Dunfermline V Saints preview

Tomorrow saints fans get to travel to the long anticipated game of our new “derby” in Dunfermline.

Saints fans are expected to reach over the 2,000 barrier and are reminded about their safety when making the short visit through. Thanks to a thread created on We Are Perth the build up to this game has been bringing more and more adrenaline each day that goes.

The last time the two sides met saw saint ssuffer an embarrasing 3-0 loss. But with a settled squad now in place and getting revenge on Partick last weekend after they beat us 4-0 the confidence and concentration on this game is at an all time high.

 

Stats for bith sides:

Last 6 games played

Saints   -         W D W W W W

Dunfermline - L D W D W W

Top scorers:

Saints -  Stevie Milne  -  7  -   6 in league and 1 in cups

Dunfermline - Kirk -  7   -      5 in league and 2 in cups

Oh sweet revenge

After the last fixture bringing together Saints and the jags, it was the Perth team looking for revenge after a thumping defeat with a sore scoreline noted at 4-0.

With windy conditions affecting one game in the 1st division saints had to play with experience and skill in order to fight of 12 mand thistle and the wind combined.

Before Kick off, every one in the stadium took a respected 1 minutes silence for the sad loss of a saint legend - Charlie McFadyen. Charlie was a well respected player and person earning a record 336 appearances.

 

After recovering from an illness, Gavin Swankie took back his role in Midfield ahead of Alan Morgan who played last week in Livingston. Thislte could have opened the scoring when Buchanan shot wide of Alan Mains goal after a disagreement he had with the wind but luckilly Rutkiewicz was on hand to clear any danger and release the ball upfield.

The scoring began for saints when a Martin Hardie free kick came in the box and landed to McCaffrey to make a good turn and volley the ball home. It ended just one goal up at halft time but could have easilly doubled the advantage had Sheerin made a spot kick count after Liam Craig was brought down.

But moments later it was Craigs turn to take a chance at a second awarded penalty and made no mistake getting the ball into the net. The third goal came from Stevie Milne who was yet again provided a great ball from Derek Holmes and Milne took the ball with a sweet drive past Tuffey.

 

 

 

Saints V Thistle Preview

St Johnstone welcome back to McDiarmid park tomorrow the visit from Partick Thistle and some players have admitted that revenge is not on the cards so long as they pick up 3 points. The last encounter with Thistle saw saints be put to the gaunlet with a 4-0 loss on a day not remembered much by Kevin Rutkiewicz after a bizarre ilness that cut his game short.

The St Johnstone squad is looking a lot brighter than in recent times with plenty of wins on the trot now and the majority of the squad all fit and shaken off most injuries. Mcinnes may be able to play the likes of Morris and Swankie who have come through training with no worries since their injuries and illness repectivley.

Colin Samuel is still fighting away at his fitness battle and has upped his training recently and hopes to resume to full training this coming week.

Thisltes only worries have come in the shape of striker Mark Roberts and defender Alan Archibald both out with injuries but have Mark Twaddle back in the line up.

If saints pick up another 3 points it is possible to be top by end of the day but the Perth camp know that they must take each week at a time and not get carried away with themselves and concentrate on maximising points on the Perth front.

Stats for the clubs:

Top scorers - St Johnstone -   Stevie Milne  - 6 goals ( 5in the league)

                               Partick Thistle - McKeown - 5 goals ( 1 in the league)

 

Previous Form in last 5 games - saints      W D W W W

                                                          Thsitle     L  L  D  L  L

 

Home and away form as required -              P       W        D       L        F       A       pts

                                saints (home)                      5       3          0       2       9        7     17

                                Partick (away)                      5       1         1        3       3       7      14

 

Predicted score SJFC 2- 0 Thistle

Attendance predicted   2768

Scorers  - Milne (34)    Jackson (67)

Reserve game called off

Due to a lack of number in the East Fife team able to play tonight the club has announced a further delay in the game and will not go ahead tonight as planned.

Saints tame the Lions!

After a great run before the international break St Johnstone were looking to make it 13 out of 15 points on the trot in a tough battle at top of the league leaders Livingston.

The Last result against the Livi Lions didn’t go to plan after being knocked out the Co-Op cp 2-1 after extra time. With a solid defensive partnership starting to bond with McCaffrey and Rutkiewick and Gary Irvine celebrating the birth of his new baby daughter and Liam Craig starting to become more farmilliar in the left back role it seemed certain for a good day in Alan Mains goals especially with the loss of Livi’s two goal scoring threats.

A healthy sized away support had come through to see St Johnstone pick up 3 points at Almond Vale and it was the on-form Stevie ‘Savo’ Milne that came up not only with the goods but an absolutly outstanding world class piece of finshing worthy to win any game. A great ball was played up the left wing from Craig to Holmes who done well to control under preasure and cross the ball to Milne who made an approach to the edge of the ‘D’ section in Livi’s box, controled on the knee and lobbed the keeper from a good 20 yards out.

Although the game finished 1-0 to saints it should probably have finished 3-1 with both sides missing close range headers and one from Hardie who was unlucky not to have directed the ball to wither side of their keeper.

Easy clean sheet for Alan Main, great defensive work from all, excellent fitness showed by the midfield and great decision making from the forwards.

All 3 subs were used by Mcinnes and the only person in the stadium not knowing who they were was the tannoy man and achiving 100% to get every name wrong as saints players came on. MacDonald was the last of the subs to appear and is looking a lot more fitter and thinner but should have scored when running goal wards from the right but opting to pass instead of shoot.

All heads down now for the Partick game and the team are hoping they will have a great vocal backing by the supporters and keep them going for another 90 minutes!

 

Scottish Hydro Electric super skills in October

Please note that during the Ocotber holidays a football programme has been set out for all children aged between 5 and 16 years old held at McDiarmid Parks astroturf.

Just turn up as there is no need to book a place, entry is £4 per child and they can enjoy an hour an a half of football coaching. This could be the perfect way to get your kid in the run up to be a professional later on in life so why not?

dates are as follows:

14th October McDiarmid Park 1.00 to 2.30 pm 5 to 16 yrs £4

15th October McDiarmid Park 1.00 to 2.30 pm 5 to 16 yrs £4

16th October McDiarmid Park 1.00 to 2.30 pm 5 to 16 yrs £4

17th October McDiarmid Park 1.00 to 2.30pm 5 to 16 yrs £4

please leave any comments or requests if you want any more information on this.

A look back at our semi final of last year.

2 years in a row, and St Johnstone made it 3 national semi finals in a row and a cup win in the shape of our impressive 3-2 win over dunfermline Read more

Reserve a new date for your diaries

The date fot the reserve league cup tie against East fife has been changed to the 21st October 2008 with a 7:45pm Kick off.

Samuel Injured

News on striker Collin Samuel has been registered as doubtful for the game against the recently deposed league leaders. A deep tear in his hamstring has been diagnosed and it looks like a two to three week absence.