St Johnstone defender Richard Foster targets home improvement
St Johnstone should be targeting a top-three finish, according to defender Richard Foster.
But the full-back admits those aspirations will hinge on improving their home form.
Both Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle have picked up surprise wins at McDiarmid Park in recent weeks to ease away from the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership table.
So Foster does not want bottom club Ross County to get any joy on their travels to Perth on Saturday.
The former Aberdeen and Rangers player said: "Our home results have let us down a bit. But even in games we have lost to Kilmarnock and Patrick Thistle we have done enough to have taken points.
"If we can get our home form sorted the away form has been taking care of itself. We could be pushing for second or third spot in the league.
"We have taken four points off Hearts and drawn against Aberdeen and Rangers. Those are tough fixtures.
"We have shown we are every bit as good as these teams. But we have to prove it over the course of a season.
"We have to win games like this one against Ross County if we are to have serious aspirations of finishing in the top three.
"It won't be easy and they are much better than their current position suggests. We certainly won't take them lightly because they happen to be at the foot of the table right now. But it is a home game and one we are expected to win."
Foster admits there is an added edge to the encounter for him after being cut loose by the Staggies in the summer.
"It was good getting a win up there earlier in the season and I'm hoping for more of the same," he said.
"You always want to do well against an old team. You have a point to prove and want to come out on top. These are good games to play in, as long as you win."
Ross County forward Alex Schalk admits they have to start vindicating their assertion that they should be a top-six side.
Schalk is confident County can push for a second consecutive season in the top half but they travel to St Johnstone propping up the table.
Schalk said: "We are only three points off the top six. We have a massive opportunity on Saturday to narrow the gap with St Johnstone as well but you can't keep saying that. You have to grab these opportunities.
"We are going to go on a run now that will help us back into the top six, I am confident of that.
"The manager wants us to be an established top-six side, that has worked well so far but we have had a bad start.
"We can look up to St Johnstone and how well they are doing but I think with the ability we have in this group, we should be there as well. It's not all luck but we are unlucky to not be there right now."
Source: PAR
