'Nothing changes' - inside St Johnstone mindset ahead of showdown with Scottish Cup finalists
Former Hearts and Dundee United man fully focused on task at hand with chance to lift third Championship title on the line.
St Johnstone defender Liam Smith knows better than most what it takes to win the Scottish Championship, having already done it twice in his career.
The 30-year-old was part of the St Mirren side that lifted the title in 2018 and then got his hands on the trophy again in the pandemic disrupted 2019/20 season with Dundee United. The former Hearts man now looks set to add a third winners medal to his collection, with the Perth Saints needing just one win from their final three matches to get the job done.
They currently sit top of the table, four points clear and with a game in hand over second placed Partick Thistle who conceded a last minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with Airdrieonians on Saturday. The leaders weren’t in action last weekend as their scheduled opponents Dunfermline Athletic were busy securing their spot in the Scottish Cup final.
“There’s no other way of looking at it” - St Johnstone going to East End Park to win
Neil Lennon’s side now host Saints at East End Park just three days after playing 120 minutes plus a penalty shoot-out at Hampden Park against rivals Falkirk. There’s plenty on the line for them as well as they can confirm their place in the promotion play-offs with a win.
“We knew that regardless of what they have done that if we took care of our business then we'd end up where we want to be,” said Smith. “ Obviously, by them dropping points it gives us the opportunity to do it on Tuesday which you can't ignore but in terms of the build up to the game and the way that we treat it, it won't be any different.”
Asked if he felt having three chances to secure the title, and automatic promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking, had taken the pressure off at all the full back was defiant in his response. He said: “No, I think because we'd go there to win anyway, there's no other way of looking at it.
“We'd have gone on Tuesday to win and if that had meant that we still would have had to do something maybe the next game then so be it. It just happens that if we win then we get the job done slightly earlier which is brilliant but it doesn't really change our focus on the game.
“I think if you take your foot off the gas now then you never know what can happen in football. It's a mad game, that's right we all enjoy it, so I don't think the message will be from the manager that it's exactly the same as any other week.”
“They caused us huge problems” - St Johnstone boss aware of Dunfermline threats after previous meetings
That very much was the message from Saints boss Simo Valakari, who also praised the quality of Dunfermline ahead of their match. The Finnish coach was not surprised to see their league rivals reach the Scottish Cup final.
“We know Dunfermline are a top team and they will want to show it against us again,” said Valakari. “I have felt when we play against them, they caused us huge problems.
“They are a team that can play man v man against our attacking line, they are brave to do that. They leave three defenders there against our three strikers to handle that situation.
“Their strikers’ movement and their freedom is difficult to defend. They have a physicality, power and technical ability and game intelligence to cause you problems.”
Dunfermline Athletic vs St Johnstone - date, kick off time and how to watch on TV
Dunfermline Athletic vs St Johsntone in the Scottish Championship will be played at East End Park on Tuesday, April 21. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm.
The match is set to be broadcast live on the BBC Scotland channel. It can also be streamed online via the BBC iPlayer.
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