St Johnstone

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park

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When Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh are in the mood, they really are a dangerous duo and a frightening prospect for most defences in the league.

They are both so powerful in their press and cause havoc with their movement.

Though Kimpioka got his double, he really ought to have been going home with the match ball while, at worse, Sidibeh should have been celebrating one of his many shots.

They spearheaded a well-organised and patient St Johnstone, whose fans can only be disappointed they didn't walk away with more.

At times, there was a little frustration at the way the team appeared content passing the ball around in the second half. Perhaps the events of the 3-3 draw with County just a matter of weeks ago are still in the minds.

But rarely do St Johnstone have the luxury of spraying the ball around with zero pressure, dominating and being in cruise control. Three things they were here.

They were clearly enjoying the freedom and time they had to concoct an attack, encapsulated by Graham Carey nifty footwork to set up the third and final goal.

Utter dominance and the most deserving of wins.

Kirk said pre-match the players were playing to prove themselves to Valakari in the stands. Many will have left a good impression.

With his brace, it could only be Benji Kimpioka.

Four shots, three on target, two goals. Though he really should've headed home with the match ball.

His strength was a County concern all afternoon and every one of his seven touches in the box spelled danger for the visitors.

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Both sides at McDiarmid Park show two changes from defeats by the two sides of the Old Firm last time out.

While Simo Valakari is not yet officially in the St Johnstone dugout, you imagine the new team boss will have been the one who decided to promote midfielder Jason Holt and striker Adama Sidibeh into the starting line-up.

Defender Aaron Essel and forward Makenzie Kirk drop to the bench following the 2-0 loss to Rangers at Ibrox.

County's Don Cowie makes two changes from their 2-1 home defeat by Celtic.

In come striker Eamonn Brophy and Scott Allardice, whose fellow midfielders, Noah Chilvers and Aidan Denholm, drop to the bench.

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Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic is still waiting on a work permit after signing for St Johnstone, who remain without Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Ross County defender Will Nightingale faces more than two months out following knee surgery. George Harmon (ankle) and Ricki Lamie (Achilles) remain out while Max Sheaf has had a setback in his recovery from a thigh problem.

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St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari will not be in the dugout for Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash against Ross County, as the club say "the completion of relevant paperwork is still to be finalised".

Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland did pitchside duties for the Perth side's last outing - against Rangers - as Valakari watched on from the stands, and that will be the same arrangement this weekend, despite "extensive work behind the scenes".

St Johnstone say the situation is "currently outwith the club's control".

"Fans can be assured that the club is doing everything it can to speed up the process," chief executive Fran Smith said.

"Simo is understandably itching to get started and to take his place on the touchline. We will provide a further update to supporters as soon as possible."

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Leanne Crichton says she is "not convinced" with former St Johnstone manager Craig Levein’s suggestion that the side are better this season than they were in the previous campaign.

The Perth club sacked the former Scotland manager in mid-September after a run of four consecutive defeats and are currently on a run of no wins in seven, having appointed Simo Valakari as their new head coach earlier this month.

Crichton, speaking on BBC Scotland’s Scottish Football Podcast, suggests that a managerial change may not have been necessary if they were indeed a better side this season.

"I don’t know if they are, I’m not convinced by it," she said.

"I understand that they do now carry more of a goal threat than they did, I think they’ve got more pace in their side but ultimately a manager’s not being removed from a position if your side is doing better than they were last season.

"That is Craig’s opinion and I suppose time will tell with the squad that Simo Valakari has at his disposal. Can he turn that into a side that carries more of a goal threat, who carries that attacking prowess in the middle of the pitch, can they be defensively better organised?

"In their eight games, they’ve conceded 19 goals, that’s something that can be quite quickly addressed and how you play, maybe perhaps the fact that they have got more pace up top, it’s allowed them to think this season that they can open up and be more attacking and they’re still susceptible defensively for me.

"There is work there to be done, I do think they’ve got a couple of key players that you can look to improve and if you can keep the likes of Benjamin Kimpioka from picking up suspensions and red cards and other players along with that as well, you might go on to a good thing."

