By Jim Davie

KEVIN JAMES is taking nothing for granted when St Johnstone travel to Glebe Park today.

Brechin may be sitting at the foot of the league with no wins to their name, but the giant Saints defender knows the winless Angus side will still provide a stiff test of the Perth side’s promotion ambitions.

At present 10 points behind leaders St Mirren, James also realises there must be no further slip-ups if the men from McDiarmid Park are to climb the table.

“Both sides are at different ends of the table but both are fighting for their lives,” acknowledged the former Hearts and Falkirk centre half.

“Brechin need a win to get themselves back in contention.

“They know their best chances of winning games is at home, that’s the way they’ll have based their season, on picking points up at home and maybe getting the odd point away.

“They’ll be desperate to get off the mark.

“Glebe Park is a cup-tie park where the football might not be the best, but we’re going to have to fight for every ball and until you win the battle you might not get the chance to play football.

“It’s imperative that we win not only this one but our next three or four games as well.

“I still think there’s a realistic chance of catching up on St Mirren but our last two results haven’t been good enough.

“We need results, not performances, albeit a performance would be good.”

James is a birthday boy today and he can think of no better way to celebrate than with a win.

“It’s my 30th birthday and although I’d like to mark it with a goal, I’d take a victory and the three points would be a good birthday present and would get us back on track,” he said.

“I’ve only scored one goal so far this season, but, ironically, it came against Brechin here at Perth.

“I’m a little bit disappointed with my goals tally but I have had quite a few assists.”

James has struck up quite a formidable partnership with former Aberdeen stopper Kevin Rutkiewicz and it’s clear the two are enjoying playing alongside each other at the heart of the Saints defence.

“Kevin has been brilliant,” acknowledged James. “He wasn’t in the team at the start of the season, Mark Campbell was playing. But big Mark got injured and ‘Dinky’ came in and the gaffer’s been true to his word. He said that if you come in and do a job you’ll stay in the team.

“He’s a good defender. He’s still young, he’s got plenty to learn, but he’s only too willing.”

And he added jokingly, “He’s scored a couple of goals more than me, but I’ve got more assists than him.”

That has not saved the pair from manager Owen Coyle’s wrath, however.

““Both of us have had chances the last two games and the gaffer has criticised us for missing them,” revealed James.

“Hopefully, one of us can get a goal at Glebe Park.”

Coyle agreed with his player that today’s game was no formality.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game,” he said.

“I happen to think Brechin are a better team than their league position suggests.

“I think it’ll be an open game of football. Brechin like to pass the ball and I think that will suit us.

“We have been dominating recent games and we have to make sure that, if we are dominating games the way we are then we apply the killer touch.

“John Henry will come back into contention for a starting place, but we have one or two other niggling injuries and we’ll need to wait and see how they are.”

A decision on the futures of Polish trialists Dariusz Zjawinski and Marcin Smolinski will be made over the weekend, with Coyle saying, “They are here until Sunday so I’ll have a chat with my staff and we’ll make a decision on whether or not we feel they’re better than the players we’ve got.”

Brechin boss Ian Campbell has a decision of his own to make.

Goalkeeper John Hillcoat stood in admirably for the suspended Craig Nelson in last week’s 1-0 defeat at Dens Park and will be pushing hard to retain his place and Campbell has admitted the decision will not be an easy one.

“Craig Nelson is a fantastic keeper and we are very lucky that we also have an experienced keeper in John Hillcoat,” said the City manager.

“We have two great goalies and, though it’s a tough decision, it’s not as tough as last week when I had two amateurs on the bench.

“I’ve been thinking about it most of the week and I’ll let the players know my decision just before the game.”

Campbell also revealed that he was delighted by striker Paul Ritchie’s decision to turn down the Montrose manager’s job to stay at Glebe Park.

“At this stage of his career, I thought the least I could do was let Paul speak to them,” he said. “I don’t know what his future plans are regarding coaching or management, but he’s a proven goalscorer and at least half a dozen teams would love a player like him.”

As well as the returning Nelson and Gerry Britton, Campbell also has Craig McEwan and Steve Hamilton back for the visit of St Johnstone.