Tommy Wright will miss the derby matches against Dundee United next season.
The rivalry with the Tannadice club over the last few years has had “an edge”, the St Johnstone manager admitted.
And the fact that the Perth side won most of the head-to-heads might have something to do with his affection for the fixture as well.
But Wright believes the rapid demise of their Tayside rivals puts into context his own side’s achievements.
“We’ve had a lot of battles with them,” Wright said.
“It was only this time last year we were both going for Europe. They were well ahead of us but we turned it round after the split and moved from sixth to fourth.
“Even on the last day of the season we knew they were 2-0 up and coasting, and we had to win at Aberdeen.
“It shows that you can never stand still in football or take anything for granted.
“When you see what has happened to United it makes what we’ve done by staying the league and finishing in the top six look even better. It shows how hard the players have had to work to do that.”
Wright added: “I’ll miss the derby games.
“We’ve had plenty of wins in them.
“They’re good matches to be involved in. They’ve had good atmospheres and with us beating them in the cup final that probably made it a more special game when it came up again.
“There was an edge.
“United will be missed. But that’s football. No team has a divine right to stay in the league. And, as we’ve seen down in England no team has a divine right to win a league.”
Motherwell are up next for Saints tomorrow and Wright, who may be without Simon Lappin and Chris Millar but will have Murray Davidson back, knows a victory at Fir Park will be a huge step towards finishing fourth.
He said: “They’ve had a tremendous run.
“They’re a team that’s got pace and experience. Louis Moult has had a very good season for them.
“With the way they went into the split they’re very much a team in form.
“The last time we played them at Fir Park we were in the middle of a wee sticky spell but we created enough chances that night to win the game.
“We certainly started that one well but we didn’t get the first goal.
“This time we know that a win would make it extremely difficult for Motherwell and Ross County to get above us.
“They could still do it, but I think they’d need to win both their games and us not to pick up any points.
“We were fourth last year and we want to match it.
“It’s been a really good season already – getting into the top six and the semi-final of a cup. But fourth would make it even more special, irrespective of the fact you can’t get into Europe.”
