-legged play-off final. Dundee had maintained their slim hopes of survival with a 3-1 Tuesday night win over Hibs but it is the Perth men who now live to fight another day.
‘Last night’s result put a lot of pressure on us,’ admitted Davidson. ‘There were some people saying: “Yeah, we’re in the play-offs”. But Dundee winning by a couple of goals meant this was a game where we had to perform under pressure. ‘I’m just really pleased we managed to do it. I was really disappointed against St Mirren, under pressure we couldn’t do it. ‘But we did it here and that was a big step forward towards the play-off games, having that belief in each other that we can perform when we need to.’ Davidson hailed goal hero Hendry, who took his tally to eight since returning from a loan at Kilmarnock. ‘He has been fantastic since he came back,’ said the Perth boss. ‘He needs to keep that going for another two or three games now. ‘The main focus now is the 180 minutes of enormous football ahead of us. ‘We want to stay in the league, we’re desperate to stay in the league. I think you saw that tonight.’ Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin admitted his shot-shy Dons never looked like pegging back Hendry’s first-half strike. For all their possession, they lacked the guile to trouble home keeper Zander Clark, to the frustration of travelling fans. ‘I am extremely disappointed with the result and the performance,’ said Goodwin. ‘The game sums up how our season has been, really. We have had plenty of the ball but have not done enough to cause St Johnstone any problems. ‘I am disappointed but we have to take it on the chin.’