CONNOR MCLAREN ON TUESDAY'S 4-3 WIN IN DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

After scoring two goals in a convincing 4-3 victory against Hamilton Accies on Tuesday night, under 20s winger Connor McLaren spoke to the Saints website about the match.

He said: “Well, we’re obviously buzzing to get the result we wanted. We started the game slowly but we came out sharper in the second half.

“We ended the first half better, and we grabbed two goals just before half time, so we were lucky to still be in the tie after going 2-0 down fairly early on.

“The game was fairly even at the start of the second half, but we got the two goals that made the difference and I thought we did well overall.”

After going two goals down with just under half an hour played, Saints scored four goals in quick succession, two goals just before half time and another two just after - the two second half strikes both came from Connor.

“It felt good to get a couple of goals tonight, and I got two last week against Partick Thistle last week. So four goals in two games is a good way to start.

“I think I only scored three goals last season, so it’s good to have overtaken that tally already. I’m just aiming to get as many goals as possible.

The Saints starting eleven featured three new summer signings, Greg Page (from Hearts), Irishman Eoghan McCawl (from Hull City) and Neil Martyniuk (from Hibernian), and Connor believes the new boys are having an impact on the recent positive results.

“They’ve all fitted in, and it already feels like a good, strong team. It feels like we have played with each other for a while now.

“We came back in early for pre-season, so we’ve had a lot of time to get to know each other and properly gel as a team.

“It’s a great dressing room to be in just now, and if we keep getting results like this, it’s only going to get better.

“I think all the boys played really well. It’s obviously a new team and a lot of the new boys are settling in really well, and I think that showed tonight.

“I think it will take time for us to gel, but six points from two games is all you can ask for and we’ve played really well in those two games.”

It was also the second time in two games that the young Saints had come back from going behind to win the game.

“To be fair, all the boys have got great character and we are a good team, so there was always a belief that we could get back into the game.

“There is a good vibe in the changing room, and we all get along really well, so I think that helps when you are playing.

“We just weren’t going to give up, it was as simple as that. We worked hard for each other and it paid off, so we’re happy.”

But with a strong opening to the SPFL Development League campaign, the young winger from Auchterarder is hoping to catch the eye of manager Tommy Wright.

“My targets personally are to score more goals and create more assists for the under 20s. As a wide player, those two are the most important.

“Obviously, I’m going to try and break into the first team, like so many of the other boys in the team. If I can do that I’ll be delighted.”

interview by Kerr Hall

St. Johnstone's Development side are next in action away to Dundee on Tuesday 1st September before coming back to McDiarmid Park on Tuesday 8th September to take on Ross County.