Source: Team_Talk
McInnes warns Saints after defeat
The Saints boss watched Kevin Kyle's solitary strike snatch the three points, despite his team's dominance of the play and chances.[LNB]The Perth men could only manage a draw with Hamilton last weekend after missed opportunities and lapses in defence, and McInnes is keen to see his players ensure it does not become a familiar tale of woe throughout the campaign.[LNB]He said: "Unfortunately it was the same old story.[LNB]"We were looking for that consistency of result because I think that consistency of performance has definitely been there since the start of the season.[LNB]"We won at Tynecastle, drew last week and we were looking to follow that up with a win.[LNB]"The players' approach was spot-on, we started the game really well.[LNB]"But I'm not wanting to be part of an unlucky team. It's not unlucky we haven't put the ball over the line, it's not unlucky we haven't kept a clean sheet."[LNB]The visitors' winner arrived following some dreadful defending from the hosts.[LNB]Mark Burchill, making his first start after an injury-ravaged opening to his Rugby Park career, nipped in to gather possession too easily inside the box and Kyle trundled in his cutback.[LNB]Saints had enjoyed the upper hand throughout and carved out the better opportunities but failed to score for the first time in a home match this season as the visitors claimed a first victory in five matches.[LNB]The result left McInnes a frustrated figure.[LNB]He added: "Kilmarnock have done very little for their goal, but their keeper has been worked very hard, we've had loads of traffic around their box and my keeper's had very little to do in the game.[LNB]"But we gave Kilmarnock a lift and gave them something to hang on to with their goal. It galvanised them as the away team.[LNB]"I can't fault the players' efforts. Some of the play was great, some of the patient build-up and crosses into the box was really good.[LNB]"But we've all got to take responsibility for getting the ball over the line and we fell short there today. The very least we should have come away with was a 0-0."[LNB]McInnes warned his players they would find themselves constantly embroiled in a relegation dogfight unless they changed their ways.[LNB]He added: "We're disappointed with that return of one point from two home games after the win at Hearts, and while every second or third game is a defeat we won't find ourselves away from that bottom.[LNB]"For us to improve we have to get ourselves away from there."[LNB]Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies admitted his team had been under pressure during the game.[LNB]After their first away win of the season, Jefferies said: "St Johnstone are one of the better teams we've played this year and they put us under a lot of pressure.[LNB]"But we got our noses in front and I said to the players at half-time that I wasn't looking for silky football. It was about determination and resilience to try and keep a clean sheet.[LNB]"We showed a resilience to get a result and I said before the game I would have taken that rather than play well and not get a result."[LNB]"It was all about getting the result to get back on track."[LNB]With back-to-back home games against Hibernian and Falkirk to come, Jefferies is hoping the victory can spark a revival.[LNB]He added: "Now, we've got two home games and if we were to win them we could be challenging the top six.[LNB]"That's how tight this league is and we've done ourselves a big favour because it was a real, hard-fought win and we showed great resilience to get it."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
