St Johnstone

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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It was a first start in five league matches and a first under Simo Valakari for Makenzie Kirk.

The 20-year-old more than repaid his new manager's trust with a crucial goal accompanied by an impressive performance.

He completed more successful dribbles than anyone else on the pitch and no other player had more shots or shots inside the opposition box.

His last start was in early October at Ibrox, where he missed a big opportunity to level the game at 1-0 down, but that doesn't seem to have fazed him.

There's always going to be a lot of pressure as the assistant manager's son, but Kirk answered his critics today.

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St Johnstone: Rae, Wright, Mikulic, Sanders, Raymond, Carey, Sprangler, Holt, Clark, Kirk, Kimpioka

Substitutes: Sinclair, Cameron, Neilson, Essel, Sidibeh, Kucheriavyi, Smith, McPake, Franczak

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Deas, Ndaba, Donnelly, Lyons, Watson, Armstrong, Vassell, Watkins

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Polworth, Bainbridge

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Goalkeeper Ross Sinclair is available again for St Johnstone, who are just missing long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee), Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Polworth is back in contention while Danny Armstrong missed the Celtic game with a hamstring injury.

Stuart Findlay (ankle) is out long term and Kyle Magennis is working towards a comeback.

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Simo Valakari believes St Johnstone are ready to halt their three-game losing streak after "very beneficial" extra time on the training pitch.

Saints return from the international break to host Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Recently-appointed manager Valakari said: "Spending more time together on the training field, spending time on little details, it has been very beneficial.

"Players who had little injuries have had time to heal and players with bigger injuries have been working hard.

"For me the confidence is our preparation, the daily process of what we do on the training ground.

"Three losses in a row is not us, we don't like it, but if we got three wins in a row it doesn't mean we would automatically win the fourth."

Valakari insists he is "excited" for the challenge of facing a "very well coached" Kilmarnock team.

"I really like what I see from Kilmarnock, I like how they overload the opponents' last line, they put a lot of players there," he said.

"They will put the ball in the box because they have big strikers, but if you give them time and space, they will play.

"We know we need to be our best to get something out of the match and we need to be humble, concentrated and do the small things as well as possible."

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

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• He is eager to get back to Premiership action after the international break and says "it has been a long two weeks" since the defeat by Motherwell.

• The hiatus, though, has been "very beneficial" in clearing up some injuries and allowing the team to "spend more time together, more time on the training field and get more of the little details right".

• On Saints' run of defeats, Valakari says: "Three losses in a row is not us, we don't like it."

• The Finn is pleased with the "good competition" for places for centre-back and says it gives "flexibility for different situations and makes us stronger."

• He is "very excited" to face a "strong" Kilmarnock team and insists his side "know what we need to do".

• Killie have "good, physical and capable players" and a "handful of strikers who are a very big threat in the box".

• On potential business in January, Valakari says: "It depends on what we do today or tomorrow, what kind of window we will be in."

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• Since the start of 2020-21, St Johnstone have won more league games against Kilmarnock (7) than any other opponent.

• After their 2-0 win in this fixture last season, Kilmarnock could pick up successive away league victories over St Johnstone for the first time since December 2017 (run of 3).

• St Johnstone have only won one of their last 14 home league games (D4 L9), a 3-0 victory over Ross County in October, which is also their only clean sheet in this period.

• Kilmarnock have won just three of their last 29 top-flight away games played in the month of November (D9 L17), and are winless in their last nine (D3 L6) since a 1-0 victory at Hearts in 2018.

• Nicky Clark has scored five of St Johnstone's last 10 league goals, netting a penalty in both of the last two matches. The last Scottish player to score in three successive Scottish Premiership appearances for the club was Michael O'Halloran in August 2017 – a run that included a goal against Kilmarnock.

St Johnstone will undertake an end-of-season review of their policy around Celtic and Rangers tickets for matches at McDiarmid Park in a bid to "maximise income" from all fans. (Football Scotland), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

St Johnstone are still adjusting to the methods of Simo Valakari as they look to avoid another relegation scrap this season.

The Perth side have also come under new ownership this year, with American lawyer Adam Webb taking over from Geoff Brown.

But what is the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to St Johnstone - good or bad?

Let us know., external

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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It is somewhat unusual to see not one, but two St Johnstone players joint top of the Premiership scoring chart.

Both Nicky Clark and Benjamin Kimpioka are level with Celtic captain Callum McGregor and Aberdeen striker Pape Habib Gueye on five goals.

The 10 goals scored between forward duo Clark and Kimpioka make up more than half of St Johnstone's totally tally of 16.

Saints have netted more than five other teams and have converted an impressive 50% of their 18 big chances, all while boasting the fourth-highest average ball possession in the league.

For years it has felt like St Johnstone have lacked a goalscorer while having a solid base, but this season that has flipped.

The Perth side have conceded 27 goals in just 13 games - more than any other team in the top flight - from an expected goals (xG) against of 18.81.

That means Saints have shipped eight more goals than expected based on the quality of chances created against them.

At times that can point to questionable goalkeeping, with neither Ross Sinclair or Josh Rae yet to nail down the starting spot.

Sinclair has played nine league games while Rae has featured in five. The save percentages of both keepers are below 60%.

The team are certainly missing Dimitar Mitov, who departed for Aberdeen in the summer after a stellar debut season in Scotland.

With a keeper of that calibre between the sticks, St Johnstone would be looking up the way rather than worrying about what is over their shoulder.

St Johnstone have reportedly missed out on defender Ville Tikkanen, 25, who has joined HJK Helsinki from SJK. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Barry Douglas has been about.