Simo Valakari, appointed St Johnstone manager on 1 October, is still awaiting a full work permit, with the club working hard to push through the paperwork in time for Ross County’s visit on Saturday. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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• St Johnstone are unbeaten in four league meetings with Ross County (W2 D2), winning as many of those four (2) as their previous 15 against the Staggies beforehand (W2 D8 L5).

• Ross County have only lost one of their last five league trips to St Johnstone (W2 D2), going down 1-0 in November 2023.

• St Johnstone have lost all three of their home league games this season, the only side in the Scottish Premiership in 2024-25 yet to pick up a home point. Since the Scottish Premiership re-brand in 2013, only three sides have lost each of their first four home matches of a campaign in the division: St Mirren (2014-15), Dundee (2018-19), and Dundee United (2022-23).

• Ross County are winless in 20 away league games (D8 L12) since beating Kilmarnock 1-0 in September 2023. Home and away, the Staggies have just one win in their last 11 Scottish Premiership fixtures (D6 L4).

• This will be Simo Valakari’s first game in charge of St Johnstone, the first Finnish manager to take charge of a side in the Scottish Premiership since Mixu Paatelainen with Dundee United in 2015-16. Not since Billy Stark in October 2001 has a St Johnstone boss lost his first top-flight match in charge of the club.

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Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum says it was the "wrong decision" not to award Rangers a penalty against St Johnstone for a shirt pull on Cyriel Dessers.

It was announced earlier this week by the SFA's key match incident review panel that Saints defender Aaron Essel should have been penalised for a tug on the Rangers striker.

"We expect a penalty kick here and we expect the referee to be brought to the monitor to review the decision," Collum said.

"You hear the referee saying he saw a 'small hold but it has no impact'... but is what the refereeing saying actually what happened? We don’t regard this as a 'small hold' and as having 'no impact'.

"We believe if this holding offence doesn't happen, the attacker has the chance to challenge for the ball. It's excessive holding."

The previous weekend, defender John Souttar was penalised for handball in the box following a VAR review against Hibernian.

Mykola Kuharevich's spot-kick was saved and the hosts maintained their 1-0 lead until full-time.

"It's the correct decision for us," Collum said of the Souttar incident.

“We think the Rangers defender throws himself to save the shot, block the shot at all costs. Unfortunately for him he's made his body bigger, for us it’s not natural.

"There’s a slight arm movement, although it’s not deliberate, but it’s certainly a punishable handball.

"There is every opportunity the goalkeeper could save the shot. So we would not support a red card, it isn't an obvious goalscoring opportunity."

The position of goalkeeper Jack Butland's feet in relation to the goal line was also discussed and Collum was "content" there was no need for a re-take.

We asked for your views on what you want to see from the Saints.

Here's what some of you said:

Daniel: The strength now lies in the attack with strikers who'll take chances, but Craig Levein just never seemed to get the players or fans believing enough for things to work. Simo Valakari's message is likely to be bought into more and likely be more fearless too. Could still be a surprise outfit.

Willie: We have good players, we need confidence and good shape, we need a coach who can make substitutions when they are needed. Give the fans belief and the fans will give their all. Most important of all make McDiarmid Park a fortress.

Ian: It's pretty simple for me, we need to shore up the leaky defence, make the most of our front men and get points on the board. Flowing football would be nice but we need a base to build from.

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Croatian defender Bozo Mikulic has become the first St Johnstone signing of the Simo Valakari era.

The centre-half started his career with RNK Split before earning a move to Sampdoria in Italy.

He would return to his homeland to join Hajduk Split and more recently played for Auda in Latvia under Valakari.

"I expect this to be a very difficult league physically," said the 27-year-old, whose most recent club was Albanian side FK Partizani.

"It is a great step in my career, I'm happy to be here and hopefully we have a good season ahead of us.

"It means a lot to sign for St Johnstone. I've been through several different countries and cultures and that has made me a lot stronger as a player and as a person.

"Simo was my coach two years ago and now being able to sign here is something amazing for me. I look forward to playing in front of our fans."

With domestic football making its return this weekend, we want to know what you're looking for from your side.

The Simo Valakari reign will start for real when St Johnstone host Ross County on Saturday.

After a seven-game winless run, what does the new boss need to improve between now and November's international break?

Give us your thoughts here, external.

