Paton left scarred by relegation fight

SAINTS: Midfielder admits qualifying for Europe was not his main priority

St John stone could clinch European football against Partick Thistle this afternoon but midfielder Paul Paton admitted that the scars he carried from relegation with Dundee United meant he hadn’t set his sights anything like that high.

Paton, who goes up against his old team at McDiarmid Park, explained: “The club has had a few European campaigns. I knew all about that, obviously. But I must admit that when I signed the only thing I was caring about was not being relegated.

“I’d just left a big club with a big budget and a lot of good players, who had gone down,” he said. “I know you can never take anything for granted. “My main thoughts were – I’ve signed a two-year deal and I want both of those to be in the Premiership.

“Obviously, that’s going to happen now.”