Saints travel to Aberdeen looking to build on ‘terrific’ win over ICT

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright believes there is “mutual respect” between his team and Aberdeen.

Saints travel up the road to the Granite City on Saturday, looking to build on their terrific home win over Inverness Caley Thistle at the weekend.

It will, as always, be a daunting task to beat the Dons, especially after they thrashed Kilmarnock on Tuesday night, but Wright feels Derek McInnes will also be expecting a tough game against his former club.

“It will be a difficult game for both sides,” said Wright.

“When it comes to us and Aberdeen I feel there is mutual respect there. The incentive for us is to get three points and match or better the results of the teams above us.

“It just shows you how tight the league is.

“There is not much between Rangers, Hearts and Aberdeen – and we aren’t far behind them.

“Now we want to gain ground on all three of them. We know it is tight below us in the table but we want to be looking up the way.

“We have opened up a gap again after our win over Inverness and we also have goal difference in our favour. Outside the top five everyone’s balance is negative. So that is almost like having an extra point.”

Meanwhile St Johnstone’s game against Celtic at Parkhead on Tuesday, January 24 will now take place a day later.

The match has been moved to the Wednesday as the Hoops’ Scottish Cup fourth-round tie with Albion Rovers has been selected for TV coverage on Sunday, January 22.

Saints’ game will still kick-off at 7.45pm.

Tommy Wright.