After making their best start to a top-flight campaign for 14 years, St Mirren will prove formidable foes for Callum Davidson’s St Johnstone.
The first instalment of The Battle of the Saints this season, unusually, has the Paisley side riding high ahead of the Perth men who have struggled to get going in the early fixtures.
A tough trip to Ibrox, a postponed clash with Aberdeen and late penalty controversy against Hibs hasn’t helped the Saints’ cause.
The Buddies, on the other hand, find themselves in the top six after a squad overhaul by boss Jim Goodwin.
Wins over Livingston and Hamilton, combined with a point against Ross County, has them there despite a heavy defeat by Rangers.
Tomorrow’s McDiarmid Park clash between the Saints, however, should be the real acid test of where each side is at and it seems Davidson’s troops will be in for a tough afternoon.
System
Goodwin lines his team up in a 4-2-3-1, relying heavily on a rigid back four and the solidity of former Gers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
Experienced top-flight campaigners Marcus Fraser, Richard Tait and former Saintee Joe Shaughnessy have added steel to the Buddies backline alongside Andrew McCarthy.
Stand-in captain Sam Foley is an influential figure in the middle of the park while Cammy MacPherson has been a shining light for St Mirren for some 18 months now.
The trickery of Kyle McAllister, delivery of Ilkay Durmus and vision of Jamie McGrath aim to serve hitman Jon Obika – happy playing with his back to goal, in the penalty box or running at defenders.
They give little away and hit teams on the counter, taking their chances so far this term and looking a compact and organised unit overall.
Strengths
The Perth men will find it hard to break down the visiting Buddies in Perth tomorrow.
Keeping two clean sheets and limiting Ross County to just the one goal in a Paisley stalemate last weekend despite going down to 10 men, a stern defence is St Mirren’s real strength.
In Alnwick they have a No 1 who can keep them in games, doing a sterling job of replacing cult hero Vaclav Hladky.
Shaughnessy will miss out against his former club through suspension but, besides the Irishman, Goodwin has assembled a strong backline in his own image.
Those qualities were epitomised perfectly by former Motherwell full-back Tait’s incredible goal line clearance from the Staggies’ Ross Stewart last Saturday.
They might not have shown it much yet but Saints have top attacking talent in their ranks with the likes of Michael O’Halloran, David Wotherspoon and Callum Hendry.
They won’t get anything easy against the Buddies, however.
Weaknesses
Profligacy in front of goal has made for frustrating viewing for the Buddies despite their best start to the season since 2006.
Frustrating because their early form could’ve been even better.
From toiling at the wrong end of the table in the past two seasons to sixth this term will be pleasing progression for Goodwin, but the Paisley Saints might’ve found themselves even higher at this stage.
Despite getting himself into good positions and working extremely hard for his team, Obika’s foil, Junior Morias, has squandered numerous chances to put games beyond doubt.
The buck doesn’t stop with the Jamaican, however, he’s just the one finding himself with the best chances as the Buddies have failed to score more than once in games.
Their back five has saved them so far but, soon enough, St Mirren’s bluntness will cost them valuable points.
Unknown quantities
They may just have the men to change their fortunes, however, in the form of attackers Kristian Dennis and Dylan Connolly.
Experienced former Notts County striker Dennis and Irish winger Connolly are unknown quantities to St Johnstone and give the Buddies something they haven’t had this term – options off the bench.
With captain Kyle Magennis and key man Ryan Flynn recovering from long-term knee injuries, St Mirren have been shorthanded.
That could give Dennis and Connolly an early chance to shine and have an influence on proceedings in Perth.
Dangerman
Former Tottenham forward Obika is St Mirren’s focal point and, undoubtedly their star man.
The 29-year-old Englishman notched 12 goals last season and already has two to his name this term as he looks to lead the Buddies’ assault on the top half.
He is strong, a powerful runner, a competent finisher with both feet and his head and capable of the spectacular.
The latter is something St Johnstone will be well aware of after Obika’s magnificent overhead kick against them in Paisley last term.
However, Obika can find himself isolated when the Buddies’ counter-attacking game fails to kick into gear and, if that happens, Jason Kerr and Liam Gordon will have no problem negating his starved threat.
St Johnstone star Murray Davidson can put down his fishing rod and pull on his football boots
