First Team
Saints want win ahead of international break
16th March 2018
Saints seek to build upon their terrific 4-0 win at Dundee last weekend when they host Hibernian at McDiarmid Park tonight.
After an up and down 2018 thus far, Saints delivered their finest performance of the season to blow their Tayside rivals away at Dens Park. The win kept our faint Premiership top six hopes alive as, with four games to go before the split, Tommy Wright’s side sit in 8th place and are six points behind Hearts in 6th.
Now they come up against a Hibs side that are in fine fettle as of late and fresh from a derby victory of their own. Neil Lennon’s team overcame local rivals Hearts in their previous outing to cement their 4th place position.
Tommy says of tonight’s game “Last week was just what everyone needed and now we have to build on it.
“It was a ‘complete’ 90 minute performance, we were clinical and it showed how important the first goal is because even at the Kilmarnock game, where we started well, we were undone by their opener.
“In that respect, I must admit I was relieved when we did score at Dens after the pressure we had applied to get that all important first goal. It allowed the players to relax and go and put in a superb performance.
“We’re heading into an international break now and so we aim to do that on a high with another win tonight. Hibs have had a superb season and will themselves be on a high after their derby success so it promises to be a great game for the television cameras.”
Saints have no new injury concerns but Jason Kerr will miss out through suspension, the club having failed to over-turn the red card he received at Rugby Park.
Saints can take confidence from their first two encounters with the Hibees so far this season. After the spoils were shared in the pair’s first clash in Perth last September, Saints secured a dramatic 2-1 win at Easter Road in November. A similar result is needed for Saints once more if they are to reach the league’s top six and meet Hibs again after the split.
Kick off tonight is scheduled for 7.45 pm. John Beaton is the match referee.