Tactical Battle

02 January 2012 10:24
Teams praised for the their football get the chance to show how it should be done in the SPL

Danny Lennon knows his St Mirren side will have to be at their best if they are to stretch their unbeaten run to five games when they take on Kilmarnock on their own patch today. The Buddies are in high spirits after away draws at Aberdeen and Motherwell, as well as a win over Rangers and picking up another point at home to Dundee United in  midweek.  Lennon has now urged his players to demonstrate the sort of consistency he feels Kenny Shiels' Killie side have been lacking this season.

He said: "It's going to be a very difficult one for us. Kilmarnock are a good quality, passing football side. They have maybe struggled a wee bit in terms of where they were last season and the number of players who went out. Kenny has tried to keep it going and they have had indifferent results. They went three goals up against Celtic and drew that game and scored three against Inverness and lost six. There is a bit of inconsistency but most of their good positive results have come at Rugby Park so we know how important it is for us to be on the top of our game."Lennon believes part of his job is helping players reach their potential and he has backed Kenny McLean and Paul McGowan to have bright futures after earning positive reviews for their performances for Saints. He said: "Our football club has got to take a great deal of credit in the way that we identify players who are going to fit our style and our philosophy. These lads are blossoming, they are flourishing, and they are still at a very young age. They've got the makings and I also ask the lads to have a wee bit of intelligence. By that I don't just mean game intelligence but also intelligence off the pitch and how to live their lives because there is a big future for them out there."With the transfer window now open for business, managers will be working with the board and checking their contacts to see how they can improve their squad for the second half of the season. On his plans for the January transfer window, Lennon said: "I have an area where I would like to try to do something but I've not identified a player. What is also important for us, as well as the ability of the player, is that he has got to be the right character for us." 

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Source: FOOTYMAD