allum Davidson probably needed the two-week breather for his side after an indifferent set of results for the Perth-based club threatened to cause a slide down the standings.
At the end of round 29, St Johnstone were eighth in the table with 32 points, seven adrift of Livingston in sixth, a further nine from Aberdeen — who occupy the final European spot in the league — and have a 10-point lead over bottom Dundee United, with an eight-point advantage over second-bottom Ross County.
Following last season’s flirtation with relegation to the Scottish Championship — Saints ended second-bottom and had to win the two-legged playoff final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle to secure their top-flight status — this season represents some progress.
There is no immediate danger of a relegation battle, but they also seem far from any challenge to compete for the European spots.
Perhaps this adds some importance to Saturday’s game, with the side occupying fourth place visiting McDiarmid Park, because success over the Reds would reduce the deficit to six points, giving Davidson’s troops an outside shot at continental participation.
allum Davidson probably needed the two-week breather for his side after an indifferent set of results for the Perth-based club threatened to cause a slide down the standings.
At the end of round 29, St Johnstone were eighth in the table with 32 points, seven adrift of Livingston in sixth, a further nine from Aberdeen — who occupy the final European spot in the league — and have a 10-point lead over bottom Dundee United, with an eight-point advantage over second-bottom Ross County.
Following last season’s flirtation with relegation to the Scottish Championship — Saints ended second-bottom and had to win the two-legged playoff final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle to secure their top-flight status — this season represents some progress.
There is no immediate danger of a relegation battle, but they also seem far from any challenge to compete for the European spots.
Perhaps this adds some importance to Saturday’s game, with the side occupying fourth place visiting McDiarmid Park, because success over the Reds would reduce the deficit to six points, giving Davidson’s troops an outside shot at continental participation.
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The only blemish in their ongoing run came against champions-elect Celtic, a game that saw Ange Postecoglou’s men run out 4-0 winners.
Particularly pleasing for Robson — who will stay in situ until the end of this season — was the recent 3-0 win over Hearts before the international break, in which the Reds raced into an unassailable advantage by scoring three times in the opening half-hour.
That victory saw them reduce the deficit on Hearts from seven to four, and they likely now have third place in their sights owing to the incumbent’s dip in form.
Having won both fixtures against St Johnstone this season, Aberdeen will back themselves to claim another victory over this weekend’s hosts.
