St Johnstone

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St Johnstone have signed Guyana international midfielder Stephen Duke-McKenna from Harrogate Town on loan until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old came through the youth ranks at Everton and has enjoyed spells at QPR, Leyton Orient and Sutton United.

The attacking midfielder has also been capped 26 times by his national side.

"As soon as I heard there was interest, I knew it was a big opportunity for me," Duke-McKenna told club media.

"I was just buzzing to get up here to Perth. I have seen the club's recent form and there is a real buzz about the place.

"I spoke to the head coach and I wanted to get this done quickly so that I can get started right away."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

St Johnstone tell me they are "hopeful" of a couple of new recruits before the transfer window closes.

However it appears that striker Benjamin Kimpioka will remain at the club after a deal with Belgian club OH Leuven broke down.

The Perth Saints have already added the services of Sam Curtis, Victor Griffith and Jonathan Svedberg as well as goalkeeper Andy Fisher.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

A second successive selection in my team of the week defence for Sven Sprangler who continues to impressive having shifted back from midfield.

He has also been handed the captain's armband by Simo Valakari and is doing his utmost to steer St Johnstone ship away from Premiership doom.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss St Johnstone's defensive capabilities after their 1-0 victory over St Mirren.

Watch highlights of St Mirren's 1-0 loss against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 1-0 win against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Jim: Another hard fought win, a makeshift defence, but a clean sheet to go with the victory. Lucky not to have conceded a penalty in the first half but we were due a bit of luck. Great fighting from the whole team and Bozo Mikulic scoring the crucial goal again. New signings still to feature, but we still need another striker on board for the rest of the season.

Jimmy: I was a little worried when I saw the team sheet and saw Ross Sinclair in goal but he did well. Another fantastic team effort, we're now showing lots of fight which is what's needed. Time to focus on the next league game. Onwards and upwards.

Robert: It's good to see the team with a bit of fight. Hopefully miracles can happen. Simo Valakari is the man.

Willie: Fantastic result with a makeshift defence again. Delighted for Sinclair, he has the potential to be a top keeper and this result will give him loads of confidence. Sven Sprangler has been immense and with the new signings we have renewed hope.

Gordon: Massive result. Not nearly out of trouble yet but having been on the canvas and taken an eight count, we are back on our feet. It might only take a couple of big hits to put us down again but if we can avoid that, there is every chance we can win this fight. Well done Simo and the lads.

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says they're putting Premiership "pressure" to one side as they focus on cup success.

Although the Perth club are still bottom of the top flight table, Saturday's victory away to St Mirren puts them five points behind Ross County who play Rangers today.

Valakari's next test comes in the form of Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Cup on Saturday 8 February.

"We can put this Premiership, if you call it pressure, we can put that out [to the side]," the manager said.

"We can enjoy this cup weekend. It's a big game, it's a huge game.

"It's a game we want to play because a cup competition, especially the Scottish Cup, is a very special competition.

"So yes, we don't need to think about the league now we can concentrate on the cup.

"It's very simple competition. You win you're in the next round. You lose, cheerio."

The boss is once again calling on supporters to get behind the team next week.

"No one can do this alone," he added.

"And Saturday was a good example.

"Again, our fans, a lot of people went there, and in difficult moments, they were supporting us, and they kept believing in the team, pushing the players forward.

"And that's why we need to be this one unit, one club, everyone, and then we have this power, and we become strong as we showed on Saturday."

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• St Johnstone have scored in their last five games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of six games from 19 October 2024 to 23 November 2024.

• St Mirren have failed to score in 10 of their 25 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have scored in each of their last five games in the Premiership, scoring six goals in that run.

St Johnstone pulled off an unexpected victory against St Mirren thanks to Bozo Mikulic's bundled strike - and boosted their hopes of Scottish Premiership survival.

Simo Valakari's bottom side had won their previous league game and move to within four points of Kilmarnock, who host Dundee United later.

What did you make of that, St Johnstone fans? A deserved victory?

Are you happy that Sven Sprangler is wearing the armband? And what do you make of the new recruits?

Let us know your thoughts., external

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari told BBC Scotland: "Everyone knows our situation. Football is simple. We need to win these matches and even more, we need to concentrate on our performance, try to play our way.

"We need to try to compete, be hard to beat. All these things, we did today. That gives us the possibility to win.