From Leeds to Lech Poznan, the one-time Scotland international has now settled in St Johnstone.

But what attracted him to McDiarmid Park?

"The football project on offer," he said.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, the 35-year-old expressed his excitement at returning to his homeland after a decade away.

"It's a bit of a transition period for the club. The new manager has come in, so it's new for me too, but it's exciting of course.

"It makes it a lot easier when you're winning football matches, and that's still to come but it's an exciting project, and it's probably the most important reason why I decided to come.

"The footballing project, a room for improvement and to help try and change the culture a little bit, on and off the park, was the big draw for me."

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast for new episodes daily on BBC Sounds here

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Simo Valakari stressed the importance of St Johnstone bouncing back after a run of three straight defeats.

The former Finland international started his reign with back-to-back wins over Ross County and Dundee, but a trio of losses against St Mirren, Hearts and Motherwell have followed.

Now the head coach is eyeing a response when his side welcome Kilmarnock next Saturday.

"How quickly football can change," Valakari told Saints TV.

"We could have got something out of those games we lost, but we didn't and that's the reality of where we are.

"We really need to bounce back in front of our home fans [next week] and be ready for that match."

Off the pitch, Valakari says it has been "easy to settle" at the Perth club following his arrival last month.

And the Saints boss also hailed the way in which his players have responded the methods he is aiming to implement.

"The players have been very, very open," he added. "It's not an easy way to play, but the football needs to be fun."

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your questions on St Johnstone.

Glenshee asked: Is there a future for St Johnstone's new possession-based style? Or will taking the risk to play more attractive football be abandoned for the return of anti-football?

Tom answered: It depends on how wedded to his principles Simo Valakari really is. They're scoring enough goals - when was the last time two St Johnstone players were top of the goalscoring charts? - and I hear plenty of St Johnstone fans telling me that you're much more fun to watch these days. In attack, that is.

To concede 27 goals in 13 games is hellish, though. There's no future in that. Benjamin Kimpioka and Nicky Clark could keep banging them in but to no avail if the team is so vulnerable at the back. Valakari will definitely know by now the main cause(s) of that vulnerability.

We watch all the games coming in on a Saturday and St Johnstone were a drag to watch for quite a while, no doubt about it. I hope Valakari keeps playing ambitious football, but he can't be naive either.

He has to find the right balance. It'll be interesting to see if he can get there. Nobody wants anti-football in a grim bid for survival.

St Johnstone are seeking the thoughts of Benji Kimpioka and his agent as they look to extend the Swedish striker's contract beyond next summer before the 24-year-old is able to speak to other clubs in January. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says "off-field things" have contributed to the absence of defender David Keltjens from his team in recent weeks. (The Courier), external

Australian defender Ryan McGowan says he left St Johnstone for Livingston this summer after a promised new contract failed to materialise despite his willingness to take a wage cut to stay. (The Courier), external

Sam Miller
Fan writer

The St Johnstone defence is leakier than a sieve from which someone has removed the bits between the holes.

It is a shame because we have goals in the team.

The problem has always been the other way round. We have struggled to score goals over the years but having players like Steven Anderson, Frazer Wright, Dave Mackay, Brian Easton and Jason Kerr at the back meant teams were usually in for a torrid time breaking us down.

If we can tighten things up I'm confident I'll be explaining to the missus why our summer holidays will be spent watching St Johnstone in Europe.

In a razor-thin league, we are not that far away.

Sam Miller can be found at the Dogger Saints podcast, external

Sportscene pundit Neil McCann analyses Motherwell's 2-1 Premiership victory over "lopsided" St Johnstone.

(Available to UK users only)

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari reassures striker Uche Ikpeazu, 29, he has a part to play in the Perth club's season following injury and hopes for a January return. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

What would you like to ask Tom English about St Johnstone?

Our chief sportswriter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Answers will be provided on Tuesday’s episode of the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast and on this page later in the week.

Put your questions to Tom here., external

St Johnstone "have to keep believing" in their approach, says Graham Carey. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Watch highlights of Motherwell's 2-1 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK viewers only)

We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 defeat against Motherwell.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: Once again our defensive frailties cost us. This is a hangover from Craig Levein and Simo Valakari has already taken steps to address this by bringing in Bozo Mikulic, but it will take time to get right. Middle to front we look good with good movement and passing. Just need to solidify at the back and we will rollover a team soon.

Sandy: Things don't happen in a vacuum - there are reasons for where Saints find themselves, including huge missed opportunities. Good to see a recognition, the goalies have been let down, but we all have to see that despite good possession play today there is a long term project needed to get back to where we were in 2014 or 2021, we must stay up.

Jimmy: Seems like we are still very nervous in defence. For Simo, the honeymoon period is nearly over, personally I know he can turn it around, we just need to keep faith in him and the team.

Roy: Promising start but looked utterly at sea when Motherwell started attacking. Could have been four or five down by the break. Didn't deserve anything from the game. Attractive football might be more pleasant to watch than what we've seen in recent years, but no points from three winnable fixtures and the leakiest defence in the Premiership doesn't augur well.

Hamish: Enjoying the new possession based football that Valakari is trying to instil into the players who appear to be buying into this way of playing. Once he has found the correct balance between defence and attack I think Saints will be a different team. It's not often you find a team out with the Glasgow two that dominates possession as much as Saints.

• St Johnstone attempted four shots on target in this match, higher than their season average of 3.3 in the Premiership.

• St Johnstone have scored in their last five Premiership games.

• Motherwell have conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only St Johnstone (four) and Ross County (four) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.