St Johnstone’s recent vulnerability has come as a shock to one of the Perth players unaccustomed to it at McDiarmid Park.
And Liam Craig has pledged that the “senior players” will take the lead in making sure the old Saints return on Saturday.
The veteran midfielder believes they still have a fighting chance of making the top six, even if they might need to win all four games left before the split to get there.
“There is a massive sense of disappointment, from the last three games especially,” said Craig.
“It’s particularly frustrating to have gone ahead against Hibs and Livingston but losing both games. That is so unlike us.
“Looking back over the years here we have rarely lost after getting ourselves in front.
“But we have been vulnerable recently.
“It’s a worry because we have always been built on being hard to beat and hard to break down.
“And when we did get a setback we were strong enough to deal with it.
“Having put ourselves in a really strong position for the top six at the end of January here we are in a real fight in March to get back there.
“With four games coming up we still have a chance. But realistically we might have to win them all and we start with St Mirren.
“It might be that more points than usual are needed to make it this year but we have to give it a go.”
The former Hibs and Falkirk man added: “We have never got carried away after good spells and we have been good at dusting ourselves down over my time here.
“The players in the dressing room are perfectly capable and we have to get a win going into the international break.
“Given the quality here we should be competing for the top six.
“This is a big one for us against St Mirren. We need to get our job done and take it from there.
“We want to tee-up three massive games heading towards the split because we want to be in the top six again.
“We have set our own standards, not just in terms of results but also in the way we have played.
“We have to get back to those levels and get the confidence back.
“The senior players have to help get the younger ones through this patch.
“It would be so disappointing to miss out after all the good work earlier in the season.
“The club has been used to being in the top half and fighting for European places.
“Let’s be honest, if you have aspirations of being in the top six these are games you have to win.
“And if we win against St Mirren the picture could be very different come Saturday night.”
