St Johnstone

Cammy MacPherson insists there’s no self-pity at St Johnstone as he targets a “bonus” upset at Ibrox on Saturday to reignite their season.

Callum Davidson’s men matched Rangers in last weekend’s Scottish Cup fourth-round tie in Perth before going down to a fine Borna Barisic strike in a 1-0 defeat.

They now travel to Govan on the back of six straight losses and sitting eighth in the Premiership but MacPherson remains positive.

"When you go to Ibrox or Celtic Park, if you get a point or three points then it is a bonus because you don't get many teams doing that,” said the midfielder.

"So if we do that, it will give us a big boost going into the fixtures going forward because we need to try to turn it around as it has not been good for the last month to six weeks.

"I am looking forward to Saturday and hopefully we can get a point or maybe even cause an upset.

"We know we have to turn it around. We are not sitting feeling sorry for ourselves, we know we are better than what we have shown. So it is up to us to go on the pitch and do that."

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St Johnstone captain Liam Gordon believes the togetherness at the club will see them through their current troubles.

The Perth outfit have lost their last six games in all competitions, but Gordon is adamant they will turn things around.

"We've obviously had success [in the past], and we keep a level head in those times, but at the same time, when we're not doing so well, we've got to hang in there and not get too low," Gordon said.

"Training's been good, the feeling's high, so we need to keep grinding away and the good stuff will come."

The 26-year old saw signs of improvement in last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Rangers, who Callum Davidson's side face again in the league on Saturday.

"It was disappointing to go out of the Scottish Cup, but as a performance, I thought it was better," Gordon said.

"It showed the manager that if we do need to change formation, the players were comfortable. Something to build on for sure.

"We need to put together a 90-minute performance and cancel out the mistakes - we're not far away at all.

"Ibrox is always a difficult place to go, but we're ready for the task ahead."

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• Rangers have won each of their last four home league games against St Johnstone, each by a different score to nil – 3-0 in August 2020, 1-0 in February 2021, 2-0 in December 2021, and 4-0 in August 2022.

• Since Michael Beale’s first game in charge in December, no side has seen more goals in their Scottish Premiership matches than Rangers (25 – 17 for, 8 against). The Ibrox side have won six of these seven games (D1).

• St Johnstone won their last league match against Rangers 2-1 in November, ending a 14-game winless run against the Glasgow club in the top flight (D3 L11).

• St Johnstone have lost each of their last five league games, the longest ongoing such run in this season’s Scottish Premiership.

• Alfredo Morelos (74 goals, 25 assists) is one away from recording 100 goal involvements in the Scottish Premiership. Since his first Rangers season (2017-18), only team-mate James Tavernier (108 – 53 goals, 55 assists) has been directly involved in more goals in the competition than the Colombian (99).

St Johnstone will manage Cammy MacPherson's game time following his thigh injury earlier this season. (Courier - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, forward Chris Kane was applauded back on to the training field by his St Johnstone team-mates as he continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained a year ago. (Courier - subscription required), external

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St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson is pursuing other targets after admitting a move for Ross County striker Jordan White is “probably dead in the water”.

The Perth club made a bid to sign the 30-year-old last week, Davidson has now said: "We've moved on. We've got other targets we're looking at."

Asked about his recruitment plans for the remainder of the transfer window, he added: "We're active all the time. We've got to be prepared in case we lose anybody and we've got to have a look and see if there's anything out there we think can improve the team.

"I'm not just going to bring players in for the sake of needing a signing. We have four or five players back (from injury) who are like new signings for us so the squad is very competitive and very experienced.”

Davidson is hopeful Saints are close to agreeing new contracts with some key players, including long-serving midfielder David Wotherspoon.

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Another week, another game against Rangers.

This time it's a Premiership tussle as St Johnstone attempt to avenge last weekend's Scottish Cup loss and halt their six-game losing streak.

Should Daniel Phillips and Cammy MacPherson be shoo-ins for a start after an impressive return to the XI last time out?

Choose your Saints team here.

Jamie Beatson, weareperth.co.uk, external

I think we made our point. The home support boycott garnered a fair amount of coverage ahead of, during, and after the visit of Rangers at the weekend. I'm sure the cash in the bank is welcome, but the loss of goodwill amongst the support will be harder to recover.

It's in the past now - we need to move on and focus on the rest of the season. Unfortunately the rest of the season begins with another match against Rangers, this time in the league at Ibrox on Saturday.

That may be a lost cause, but its another opportunity to bed in the four at the back system that looked like it had some promise at the weekend, and worked well in the second half against Livingston.

We certainly need it to work - the following match is a huge clash away at Motherwell which could very well determine where in the league we'll be fighting our battle for the rest of the season.

St Johnstone's 1-0 defeat to Rangers in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup was Callum Davidson's side sixth consecutive loss in all competitions.

Despite their recent slump, former Saints defender Allan Preston believes there were signs of improvement at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.

“The shape was good; they were disciplined," Preston said, speaking on BBC Sportsound. "It was a different shape to what they are used to - they went to a back four.