Croatian centre-back Bozo Mikulic, 27, could become Simo Valakari's first St Johnstone signing after the free agent impressed during a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hibernian. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

David asked: In your honest opinion where do you feel Saints will finish this season?

Tom answered: Rejoice in the fact that I think St Johnstone are in serious danger of relegation. Why? Because I'm never right when it comes to this stuff, so you can relax. The good times are on their way.

From what I’ve seen so far, it looks like it's St Johnstone and Ross County who are in the most danger and I think Saints are, just about, in the most perilous state of all because their defence looks that little bit worse.

Take out the eight goals both clubs conceded in their matches against the Old Firm, St Johnstone still shipped 11 in their other six games. Ross County conceded six in six.

All of this might flip on its head as we go along, but right now, I see County in 11th and Saints in 12th.

Ronan Hale looks like he'll go on to score a fair amount of goals and he could prove the difference. But, remember, you’re talking about the Mr Magoo of the tipping world here.

New St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has handed a trial to Bozo Mikulic, the 27-year-old Croatian defender with whom he worked at Auda in Latvia and who is a free agent after leaving Albanian club Partizani Tirana. (Daily Record), external

St Johnstone will receive £25,000 in training compensation following Trinidad & Tobago midfielder Dan Phillips' summer move to Stevenage. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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.

Who has been the top performer so far? Can the new manager revitalise the club?

Put your questions to Tom here, external.

Sportscene pundits Niall McGinn and Cammy Bell assess St Johnstone's opportunities in the 2-0 defeat against Rangers.

(Available to UK users only)

Former St Johnstone manager Owen Coyle has backed his old Motherwell teammate Simo Valakari to "elevate the club" following his appointment in Perth. (The Courier - subscription required, external)

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Optimism. An emotion that hasn't seen the light of day in Saints fans since we were all wearing face masks and deciding what family members you wanted to spend Christmas with.

But optimism is absolutely oozing from a particular 80s rockstar throwback from Finland and it is spreading.

Simo Valakari is saying all the right things and is a breath of fresh air.

With the new owners suggesting "just staying up" isn't the standard that should be set, it really is unchartered territory for us fans and something to relish going forward.

I think Simo will be brilliant for Scottish football in general.

With the "Sacked in the morning" headlines now in the past, I hope we don't see "He's Finnish? He's only 51!" any time soon.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints, external

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Simo Valakari will "be a breath of fresh air" for St Johnstone, says goalkeeper Ross Sinclair.

The 23-year-old is relishing the international break as a chance to reset and work with the new manager.

Having been appointed as Craig Levein's successor last week, work permit issues meant Valakari watched Saints' 2-0 defeat against Rangers from the directors' box at Ibrox as Alec Cleland and Andy Kirk continued in the dugout.

"Really good, really excited,” said Sinclair.

"I've only been introduced to him so I don't know much about him, but I've seen stuff online and he really looks like he's got a positive vibe and really positive to be fair. That's what we need and can't wait to work with him.

"I think the international break comes at a good time because it does give the boys, who are not away, obviously, that time to work on the training pitch with the gaffer as soon as he comes in.

"I'm sure he'll be a breath of fresh air for us.

"We played better on Sunday, obviously the score wasn't great, but we played better.

"We have to use it [as a reset] because there's a long season and we need to start putting results together before Christmas."

St Johnstone fans, we asked for your thoughts following Sunday's defeat to Rangers.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Laurie: No matter how well we play, we're not going to get good results with this back line. Bringing in some experienced free agents is an absolute must for Simo Valakari.

Gordon: Our new boss Valakari has work to do. He has a blank canvas which is not in the worst shape. He also has some quality paint and some third-rate paint. He needs to get the good stuff on the canvas and the rubbish in the bin. It doesn't have to be the Mona Lisa but it has to be better than what hangs on the wall right now.

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• Rangers have won their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 2 January 2024 to 28 February 2024, a run of nine games.

• St. Johnstone have failed to win in their last six games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 5 August 2023 to 28 October 2023, a run of nine games.

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in five of their seven games, only Celtic (six) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• St. Johnstone have failed to score in four of their eight games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer run of games without conceding a goal in the competition was a run of six games from 1 December 2021 to 26 December 2021.