With a return of 10 points from 12 and a rare comeback victory to enhance morale, St Johnstone are in good shape with Sunday’s glamour Scottish Cup semi-final looming large.
Manager Tommy Wright got the win and the performance he wanted in advance of the Ibrox clash with Aberdeen and it came from a team which looked suspiciously like a starting 11 for the big encounter.
First-half goals from defensive duo Frazer Wright and testimonial man Steven Anderson secured victory with the split now beckoning, while Kilmarnock were unable to build on Robbie Muirhead’s early opener and will still be fearful of being drawn into the play-off lottery.
Striker Steven MacLean said more playerswere chipping in with goals now and the timing was perfect, with attention turning immediately to the cup.
He said: “Ando and big Fraz had two good headers and we looked dangerous from set plays. And if we were a bit more clinical we could have had a few more goals.
“Earlier in the season, I said Ando wouldn’t score many but he seems to have got a few recently. It must be the testimonial and all that cash.”
MacLean picked up a Scottish Cup winners’ medal as a youngster breaking into the Rangers side, but had to settle for a place on the bench in the 1-0 2003 win over Dundee.
He wants another medal and this time he intends to play his part to the full.
“It was good to get the medal but I didn’t do much for it. It will be different this time if we can get to the final. If we can get to the final and win it would mean so much more to play a part.
“It would be nice to get us and Rangers in the final. We have a massive game coming up. It would mean so much to the players, the management team, the chairman, directorsand also the fans. If we can get to the final for the first time, it would be a great achievement for the club.
“We don’t have that big a fan base but we got 8,000 for the European games and the fans we took to Rosenborg were different class. If they can make the same noise at Ibrox, that will help us.”
With just one change from the side which conceded a late equaliser to Partick, the Perth management duo decided against resting key personnel in advance of the semi-final.
Manager Wright, who again watched from a seat in the stand as he continued his recovery from gall bladder surgery, said: “That is 48 points and the players have had a remarkable season.
“Last season I think we made the split with 46, but the bigger clubs have improved this year. Celtic have more points and so do Aberdeen and Dundee United.
“We qualified for Europe with 56 points last year. Aberdeen and Motherwell already have 60. It’s been tougher to try to get into that European spot. We have improved, the points tell you that, and we have to keep improving until the end of the season.”