Callum Davidson sounded out managerial mentors south of the border when the results weren’t coming.
But the St Johnstone manager always knew where the buck stopped.
And Davidson had seen enough from his players in a series of narrow defeats to know they were on the right track.
After a 5-3 win at Hamilton Accies lifted them off the foot of the table, rejuvenated Saints go into tomorrow’s Tayside derby clash with Dundee United looking for a win to hoist them above the Tannadice side.
“I spoke to a couple of managers I know from down the road when the results weren’t coming,” revealed Davidson.
“That didn’t really help because they gave me two different opinions. One said to stick with it and the other said to try something different.
“So I ignored them both! I had belief in what I was doing and the players could feel it on the pitch.
“If they weren’t getting it I might have had to change things.
“But when I watched games back I thought we had been the better team without getting goals.
“It was a work in progress.
“I also knew it would take a few games for players like Craig Conway and Craig Bryson to get up to speed. Murray Davidson was the same after his injuries.
“He is a leader and it’s good to have experienced players guiding the younger ones in games.”
After the first quarter, Davidson suspects the top four spots are already earmarked by Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs.
But he has challenged his players to press for another top six finish.
“The league table doesn’t lie. The top four are winning more games and it will be a fight for everyone else to try and get in that top six.
“We are looking to be top of that other pile. That is what we have to aim for to enjoy a successful season.
“I suspect it will be tight all the way. It is about having belief in ourselves and hopefully our ability will get us there.
“Hopefully we can build on the recent wins.
“We didn’t know much about United or what their team was going to be in the first derby which was a draw.
“Obviously we know a lot more about them now.
“They have signed some big players so it will be tough. We know what we are up against but we will go in with our own game plan.
“And we need to be switched on about their counter attacking threat.”
Davidson will make a late decision on whether to list Israeli striker Guy Melamed among his substitutes after he emerged from quarantine this week.
“Guy is desperate to get going now but he needs to understand that Scottish football can be a bit hectic and he’s getting a taste of the tempo in training,” he said.
“I’m not sure yet if he will be involved against United but then we have a week to build up his fitness.
“That gives us some time to work on him.
“The poor lad sat in a room for 14 days so we don’t want to push him too hard too quickly.
“When we signed Guy we started to score goals so maybe he has already put pressure on the strikers that are here.
“They have been looking to prove themselves and getting back to full fitness.
“David Wotherspoon has also been excellent in the last two or three games in an attacking role.
“He can create chances and score as well.
“It’s great that Guy knows he has a fight on his hands for a starting place.”
