ELIMINATE THE ERRORS AND DEVELOP THE POSITIVES

The process of working towards a fresh start when league football starts again in a fortnight’s time begins today when a Saints side take on Rangers at Murray Park.

The substitutes from Saturday’s defeat to Clyde together with players such as Alan Morgan, Peter MacDonald and Kevin Moon will feature in the closed-doors game as the players and coaching staff set about the hard work required to eliminate the errors which have underpinned much of the work in the opening games of the season.

Kevin Rutkiewicz returned to the stadium this morning for the first time since feeling the effects of illness at Firhill and he, together with Jody Morris and Kevin James, will get a run out in another closed-door game next week.

Assistant Manager Tony Docherty said of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Clyde “It was a sore one, there is no two ways about it. Having got a lifeline just before half-time we really stirred things up during the break and the players were fired up and ready win the game in the second half and when we got the equaliser I thought that we would do just that. It was the way it should be – we were playing some great attacking football, the crowd were responding and we were causing them a lot of problems. So to then lose the game is very, very disappointing. The manner in which the free kick was given away and then the goal conceded were real sickeners.”

Saints now have two weeks to work on the failings and Docherty feels the break is well-timed.

“We have a fortnight to re-group and work hard ahead of three very difficult games. Derek and I realise what we have to do and it will turn – it will definitely turn. The failings are there for all to see and we are being heavily punished for them at the moment so we have to work on those but at the same time focus on the positives. We can’t lose heart and there is absolutely no sense panic. We did a lot of good things on Saturday – there was some really good attacking play - and we have to develop those things. There is a strong resolve and real determination to get things right.”

The three Saints youth squads had a successful Sunday. All three posted wins and netted an impressive 22 goals between them – more details via the Match Results tab.