St Johnstone

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before the game at Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• On Saints' four-game winning run, Valakari says "the biggest thing is it gives you the confidence we are doing the right things" and adds it is "full attack and full rock and roll" going to a difficult challenge at Rugby Park.

• He is happy with the new additions to the squad - having signed nine players in January - and says "now we have got some fresh faces, we are a better team, it gives us confidence".

• With Saints having narrowed the gap at the bottom to five points, Valakari says: "We are just concentrating on Kilmarnock, we can't take it any further."

• The Finn is pleased with the improvement in defence but insists they need to "raise the level" and stresses it is a team effort "starting from how our strikers are pressing and how compact we are when we defend and we need that to continue".

• Kilmarnock are "very, very dangerous inside the box" and Valakari adds: "We are in good form but we know we're going to a very, very tough place. We need to prepare ourselves as well as possible."

• The "most important" focus is the league but reaching the Scottish Cup quarter-finals has given the players a lot of "positive energy" and Valakari is hopeful they can fight on both fronts.

• On team news he says "everyone is fit and firing".

Simo Valakari believes St Johnstone's raft of unfamiliar faces could be the key to edging their third meetings of the season with bottom-six rivals. (The Courier), external

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.

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Teenager talent Brodie Dair has departed St Johnstone for English Premier League side Fulham.

The 16-year-old joined the youth academy aged 12, and was a regular feature for the under-18 team who enjoyed league and cup successes.

Dair, son of former professional Lee, trained with the Perth side's first-team and earned represented Scotland at under-17 level.

"It has been a really enjoyable time at St Johnstone. Every single coach and team-mate have been brilliant to work with," Dair told Saints media.

"Alistair [Stevenson] has helped me and been there through the whole journey. He has treated me like his son and I cannot thank him enough.

"I've had a lot of messages from the lads in the under-18s and the first team, and the gaffer gave me a big hug before I left to say stick in.

"Again, I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for the support."

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• Kilmarnock have only won three of their past 14 league meetings with St Johnstone (D2 L9), losing both previous such clashes in 2024-25 without scoring.

• St Johnstone have won and kept a clean sheet in both of their previous two league games against Kilmarnock in 2024-25; the last side they beat three times in a single Scottish Premiership season were Dundee United in 2022-23, while not since 2018-19 have they recorded three clean sheets against a single opponent in the competition (four v Dundee, three v St Mirren).

• After their 1-0 win over Dundee United, Kilmarnock are looking to earn back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season, last doing so in October.

• St Johnstone have won both of their past two league matches, last winning more in a row in November 2022 (3).

• Each of St Johnstone's past four goals in the Premiership have been scored from corner situations (the last two scored by defender Bozo Mikulic). Since Opta have had this data available (from 2013-14), they are only the second side to have such a run in the competition, after Hearts earlier this season who netted four in a row via corners between September and October.

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari says Drey Wright is "fine" after playing through cramps in the Scottish Cup win over Hamilton Academical, while Barry Douglas' absence from the matchday squad was a matter of rotation. (Courier, external)

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Four wins out of four. Zero goals in open play conceded.

These are the type of stats Craig Levein, Steven MacLean or even Callum 'loves-a-cup-competition' Davidson could have boasted.

Simo Valakari has finally addressed the glaring issues we could all see. Everybody in or around the 18-yard box.

He's gone to Latvia, Sweden, Croatia and, er, Swansea to rectify these issues and with confidence in the McDiarmid stands increasing, fans are studying the fixture list and getting their calculators out.

The match against Kilmarnock on Saturday is massive.

Having already beaten them home and away this season, the calculator will be getting swapped for fingers - both for counting a decreasing points gap and for tightly crossing in the hope of doing the unimaginable.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints Podcast, external

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St Johnstone will face Livingston in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Simo Valakari's men beat Hamilton 1-0 in the fifth round to earn themselves a place in the quarters.

The ties will be played on the weekend of Saturday 8 March.

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Jonathan Svedberg is hoping for more success in a St Johnstone shirt after his first outing for Simo Valakari's side.

The Swedish midfielder made his debut in Saturday's 1-0 Scottish Cup win over Hamilton Accies which booked their spot in the quarter-finals.

The 25-year-old joined St Johnstone in the January window, penning a deal until the summer of 2026.

"It was an amazing, amazing feeling to win the game," Svedberg said.

"It was a tough one. I feel like we worked very hard from the beginning of the game to have control of the ball and we tried to create some opportunities.

"It took some time but finally we got in the goal.

"I felt like we had control of the ball pretty much and then they had some good transitions maybe.

"Otherwise I feel like we got further down the pitch and just tried to keep on going.

"We just didn't have that 100% chance. We need to be better at creating those kinds of opportunities. But I'm happy with the win of course."

St Johnstone fans, were you at McDiarmid Park to see your side reach the last eight of the Scottish Cup or were your following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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In a game that was scrappy for the majority of the 90 minutes it's fitting the one piece of magic should secure the victory.

Graham Carey's effort from distance was on target but the skill shown by Adama Sidibeh in guiding his header towards goal was the game's decisive moment.

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "Good that [Adama Sidibeh] got his goal after a long wait. He has been working so hard.

"Hamilton came with a game plan and didn't bend it at any minute. How we dealt with this cup tie was very good. We knew they would get a couple of chances, and we kept going.

"We kept pushing and in the end we get our result. I had a good feeling because we did the right things.

"We now leave the cup competition for a while and concentrate on the Premiership."

