Praise heaped on Saints manager

Newcomer Kennedy says Wright has made duo feel perfectly at home at club

ST JOHNSTONE 1 DUNDEE 0

St Johnstone’s Matty Kennedy has heaped praise on boss Tommy Wright, highlighting the big influence he has had on him and team-mate Tony Watt since they joined the club this summer.

The two players, who have been good pals since their time together at Cardiff City, have settled well at Saints with Kennedy arguably the man of the match against Dundee on Saturday despite Watt scoring what proved to be the winner.

And the 23-year-old winger admitted Wright has played a huge part in getting the best out of the firm friends.

Kennedy said: “We have both had a lot of clubs and I can only talk from my own experience.

“I have only been here a month but the gaffer makes you feel welcome and at home. I’m sure it’s the same with Tony.

“It makes you want to play for the manager. He gives us a platform to go and play.

“It’s been easy to settle in here and it’s been good for both of us.

“Being in England it is a lot harder. Tony is 24 and that is probably the average age of the squad here.

“I am 23 and down south I was the youngest in the Cardiff squad. Maybe it was just a bit too soon for him.

“I don’t know why it hasn’t worked out for him down south. You hear some fans saying it is about his attitude, but that is 110% not true. I don’t agree when people say that because his attitude is spot on.

“He works hard in training and puts it in during games, as you saw against Dundee.”

Watt has one Scotland cap to his name and Kennedy did not rule out him winning more in the future.

He added: “I can’t see why not. If he keeps doing what he is doing, you never know. A lot of people will be watching him.

“Hopefully it will maybe happen for him one day. But right now he has to concentrate on this season.”

Both sides had chances in the first half and it was surprising that the game was still goalless at the interval.

Dundee came close to opening the scoring in the 25th minute with Adil Nabi hitting a long-range drive that home keeper Zander Clark tipped over.

Just after the half-hour mark, St Johnstone had two quick-fire opportunities but David Mcmillan shot over when he should have hit the target and then Kennedy pulled a shot just wide when well-placed.

Shortly after, Dundee had two chances of their own with Clark having to parry a Jesse Curran strike from the edge of the box and then Ben Kallman was just inches wide with a shot following some good work by Glen Kamara.

Back came Saints and Kennedy had another fantastic opportunity, but he hit his first-time effort from 12 yards straight at Dundee keeper Jack Hamilton with the goalie then having to make a vital stop at his near post from a venomous Watt strike.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 51st minute when Watt burst down the left and into the Dundee box before calmly slotting low past Hamilton.

Dundee huffed and puffed to no great effect after that but did have a great chance to equalise in the 89th minute. However, Clark pulled off a fine save to keep out sub Sofien Moussa’s header to ensure his side secured all three points.

The Dundee fans were not slow to voice their displeasure at the final whistle after their side’s fourth defeat in a row and Dark Blues midfielder Paul Mcgowan admitted he understood their frustration.

He said: “They are going to be disappointed when their team’s not winning.

“It is part and parcel footballer.

“We are on a bit of a bad run – everybody can see that.

“I can stand here and come out with all the old clichés but the fans pay good money to come and watch the team so they are entitled to say what they like.

“If they are frustrated then so be it but I just ask that we all stick together.

“We need the fans. It is a new team and a lot of players are still probably adapting to the pace of the game here and that will come. We are gelling as a team slowly but surely.

“However, we need to start winning games. It is all right playing nicely but we need to begin converting our chances into goals and keeping clean sheets to climb the table.” of being a