DAVIDSON DEMANDS MORE COURAGE IN BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP
ST JOHNSTONE boss Callum Davidson last night challenged his side to summon up the courage to play on the front foot against St Mirren next weekend and spark off a full-scale relegation dogfight.
A Shaun Rooney goal cancelled out Jordan Marshall’s early opener to give Saints a 1-1 draw at Dens Park and keep them five points above the Dark Blues.
However, they are now just five behind St
Mirren and Aberdeen, too, with Davidson aware of what will be required against the Paisley outfit at McDiarmid Park next week to suck them into the dark heart of the battle for survival.
Asked if maintaining the gap over Dundee gave him comfort, Davidson replied: ‘No, but we are five points behind St Mirren and Aberdeen as well, so it is a huge game next week. You saw Dundee fighting for their lives and we are fighting for our lives — as we have done since January.
‘We need more of that, especially from the middle part of the game. I want that courage to go and play, not just go long and fight for second balls. At times, go forward but try to play in good areas and get chances.
‘Hopefully, we can do that in the coming games. I thought we started quite well against Dundee in the first 10 or 15 minutes.
‘It was a really poor goal to lose, then after that, we had a lot of possession but we struggled to break them down.
‘We didn’t move the ball quick enough. Second half, I asked for that and the tempo and the passing was better.
There was more energy.
‘We were playing forward to strikers’ feet with runs off and I thought we got that.
“Our football was excellent and we deservedly got back into the game. After that, it was a little bit like do you want the point or do you want the three points?
‘I think you could sense a bit of hesitation from my players there, but we are delighted with the courage and character they showed especially after going 1-0 down.’
Davidson has also admitted he has not
given up on keeping Rooney, not long back from a December ankle operation, at the club should Saints stay up.
He said: ‘We have missed him this season and I thought his secondhalf performance was excellent.
‘He led the group and I am delighted he got the goal. He is going to be a valuable player for us in the next four games.’
Meanwhile, Dundee boss Mark McGhee (right) has claimed his side can go on a winning streak despite 10 games under him without a victory and can still beat the drop.
‘The result was fair,’ he said. ‘We couldn’t get out in the second half.
‘The first goal was everything I’d seen in training and everything I had hoped for.
‘I thought we would kick on from that and that this would be the day to get the win. In the second half, we weren’t able to do that.
‘Charlie Adam tired but we had to keep him out there for his set-plays and the rest.
‘The one thing I am saying is that we are not conceding. ‘We can win a game. If we win next week, then who knows? Maybe we can win another.
‘We will keep going until it’s mathematically impossible for us to get the points we need. The players have got Monday off and I have told them to come back ready to prepare for Aberdeen in the same way.’
McGhee was annoyed at conceding an equaliser from a corner-kick.
He added: ‘It looked like Ian Lawlor was blocked off but we worked on set-plays three times this week and we expect better.’