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Staggies: Perth Saints are template of success

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre believes today’s Premiership opponents St Johnstone are the model of consistency for his players to follow as the Perth club has finished in the top six in the Premiership in each of the last five seasons.

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre believes today’s Premiership opponents St Johnstone are the model of consistency for his players to follow.

Manager Tommy Wright’s Saints have finished in the top six in the Premiership in each of the last five seasons and are in fourth place today following another fine start to the new campaign.

After recording just their second top-six finish in their history last year, the County manager wants his side to follow Saints’ lead in showing they belong among the best in the league.

McIntyre said: “Any team that has been in the top six in the last five seasons is established. Saints have been that model of consistency which clubs like ours want to become. They’re a similar- sized club, squad, players, the games generally between the teams are tight.

“I was at their 1-1 drawat Hamilton on Sunday and they deserved to take a draw at least. Although the squads are very similar, it’s about who produces on the day.”

Encouraged by successive away draws at Rangers and Hearts, manager McIntyre may hand a debut to recent signing, former

“Any team that has been in the top six in the last five seasons is established”

Scotland international midfielder Chris Burke and said: “We concern ourselves about what we do. I expect it to be another tight match but it’s one we’re more than capable of winning if we play our best stuff.

“Defensively we’ve been a lot tighter but in terms of the attacking, when we’ve played two forwards we’ve certainly created a few chances.

“Chris did well in his first session on Tuesday and we’ll make a decision on him before Saturday, while Ryan Dow is also coming on nicely.”

Tommy Wright