McCoist wishing Saints all the best

16 October 2009 08:58
He has been thrilled by the success newly-promoted Saints have enjoyed so far after a seven-year exile from Scottish football's top flight and still looks out for their results.[LNB]However, McCoist insists there will be no room for sentiment when Rangers travel to McDiarmid Park on Saturday - and hopes this will be one game which ends in defeat for the Perth club.[LNB]"I'm absolutely delighted for Derek because he was a team-mate and is still a very good friend of mine," said McCoist.[LNB]"I'm also delighted for the club he is working for.[LNB]"It was more than 30 years ago that I signed for St Johnstone and it's a club that's still in my heart.[LNB]"I genuinely still look for their results. It's a great club and I hope they continue to flourish under Derek.[LNB]"But we've got to go up there and take the three points and we know how difficult it's going to be.[LNB]"We went up there in the cup not so long ago and it was a really difficult game and our goalie had to make a couple of good saves before we managed to get the first goal.[LNB]"It's a tough place and you just have to look at their results so far this season.[LNB]"Derek has got them playing well and they are really difficult to beat.[LNB]"One of the secrets to Derek's side is that they don't really have any superstars and they enjoy working with each other and they enjoy working for the manager.[LNB]"When you've got that, you've always got a chance."[LNB]Rangers headed into their last game - the Old Firm derby - knowing defeat would see them fall seven points behind Celtic in the title race.[LNB]Instead, they secured a morale-boosting win and could go top themselves this weekend if they take maximum points from the lunchtime kick-off.[LNB]"It's strange isn't it?" said McCoist.[LNB]"But that's the life we live - you are either up or down.[LNB]"It's a great chance to go top of the league and that's the way we should look at it.[LNB]"That's the real incentive for our lads - to be top of the league before the rest of the games kick off."[LNB]Rangers were held to goalless draws against Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen before the win over Celtic and McInnes hopes St Johnstone can also take points from the Scottish champions.[LNB]He said: "You look at Rangers and they are a strong side. They are difficult to play against and they have that quality.[LNB]"If your concentration levels aren't there for 90 minutes, they can punish you.[LNB]"But from my own team's point of view, I think we are playing well enough at the moment and we are better equipped than we have been in recent meetings with Rangers.[LNB]"Hopefully that will be the case on Saturday and we show our confidence now that we are an SPL team, we've got that belief from being in the same division as them and hopefully that can have an influence on the fixture.[LNB]"Rangers are firm favourites, there is no question about that, but if we can play the way we can, we can get a result."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk