St Johnstone are determined to avoid seeing in the new year with a Tayside derby hangover for the second season in a row.
The Perth side went into the Hogmanay clash with Dundee 12 months ago on a five-game unbeaten run but ended up suffering a 3-0 defeat to Paul Hartley’s side.
Zander Clark was the keeper that day and heading into a three-week winter break on a downer isn’t an experience he wants to repeat.
“We were going well before that game and it was obviously a really disappointing result,” he recalled.
“When you get a bad result you want to get straight back into it to make amends.
“With that one, we weren’t able to. I stewed on it for a few days.
“We’re going into this one with a good run of results behind us and hopefully we can maintain that level of performance.
“It’s a derby and we’re really looking forward to it.”
A more recent derby bad memory for Saints is the 3-2 defeat at Dens in September.
Clark, who didn’t play on that occasion, said: “It was one of those days.
“We had a perfectly good goal disallowed and they’ve gone up the park and got a dubious penalty. Instead of 2-2 it’s 3-1.”
Saints were unhappy with the penalty decision that led to Ross County getting a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night but Clark believes the result, which took them back into the top six, continues the Perth side’s upward momentum.
“Going to Dingwall, with the weather how it was, we’ve got to be relatively pleased to leave with a draw,” he reflected.
“It’s another point on the board for us.
“There was plenty of good play in the game for us to be pleased with and plenty of positives to take into the Dundee match.
“The result has kept the momentum going.
“It’s been a tough run of games and, after the win against Rangers, we’ve stayed unbeaten against Hearts and Ross County.
“Now we want to go into the break with a win in the derby.
“We’d been inconsistent for a while but that’s three decent results in a row.”
Goalmouth scramble
There was a stunning triple save from Clark when the scoreline was 1-1 that showed why people inside McDiarmid Park believe he is a Scotland keeper in the making.
The man himself was keen to share the praise among his defenders.
“It was a bit of a stramash, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I got a touch on the first shot, then Fozzy (Richard Foster) has done brilliant.
“When it’s come back off the post I’m like a dog chasing its tail!
“I think Joe (Shaughnessy) has got a block, then I’ve spread myself and it’s hit my leg. It’s about a reaction for the third one. That’s hit my arm.
“Goalies will always say, ‘that’s our job’. It’s the reaction saves that we train for. I’m glad I could help us get the point.”
