By Ian Roache

ST JOHNSTONE striker Derek Holmes hopes he is getting a sense of deja vu as St Johnstone strive to stamp their authority all over Division One.

The big striker has played his part in putting together Saints’ nine-game unbeaten run that goes on the line against Dundee at Dens Park this afternoon.

The Perth men travel east along the A90 knowing that victory over the Dark Blues will stretch their lead over second-placed Dunfermline to a tasty six points.

And Holmes recalls a time not too long ago—season 2005-06 to be precise—when, as a Carlisle player, a similar purple patch helped him collect an English League Two championship medal.

“When I was at Carlisle United we had a similar season to the one we are currently experiencing at St Johnstone,” he said.

“Our results were up and down at the start, we were trying to find our feet in the division and fell behind a few teams.

“Then we went on a run of something like 14 games undefeated and were right up there challenging.

“We had been going into games, not exactly expecting to get beat but expecting something to go wrong.

“But as the run went on and on our confidence became sky-high and we were working so hard for each other and expecting to win every game.

“Thankfully, the story has a happy ending as we got promoted four weeks before the end of the season, then were crowned champions with a fortnight to go.

“I am not claiming that’s going to happen this season because we are not looking that far ahead.

“What I am saying, though, is that the longer the run goes on the more your confidence grows.”

Since Saints’ last game—a draw at Clyde two weeks ago—results elsewhere have gone their way, with their rivals cutting each others’ throats.

That has not gone unnoticed by Holmes but the hitman just wants his colleagues to mind their own business.

“Teams are beating each other, that’s true,” he said.

“But what happens elsewhere doesn’t matter as long as we do our job. Being at the top means you don’t have to depend on others.

“It is up to the rest to catch us.”

Holmes suffered an ankle injury in that match against Clyde but is tipped to partner Steven Milne in attack today, his height coming in handy in the absence of the suspended Martin Hardie.

“I was back training on Tuesday and have had no reaction since so fingers crossed that everything will be OK,” said Holmes.

Saints got an eve-of-match boost when they finally found emergency goalkeeping cover.

Veteran John Hillcoat will sit on the bench at Dens today after agreeing to sign as an amateur until January.

The 37-year-old is man of many clubs—the Perth men will be his 14th—and manager Derek McInnes was delighted to seal the deal.

“I have known John for a very long time and am delighted that he will be our back-up for Alan,” said McInnes.