Saints chasing first SPL win this season

IF ANY more motivation was needed for the St Johnstone players in what is always a fiercely-contested Tayside derby, it is the knowledge that a victory would finally secure their first SPL win of the season.

Craig said: “These are exciting games for the fans. Dundee are also back in the SPL this season so there will be even more derbies to look forward to.

“But we haven’t beaten United here in the league since coming back from the First Division and we want to put that right.

“They are a quality side with Jon Daly and Johnny Russell up front, John Rankin in midfield and Gavin Gunning and Sean Dillon at centre-half, good players throughout the team.

“We know how hard a game it is going to be but it is one we are confident we can win to give everyone a lift. This would be a great one to win. It’s a time for everyone to stick together and stay solid.

“We have had a lot of additions to the squad — it’s taken longer than we’d have liked to get going but it will come right for us.

“Given the way we have started the season, it is important to get a result to give everyone a lift.

“I’d take any sort of win, even a scrappy 1-0.

“There were a lot of good points from the Hibs game last weekend even although we lost 2-0. But we seem to be getting punished for every slip-up and mistake.”

Tomorrow’s game is only Saints’second home fixture of the season and Craig admits the players are determined to put the frustration of the last one, a defeat by Aberdeen, behind them.

He added: “That was so disappointing and the 2-1 scoreline flattered us that day. United lost at Kilmarnock last week so this is massive for us both.”