"If you come here and try and play a basketball game with this team, you're not going to win. We did very well with the ball first-half.

"We didn't create but we took the momentum out. We knew it would open up second-half. Stay solid, defend, and we will get the chance.

"I'm not looking at who is in front of us. Next week is a Cup week so we put the league situation aside for one week. We have made this mistake before but we need to focus on our own job.

"Our fans are following us, giving us the noise, pushing the team. Yes, it was a close even game but we played a very good away match and we deserve it."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone travelled from Perth to Paisley with confidence given their recent performances against Motherwell and they played like a team with absolute confidence in the plan.

Or rather, a sheer unwillingness to adapt the plan. Only Elliot Watt had more touches than Ross Sinclair in goal, or Sven Sprangler, Barry Douglas or Mikulic in defence.

For large spells, they spent more time on the ball but they were always under pressure. It was like St Mirren were setting traps, and St Johnstone were tip-toeing dangerously close to them.

At times, they relied on the hosts' mercy in front of goal and had to absorb a lot of pressure. But Sinclair, back in goals for the first time since September, did well deputising in the sticks.

The team still looks a little patched together - the back three includes a left-back and a central midfielder - but they seem to have gelled quickly and Sprangler, who has worn the armband for the past few games, has taken to the role well.

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Sven Sprangler. The midfielder has taken the captain's armband this month, and slotted into a new-look back three that includes one out-and-out centre-back.

Despite that, he's added composure to a defence that is asked to play a lot with the ball at feet and might find himself playing more often in defence for the rest of the season.

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St Mirren defender Alex Iacovitti (hamstring) and Conor McMenamin (calf) remain out.

St Johnstone could include new signings Jonathan Svedberg, Daniels Balodis and Elliot Watt but Benji Kimpioka will not feature after being the subject of a bid.

Cammy MacPherson (hip) is working his way back but Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain sidelined.

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Makenzie Kirk is relishing his breakthrough season at St Johnstone despite the pressure of a relegation fight.

The 20-year-old forward has netted seven goals this term and insists the mood in the squad is upbeat after Saints backed up the Scottish Cup win over Motherwell with a league triumph - their first in 10 games - over the Steelmen last weekend.

That has narrowed the gap at the bottom to seven points before Saturday's trip to face St Mirren.

Kirk said: "It's really good for me, I'm really enjoying my football and I'm playing with a lot of confidence.

"The most important thing for us as a team is to win games and score goals and stay tight at the back and keep clean sheets.

"It's been positive over the last couple of weeks, the mood around the place has been really good.

"We know ourselves that the thing is to move on to the next game and stay together, keep picking up points and hopefully by the time the split comes we've narrowed the gap and we're back in among it.

"The boys who were here last year were involved in it and they know what it takes to get out of it.

"We've got a good team spirit and a togetherness to go and show what it takes and go and fight until the last game."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Two days after losing to St Johnstone, their second defeat in Perth within seven days and third consecutive loss, Motherwell were to lose their manager.

Stuart Kettlewell cited as the reason for his resignation the fan abuse he was receiving despite his side sitting fifth in the table - four places better off than at the same stage last season.

Contrast that with Saints counterpart Simo Valakari.

St Johnstone owner Adam Webb admitted this week that, despite Saturday's win, the seven-point gap between themselves and second-bottom Kilmarnock means he has to make contingency plans for possible relegation.

However, he doubled down on the summer appointment of Valakari, even saying "I can't be happier with Simo".

Webb is also backing his manager in the transfer market, with two new arrivals this week and centre-half Jack Sanders, sold to MK Dons, being the latest to exit as the Finn reshapes his squad.

That should take some of the pressure off, but the American businessman also stressed that he and Valakari have not given up hope of avoiding relegation and that those two victories over Well - first in the Scottish Cup and then the league - prove "he's doing the right things to get us to the right place" despite previous results.

They will be hoping those wins mean they have turned the corner after the previous nine games without a victory as they head to Paisley on Saturday.

However, hosts St Mirren also appear to be on the up after ending a four-game losing streak by scoring three times in each of two away victories.

Indeed, the Perth side, who currently have not won in six away games, losing five of them, have not won in Paisley in 10 visits since December 2018.

