St Johnstone striker Chris Kane is acting on instinct to try to keep their top-six hopes alive.
Kane pounced on a mistake by St Mirren defender Matteo Muzek in midweek to score an opportunist’s goal that brought to an end the Perth club’s long winless run.
It was a quickfire finish, of which most forwards would have been proud. Kane also came close to finding the net with a spectacular volley.
The match-winning display came as manager Tommy Wright promised him a prolonged spell in the team.
Kane, who will lead the line against Motherwell at Fir Park today, said: “I think I’m playing more on instinct now again and that’s down to having more confidence.
“I have watched the goal from the St Mirren game back and maybe a few months ago I would have lashed at it or taken a touch.
“Now I am high in confidence, I am going into games thinking I am going to score and you could see that in the finish.
“I just stayed calm and did the natural thing.
“I didn’t have to think about it much.
“Getting another goal has helped my confidence massively and playing regularly has been a big help too.
“I have been desperate to get a run of games all season so it’s good to repay the manager with a couple of goals lately.
“I had been coming off the bench and felt I was contributing but you are only getting 15 minutes here and there.
“So hearing the manager say he is going to give me a run now is good, although I know I have to train well then take my chances.”
The goal may have secured three valuable points but Kane revealed that some people were more impressed by another strike.
He explained: “My mum and dad were at the game for the first time in a while and that volley is what they have been talking about.
“They have hardly mentioned the goal – it was all about that other shot.
“It would have been a good one if it had gone in but fair play to the keeper for saving it.”
Kane was understandably pleased to end a winless run that stretched all the way back to January 23.
He added: “We were relieved to get the win but it had been coming because I think we had played OK in a few games lately.
“Getting the win was the important thing.
“I know it wasn’t the best performance but that was secondary to getting three points.
“We have played well but not won, while there have been games we should have taken something from but made too many mistakes.
“So it was good to get three points and a clean sheet against St Mirren.
“Now we can look forward and hopefully focus on getting into the top six.
“We didn’t get much luck in the bad run we were on, so hopefully we might get a break or two from here on in.
“Motherwell have been on a really good run of form in the last few months so the pair of us are going for the top six now.
“It’s a big game for both clubs.
“We will go down there knowing what we’re capable of but it’s going to be tough at the same time.”