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Simo Valakari has challenged Benjamin Kimpioka to "work his way back in" at St Johnstone after the striker's move to Belgian side OH Leuven collapsed on transfer deadline day.

The Swede, who has netted 11 times in all competitions this season, has not featured in St Johnstone's past two matches but will see out his contract, which expires at the end of the campaign.

"It was a more uncertain time for Benji himself because he wanted to explore the options he had," said manager Valakari.

"Maybe too many options on his plate, you know? But for me, everything was clear. It was no distraction or anything.

"The window closed and nothing happened. Now it's up to Benji to work his way back in.

"He has been training good this week, and that's the only thing I expect.

"There is no other option, if you want to train with our first-team squad, you need to put in full effort and that's what Benji has been doing.

"Benji is not the first or last player who will go through this kind of, transfer saga, or however you call it.

"If you start dwelling on this, you will destroy your reputation, you will destroy your football condition.

"So for me, there is no other option than to be in the right frame of mind to try to compete for your future, because the future is now.

"It's not summer, the future is now. Now you make your future."

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Cup last-16 tie with Hamilton.

Here are the key points:

• Valakari says the Scottish Cup is a "beautiful" and "simple" competition. It's a great "tradition" for both Scottish football and for St Johnstone.

• The win over Motherwell in the previous round helped provide a "break" from the "pressure of the league" when Saints needed it.

• Valakari's side can go "full rock and roll" against Hamilton as there is "nothing to lose" in the Scottish Cup - "You have only won after you win the final."

• The new signings have "freshened up everyone" and there is "big competition" for places, even on the bench.

• All 24 players plus four goalkeepers trained on Friday and Saints must "pull together" when they have everyone fit: "We can't now just think, 'We are okay, everything is good because we have all the players.' No, no, no, no, no, no. Nothing has changed. It comes through the hard work."

• The January window was an "uncertain" time for Benjamin Kimpioka, who perhaps had "too many options". It's now up to the player to "work his way back in".

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's business in the January transfer window.

Here's what some of you said:

William: Pleased we managed to sign three players for the long term and the earlier loans all look the right type. The two in on deadline day are underwhelming but still required. Would have liked to have gotten more players out but that might happen yet.

Anon: The signings should get rid of the negative attitude and have a positive impact on the rest. Dealt with the deficiencies. Having brought in signings until 2026 shows an appetite for the fight ahead, whatever division. Confident we can stay up though.

Stuart: On the back of recent results it's great to see the manager getting his players in and for them to show the same energy he has brought to the club. After a couple of seasons on life support, I'm encouraged with the direction we are heading. Whatever happens, there is hope now for a brighter future.

Les: Very happy with the additions during the Window. Adam Webb has backed Simo Valakari and now I hope we can push on. It's still a big ask to avoid the drop but I'm definitely feeling a lot more optimistic about our chances. Next four league games are massive.

With the transfer window now closed, how do you feel about St Johnstone's January business?

Bottom club Saints were the most active in the Premiership, bringing in eight players. Deadline-day arrivals Zach Mitchell and Stephen Duke-McKenna joined fellow loan players Andy Fisher, Sam Curtis and Elliot Watt, while Daniels Balodis, Jonathan Svedberg and Victor Griffith are permanent signings.

Jack Sanders, Connor Smith and David Keltjens have all moved on, Josh Rae has gone out on loan, and Lewis Neilson's loan was ended.

So, after a busy month of deals, are the Perth club now in good shape to achieve a great escape?

Have your say on St Johnstone's transfer business., external

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Midfielder Stephen Duke-McKenna says he will "excite" St Johnstone fans after joining the club on loan from Harrogate Town.

The 24-year-old has joined for the remainder of the season and says he "backs himself" to help move Saints off the bottom of the Premiership table.

"It's a big opportunity for me, new surroundings, new scenery, just want to see how I do, I back myself, so we'll just see how it goes," Duke-McKenna told club media.

"I was buzzing, I spoke to the manager, saw there was a buzz around the place and I can't wait to get started."

St Johnstone have enjoyed back-to-back league wins against Motherwell and St Mirren to narrow the gap at the bottom to just five points.

"It's very exciting, right in the thick of it, I can't wait to get going," Duke-McKenna added.

"I'm an exciting player, I like to excite the crowd, hopefully I'll bring goals and assists to the club and help the team as much as I can.

"Hopefully I can show the fans some exciting things and help the team push up the table."

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Goalkeeper Josh Rae has joined Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on loan until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old joined St Johnstone in the summer from Airdrieonians and has made 19 appearances this season.

However, he has been on the bench since Simo Valakari signed Andy Fisher on loan from Swansea at the beginning of the January transfer window.

Barry Robson's Rovers sit seventh in the second tier and Rae will offer competition for former Hibernian goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Don't concede and you'll get a result.

A fairly straightforward gameplan executed to perfection on Saturday as we look to do what was deemed impossible a few short weeks ago.

From nine points adrift in mid-January to the current deficit of five has definitely breathed life back into the team.

Massive games this month against Ross County and Killie - as well as the sweet relief of a Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Hamilton - will hopefully see us in touching distance of a trip to Hampden and in a decent position to attack the business end of the Premiership season.

A team and a local community that will not go down without a fight. "No one likes us, we don't care" seems incredibly apt and it's exactly how we like it in Perth.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints Podcast, external

St Johnstone midfielder Cammy MacPherson, 26, was set to leave Perth for an overseas move on deadline day. (Herald - subscription), external

Goalkeeper Josh Rae, 24, was also close to an exit from St Johnstone. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip