Steven MacLean wants Saints to cut out defensive errors
St Johnstone's top-six prospects hinge on halting lapses which have seen them concede the first goal in their last eight matches, according to striker Steven MacLean.
MacLean admits the team has to tighten up, starting with their home clash with Inverness on Wednesday night.
Saints are very much in the running for a top-six place in the Ladbrokes Premiership, despite winning just once in 13 games since early December.
But MacLean knows their form has to turn quickly to ensure they finish in the top half of the table for a fifth consecutive season.
MacLean, whose side lost 2-1 at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday, said: "As a team we would always stay in the game even if we weren't playing well. We would hang in there and not concede.
"We have to get back to that. Conceding two early goals like we did against Partick was shooting ourselves in the foot.
"If we keep going behind it is very hard to win games. Sure, we have managed to get a few draws and we won against Motherwell. But we have been making life hard for ourselves.
"You can't do it every week. We have to give ourselves a base and we have to do whatever it takes to get the points needed for another top-six finish."
Securing a point against Aberdeen after beating Motherwell suggested Saints had turned a corner. But they have also lost twice to the Jags in recent weeks.
MacLean said: "Looking at the table before we played Partick Thistle last week I'd have said seven points before the split would definitely have got us into the top six.
"But given the run we are on we can't afford to look too far ahead. We just have to focus on beating Inverness.
"Every game is massive for us now. It's maybe not a cup final, but it is getting that way. We need to be picking up points.
"Our performances have lacked consistency and that is frustrating for everyone. At Aberdeen in the first half we were as good as we have been for a while. Our shape was good and we created chances.
"We have watched the Partick game back on video and we know where we went wrong. We discussed it and we know we can do better."
Brian Easton and Chris Millar are pushing for recalls.
Easton has been out for more than a month with a gashed foot while Millar has been managing a hamstring problem.
Defender Dave Mackay remains a long-term absentee with a hip injury.
Meanwhile, Inverness manager John Hughes has called for his players to be given some leeway from the Scottish football authorities amid a testing run of fixtures.
Caley Thistle play their fifth consecutive away game on Wednesday in Perth.
The run has included two scheduled Saturday fixtures in the Ladbrokes Premiership plus two rearranged games and their William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibernian.
"The last five have been away on the road," Hughes said. "I don't know how that has worked out.
"Am I having a whinge? You better believe it.
"But there's also a smile on my face because it gives us a great sense of siege mentality. And trust me I will be using all that in the dressing room.
"Hopefully the boys respond in the games coming up and take care of business and turn this into a right good season."
Caley Thistle are also in the midst of a hat-trick of midweek games - their league clash with Hearts next Wednesday was postponed to allow space for their replay against Hibs.
"You are getting punished a little bit for being successful in terms of fighting our corner to remain in the Scottish Cup on Sunday, when the travelling is difficult," Hughes said.
"Then we have to go back at it toe to toe on Wednesday. That is demanding on the payers. And we will have to do that again Saturday and Wednesday.
"I think the league should be looking at that and help us out.
"And it brings a smile to my face, I wish the two teams in the League Cup final on Sunday all the best, but that's not what happened to us a couple of years ago. Remember we had to play a league game on the Wednesday against Hibs? Absolutely ridiculous decision.
"Hopefully they have looked at that and learned a lesson, because the demands on players, you need to be careful. And with the injury problems we have had this season, we are right down to the bare bones.
"But the boys just roll their sleeves up and keep going."
Hughes says his team news is "just the usual" ahead of the game.
Source: PAR
