The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
May ready to deal with Saints’ moans
ST JOHNSTONE: Striker setting his sights despite team-mates’ disapproval
Stevie May made his name as a striker who would shoot from all angles and all distances.
It didn’t always keep his team-mates happy when he was trying his luck from everywhere but it will be music to the St Johnstone forward’s ears when he’s getting roars of disapproval again.
“I used to get shouted at all the time for shooting when I probably shouldn’t have,” said May. “Chris
Millar used to go crazy at me for trying to ping one from 40 yards and stuff.
“I need to get back that sort of mentality and get shooting on instinct a bit more because you do score goals from it.
“So maybe it is time I had the lads shouting at me the way they used to.
“As you get older you try to make the right decisions more and do what’s best for the team.
“But you need to have that variety, so getting more shots away is what I want to be doing.”
Although May is attempting to turn the clock back in one regard, there are parts of his play that he feels have improved since he has been away from McDiarmid Park.
“I think I am more confident in being on the ball because I was probably rash when I was here before,” said the former Aberdeen, Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday man.
“You can play the ball to feet to me more because I am more relaxed and will keep it better than I used to,” added May.
“But it works both ways. You want a balance between using your experience and knowledge of the game and then the instinct you have.
“You always improve as you get older because you know more about the game in general.
“It’s about having that mix.” Progression to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup and a goal added up to a perfect start to the post-winter-break stage of the season for May.
“I was pleased to get a goal against Morton and for the team to score three,” he said.
“Getting clean sheets has been a big thing. Callum Booth and Liam Gordon have come in and done well.
“Having a settled back four and partnerships developing has really helped us.
“We have a busy schedule coming up so we have to keep it going and the chance will be there to climb the table.
“In the past we always tried to be hard to beat and that was the platform for winning games.
“I think we have got back to that in the last month or so, so hopefully we can kick on.”
May got used to sterling service from the wings in his first spell with Saints and the return to fitness and form of Drey Wright should ensure more of the same second time around.
He said: “I didn’t play with Drey last season, obviously, but I heard from everyone how good he was before his injury.
“And we see it in training. He’s got so much quality when he’s on the ball.
“He can go by players with ease and he will only get better. It’s exciting having him back in the team and ready to kick on again.
“When you have been out for a long time it takes a while. I know that as much as anyone.
“After a serious injury you need to get your match fitness up again and then you have to get the confidence in your body back. We can see that happening.
He’s been getting better with every game and the sharpness is coming back.
“He’s going to keep going like that and will be a massive player for us between now and the end of the season.
“As a striker you need wingers who can beat a man and put the ball in, that’s what he does.
“You saw it against Morton for the first goal and then he set up Murray Davidson’s with a great corner as well.
“In my first spell here we had Lee Croft putting balls into the box and that allowed us to feed off them. In terms of quality, I’d say Drey is similar.
“People would look at Crofty and think he was a bit stiff, but he could fairly shift and his delivery was excellent.
“Drey is similar with his delivery. There is so much quality on his balls into the box and we will benefit from that.”
Saints’ Premiership campaign resumes at Livingston tonight.
“Livingston are a good side,” said May. “They’re doing well in the league and going there is one of the toughest away games in the league.
“It was good to get through in the cup and get a game before we get back into the league again.
“Callum Booth’s goal was a bit fortunate but that got us off to a good start and we took it from there.
“He obviously got lucky with it hitting it with his right foot.
“I was telling him not to do it because he had plenty of time but he didn’t listen to me.
“It was a big surprise when it went in. Seriously, though, it was a great strike.
“When you have a break and then come back into a competitive cup tie, it’s always going to be difficult to be up to speed straight away.
“But we got through and we are looking forward to the next round now.”
Livingston are set to hand a debut to Robby McCrorie.
The goalkeeper has joined Livi on loan from Rangers after being recalled from Queen of the South and will replace Ryan Schofield, who has a thigh problem.