Experienced duo praised ahead of Ayr ‘humdinger’

Ali Mccann has been the most talked about St Johnstone player in recent weeks thanks to three goals in four games and a string of manof-the-match performances.

But Perth boss Tommy Wright believes experienced duo David Wotherspoon and Liam Craig deserve to share the midfield limelight.

“They’ve been really important for us,” he said. “When you’ve got a young team you need your senior players to step up. In recent weeks they have.

“They’ve both been great for me and the club over many years.

“Spoony is showing a real high level of consistency. He’s enjoying his football.

“Liam’s got back into the team and has taken his opportunity. He’s playing with confidence as well.

“It’s not just his organisation and talking, it’s been the quality of his play. That was the case against Hearts and at Aberdeen. It was a wonderful pass for Ali’s goal.

“It’s important to recognise that it isn’t just the younger ones doing well.”

Wright, who confirmed Liam Gordon should be available at Ayr this afternoon but Michael O’halloran is a doubt (calf injury), knows lower league opposition on a bad weather day adds up to a tough cup-tie.

“We know it will be a difficult game,” he said. “It’s a great old stadium and I’m expecting a humdinger of a match.

“The fact that we’re a Premiership side doesn’t give us any right to win. We need to earn it.

“We want to get one step closer to the final.

“I love the Scottish Cup. I think it’s held on to its importance in the game up here, unlike the FA Cup.

“Clubs treat it in the right way. It’s the blue riband cup competition because it’s the one everybody wants to win.

“There can still be fairytale endings for the smaller clubs, as we have shown.”

Ross Docherty, Andy Geggan, Andy Murdoch and Craig Moore are all out for Ayr.

Honest Men boss Mark Kerr described the cup-tie as a “great stage” for his players. He said: “We have already beaten a team from the Premiership so have shown we can handle that level.

“St Johnstone are a very good side, they are in good form and will be very tough to beat.

“Tommy Wright will know all about us and will have his players fully briefed on what to expect at Somerset Park.

“We are hoping for a big Scottish Cup atmosphere inside our old ground.”