St Johnstone defender Brian Easton is convinced a settled back four has been a major factor in the Perth club’s recent revival in fortunes.
Saints have not had their injury problems to seek in the season’s first few months and that undoubtedly contributed to their early struggles, although they welcome Ross County to McDiarmid Park this afternoon having steadied the ship somewhat.
Easton has been an integral part of a defensive line that has helped Saints go three league games unbeaten, and the full-back hopes that has provided a platform from which his side can build upon.
“Over the past few league games I think we’ve improved and are starting to turn the corner after the bad spell we had,” he explained.
“Defensively we’ve been better because we were frustrated to lose so many cheap goals.
“It was really annoying because we pride ourselves on being solid and hard to beat.
“That’s something we’ve always looked to be and I think in the last couple of games we’ve looked more like ourselves again at the back.
“Getting a regular back four helps because we’ve had to make a lot of changes this season.
“Players have been injured so there has been a lot of chopping and changing because of that.
“When you play with the same people every week and get a run of games together it makes a massive difference.
“And if we’re solid at the back, we’ll always create chances.
“If we can keep clean sheets we’re always confident of winning games because we do have creative players at the other end of the team.”
Saints have had a back four of Easton, Dave Mackay, Steven Anderson and Frazer Wright for the league games against Partick Thistle, Motherwell and Dundee, and Easton admits that the return of the influential Wright in particular has been a big boost.
The centre half had a pain-killing injection in his hip and has looked solid since slotting back into the line-up.
“Frazer isn’t the kind of guy who moans about things and he’d never tell you if he’s in pain,” Easton added.
“But you always know if someone is struggling. He’s been in a lot of pain at times.
“He’s had to have an injection and you could see a massive difference in him when he came back into training.
“It has worked, he’s been a lot sharper and his movement isn’t restricted any more.
“That has been massive for us because he’s a big player and a big influence.
“He wins his tackles and wins his physical battles he’s just a good, old-fashioned centre half.
“He talks a lot and uses his experience to help organise things.
“He’s also not shy at telling boys if they mess up or are not pulling their weight.
“It’s been great to have him back.”
Ahead of today’s game against Ross County, Easton reckons Saints’ second half performance against Dundee was the best they have played this season and hopes they can pick up where they left off before the international break.
He continued: “The second half against Dundee was like night and day, really, because the first half was poor.
“But we came out against them in the second half and left there wondering how we didn’t win the game.
“Now we need to harness that performance in the second 45 minutes and bring that to every game we play.
“It will be tough this weekend because Ross County are an improving team.
“They have started to pick up points and got a great result against Kilmarnock before the international break.
“So their confidence will be up and they have quite a few new players so they’ll all be keen to make their mark there.
“But it’s a home game for us, we’re in good spirits and the lads are looking forward to it.
“We’re hoping to climb the table and if we’re going to do that home games like this are the ones you need to pick points up in.
“Having them in the Scottish Cup next weekend won’t come into our minds, we’ll focus on this one and then look at the cup game next week.”
David Wotherspoon and Gary McDonald have been carrying hamstring injuries and will be assessed before today’s game, while long-term absentees Steven MacLean and Tam Scobbie remain out.