Overcoming their rivals Saints would be further proof of their potential resurrection under Valakari.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Benjamin Kimpioka's £200,00 transfer to Leuven has collapsed after talks between the St Johnstone striker and the Belgian club's manager, Chris Colemen, broke down after a deal between the two clubs was agreed earlier this week. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Midfielder Elliot Watt "wants to put smiles on fans' faces" after joining St Johnstone on loan from Burton Albion until the end of the season.

The former Scotland Under-21 international joined the League One side last summer from Salford City and has made 30 appearances this season.

The 24-year-old is "delighted" to move to McDiarmid Park following a "positive" chat with manager Simo Valakari.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind 24 hours," he told the club website. "I'm now just looking forward to getting into training with the boys and cracking on.

"The head coach explained where he saw me in the system and what I could bring to the club. It was a really positive conversation and, from that point, I wanted to get up here.

"Hopefully the fans can travel in their numbers this Saturday and can get right behind us. I'm looking forward to showing what I can do."

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• St Mirren have won their past three league meetings with St Johnstone, as many as their previous 10 beforehand (W3 D4 L3).

• St Johnstone are winless in 10 league visits to St Mirren (D4 L6), losing their past three in a row.

• After only losing three of their opening 10 home league games this season (W5 D2), St Mirren have since lost their past two in Paisley.

• St Johnstone have lost five of their past six away league outings (D1), including their last three in a row. The Saints last suffered four successive away league defeats in January 2022.

• St Mirren's Toyosi Olusanya has scored seven goals in the Scottish Premiership this season, surpassing his tally for the whole of last term (6). However, only against Celtic (6 games) has Olusanya played more games in the competition without scoring than his five against St Johnstone.

Belgian club Leuven are leading the race to sign St Johnstone striker Benjamin Kimpioka after having an offer of nearly £200,000 accepted for the 24-year-old. (The Courier), external

St Johnstone have agreed a fee in the region of £150,000 with MK Dons for 25-year-old centre-half Jack Sanders to join the League Two club. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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"If you're going to cross the line, just don't come."

That's the message from St Johnstone owner Adam Webb.

In the wake of Stuart Kettlewell's exit at Motherwell - following back-to-back defeats in Perth - Webb was asked how football should handle abuse from fans.

"There's a fine line between passionate fandom and undue abuse," Webb said. "And I understand the passion of being a fan. I've been a fan of clubs and teams all my life.

"Obviously, when you're angry, you want to take it out on somebody. In the age of social media, it's more easy than ever to go a little bit over the top. You're sitting in your living room on your couch and you can type anything you want.

"That can be very offensive and over the top. I think it's a question of personal responsibility for all of us."

What is the club's responsibility, though, Webb said "transparency is key".

"It's to always be transparent, always be communicating," he added. "I believe that if they know if the fans know you're doing everything you can, then they're less likely to get so over the top in their anger.

"And that's my vow to our fans.

"We've done everything we can do and we will be doing everything we can do. I'm open to their suggestions. I get emails every day from fans. I got several this morning that I was reviewing before coming over here, and we always take their ideas. We always consider their ideas and we always weigh everything accordingly. That's all we can do.

"We can't stop idiots from doing dumb things. If you're going to cross the line, we say you're not allowed to come, whether it be for a season or a few games or whatever the punishment may be.

"They have to understand there are repercussions when they take it too far."

St Johnstone have accepted a third bid from Fulham for 16-year-old forward Brodie Dair and will receive an initial transfer fee of more than £150,000 should he agree personal terms and pass a medical. (Courier - subscription), external

Saints face anxious wait to get new defender signing Daniels Balodis a work permit in time to face Scottish Premiership opponents St Mirren on Saturday. (Courier- subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Image source, St Johnstone

St Johnstone have signed Latvian defender Daniels Balodis on a deal until summer 2026.

The 26-year-old has made 15 appearances for his national side and has most recently played with Latvian champions RFS.

Speaking to club media, he said: "I can't wait to see and meet all of the fans at the stadium. It will be a lovely moment to all be together.

"I have seen the football atmosphere in Scotland and I'm looking forward to playing in this league.

"Firstly, I am a defender who wants to defend. After that I like to help the team build forward up the pitch."

"The head coach [Simo Valakari] can bring the best out in me. I remember him from before in Latvia, his tactics and how he likes to manage his team.

"He called me and said the words that I wanted to hear. He was excited to get me here, so I didn't think much about it and was happy to agree."