DON’T DROP YOUR GUARD
Cal warns Saints they’re not out of the woods yet
Callum Davidson insists St Johnstone are still looking over their shoulder despite all but confirming their relegation play-off fate after sharing the points at Livingston.
Glenn Middleton’s second-half opener and first league goal of the season wasn’t enough as Jack Fitzwater struck a 90th-minute leveller for the Lions to complete another miserable afternoon for the Perth side.
Davidson admits all eyes now turn to Aberdeen at home on Wednesday and a win which will end any fear of replacing Dundee in the automatic drop zone of the Premiership basement.
He said: “No, it’s not over. We need to make sure we put in a performance against Aberdeen. I want good displays between now and the end of the season.
“If we get to the play- offs we need to make sure we’re in a confident mood and the players believe in what we’re doing.
“St Johnstone don’t have a divine right to be in this league. We’re working extremely hard because we’re desperate to stay in it.”
Saints should have struck in the early seconds when Melker Hallberg slid a low cross into the path of Callum Hendry who could have done far better than rattle a shot over from 16 yards.
That was soon followed by a Stevie May attempt from the edge of the box which was well gathered by Ivan Konovalov in the Livingston goal.
The hosts began to exert some pressure of their own but it was St Johnstone who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute as Shaun Rooney’s long throw was flicked on by Daniel Cleary and May was inches away from converting as Konovalov shoved the ball to safety.
May then collided with Ayo Obileye inside the box as the pair chased down a ball but ref Willie Collum wasn’t having the Perth side’s penalty claims.
Livi’s lack of guile was summed up perfectly when Odin Bailey found himself clear on goal in the 57th minute but with time and space, the Birmingham City loanee blasted a shot off the legs of keeper Zander Clark.
Saints responded with a Hendry snapshot which Konovalov fielded before Alan Forrest screamed a strike inches past Clark’s far post.
Then came the game’s decisive moment in the 76th minute and it was all so simple as James Brown delivered a floated cross in from the left and Middleton bulleted home a header at the back post. Livi weren’t to be outdone as they grabbed a last-minute leveller. Fitzwater scrambled the ball into the net after Saints failed to clear their lines and it was honours even.