Saints Wants To Sin No More

06 November 2010 11:13
Derek McInnes is confident that it will not be three losses in a row for St Johnstone Derek McInnes has backed his St Johnstone players to put their double disappointment against Celtic firmly in the past when they welcome Kilmarnock today. Saints endured back-to-back defeats to the Hoops in their last two games, firstly in the Co-operative Insurance Cup and then in the SPL, losing six goals in the process. But McInnes has no fears about those results having too much of an effect, claiming his side have the character to move on by delivering the goods at McDiarmid Park against a team who beat Hearts last weekend. Murray Davidson has been given a 50/50 chance of being passed fit despite suffering a torn ankle ligament against Celtic, but Danny Grainger is suspended and will miss the visit of the Ayrshire club.  McInnes said: "We've got good boys here and the spirit and resolve has never been in doubt. They always bounce back pretty quickly after a disappointing result. We are at home again on Saturday. We are facing Kilmarnock who are going into the game off the back of a good result so we know it will be difficult but we just have to make it difficult for them. If we can reach the standard I know we're capable of and if we can concentrate and defend right for the 90 minutes, then we will give ourselves a chance to win the game. We've got to remember that we were in good form until the two Celtic games and I think we killed ourselves in both games. A poor start in any game leaves you with an uphill battle but especially against a team like Celtic. There were positives we could take from the first game and not so many from the second game. It's games that we can learn from but you have to move on quickly. Celtic are a better side but I'm just disappointed that we didn't show more of ourselves, certainly in the second game. Hopefully we can do that on Saturday.'' Kilmarnock again have an unchanged squad for the game, with long-term injury absentees James Dayton and Alan Combe still on the sidelines. Killie head into the game following their impressive 3-0 win at Hearts and McInnes has been impressed by Rugby Park boss Mixu Paatelainen so far this season. McInnes said: "He's attempting to put his stamp on how he wants the team to play. I've seen them a couple of times and for any team to go to Tynecastle and win 3-0 is an impressive result. We know if they play the way they can and they hit form, they are a tough team to play against. But, likewise, we have to make sure we impose ourselves on the game and show our good side as well.'' A win would allow Saints to edge closer to the top six but McInnes says SPL security must be the priority for the Perth club before setting more lofty targets. He said: "What we've got to do first and foremost is try to get ourselves away from the bottom team. Everybody acknowledges it's very tight, below us is very tight and above us is tight. Any team who can get themselves a bit of consistency can get themselves away from a bit of trouble and look onwards and upwards. We want to be the team who can do that. But it's very congested and two or three bad results can see you slip back down the table. We are just striving for that consistency and I've been pleased with a lot of what we've shown this year, but I'm still looking for that improvement and hopefully we can see that as the season goes on." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net

Source: FOOTYMAD