Whittaker: Saints will be tricky

29 July 2011 07:43
Rangers full-back Steven Whittaker believes it might take another goalscoring contribution from defence to break down St Johnstone on Saturday.[LNB] Left-back Sasa Papac has scored four goals in six games against St Johnstone, and Whittaker feels it could take another defender venturing forward to get past the home defence.[LNB]St Johnstone have kept 10 clean sheets in their previous 14 games at McDiarmid Park and began their SPL campaign with a goalless draw at Aberdeen.[LNB]Rangers have started slowly with an Ibrox draw against Hearts followed by home defeat to Malmo in the Champions League qualifiers, so any win would suit Whittaker against St Johnstone.[LNB]"They have been tricky opponents," he told Blues News.[LNB]"I think Sasa's speciality is popping up with a goal against St Johnstone so hopefully he can do that again and hopefully we get the goals to get us the three points.[LNB]"They are well organised and sometimes it can be hard to break them down and for strikers and midfielders to find space.[LNB]"It might come from someone at the back or a set-piece to get us off the mark and let them open up a little bit.[LNB]"Hopefully if we can play at a high tempo and get right at them, the chances will follow for us."[LNB]After a poor start to their season at Ibrox, Rangers now face three consecutive away fixtures in competitive action, although Chelsea visit Govan in a friendly a week on Saturday.[LNB]But Whittaker is confident going away from home, with the return leg in Malmo and a trip to Inverness to come.[LNB]"The away fixtures, you would think would be harder, but our form last year away was very good," the Scotland international said.[LNB]"Hopefully we can continue that this year. At Ibrox you tend to put teams under a lot of pressure and they can break on us and create chances.[LNB]"Teams play against you more at home and it sets up for a more even game."

Source: Team_Talk