"Rangers had the better chances, and deserved to win, but now [St Johnstone] are out of the cup, they have to concentrate on the league.

"With 16 games to go, they have to get themselves together, regroup, and get the four or five wins they need to stay in the Premiership. It’s going to be difficult, but there’s enough there for me.

"Dundee United, Livingston, Ross County, St Mirren - these aren’t easy games, but they are games they can win.”

Here's what you had to say about St Johnstone's Scottish Cup tie against Rangers:

Willie: I'm unhappy as to why season ticket holders again are punted out of their seats to let more old firm punters in. We all pay our money but we pay ours before the season starts to boost the funds and help St Johnstone. Maybe the board will now realise that St Johnstone fans should be organised first.

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Were you at McDiarmid Park for St Johnstone's 1-0 defeat by holders Rangers in the Scottish Cup fourth round, or were you one of those home fans who boycotted the game?

Click here to give us your thoughts.

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St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "We got back to the work rate to try to stop other teams scoring. We did everything we could to try to win the game. I can't fault the lads for the effort.

"We conceded at a very bad time. It just wasn't enough today but I'm happy with how we went about our business. In the second half we stayed in there. Remi pulled off a couple of great saves.

"We changed our back four tonight and I thought the lads performed really well. I would take that desire for the rest of the season. I hope the supporters appreciated the effort we put in today."

Clive Lindsay, BBC Sport Scotland

Considering it was their third game in less than seven days, the first a gruelling extra-time victory over Aberdeen in the League Cup, Rangers manager Michael Beale will just be delighted to have led the Scottish Cup holders to the last 16.

The performance was gritty rather than stylish, but a bobbly McDiarmid Park was not conducive to silky football.

Rangers are now unbeaten in nine games since Beale took charge - 11 overall - and he can now turn his attention to the promised strengthening of his squad while still in contention in all three domestic competitions.

For St Johnstone, there is work to do if they are to avoid a relegation battle considering it was a sixth consecutive defeat.

However, manager Callum Davidson will take heart from the way they limited Rangers' scoring chances until a frantic finish where they could have even taken the game into extra time had they taken their own.

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Andy Considine was a rock at the back for St Johnstone and was unfortunate to be on the wrong side of the result as holders Rangers won 1-0 at McDiarmid Park to move into the Scottish Cup last 16.

Considering their own problems at the back, Aberdeen must be rueing their decision to allow the lkong-serving veteran centre-back to leave in the summer.

St Johnstone make five changes to their starting XI following last week's Scottish Premiership defeat by Livingston.

Defender James Brown, midfielders Cammy MacPherson, Daniel Phillips and Merkel Hallberg and forward Connor McLennan come in, with Alex Mitchel, Graham Carey, Ryan McGowan, David Wotherspoon and Nicky Clark dropping to the bench.

Scottish Cup holders Rangers make three alterations to the side that beat Kilmarnock in the league on Wednesday.

Allan McGregor replaces Jon McLaughlin in goal, while Ryan Jack and Malik Tillman return to the midfield as Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield join McLaughlin on the bench.

St Johnstone: Matthews, Brown, Gordon, Considine, Montgomery, MacPherson, Phillips, Hallberg, Wright, May, McLennan.

Substitutes: Parish, Mitchell, Murphy, Clark, Wotherspoon, Bair, Crawford, Carey, Gallacher.

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Tillman, Sakala, Morelos, Kent.

Substitutes: McLaughlin, Colak, Kamara, Sands, Wright, Arfield, King, Devine, Lowry.

St Johnstone are looking to make home advantage count against Rangers in the Scottish Cup, just as they did in November, when they won 2-1 to end their Premiership rivals' 14-game unbeaten run at McDiarmid Park.

But the rest of the pre-match statistics favour visitors Rangers.

Michael Beale has taken over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst since that loss in Perth and his side are now 10 games without defeat, have won four in a row away from home, while Callum Davidson's Saints have lost five in a row, including three at home.

Rangers last failed to progress further than the fourth round when losing to Hearts in the 1994-95 season, while St Johnstone, who were holders, suffered a shock defeat by then League 2 leaders Kelty Hearts at this stage last season.

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Ross County manager Malky Mackay has insisted striker Jordan White will not be leaving for St Johnstone.

It had been reported the the 30-year-old had been subject of a six-figure bid.

“It’s pure coincidence that he’s dropped to the bench today," Mackay said. "He’s had a heavy shift the last few weeks and he will participate in the match.

“But Jordan White is not going to St Johnstone. There was a conversation with them but he’s got 18 months on his contract and he’s not going anywhere.”

St Johnstone have launched a bid to land striker Jordan White from Premiership rivals Ross County this month. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip...

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St Johnstone defender Adam Montgomery is determined to make amends for "one of the worst halves we've had all season" by helping stun Rangers in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.

Callum Davidson's side were 3-0 down at home to Livingston last weekend before losing 4-2.

"You don't want to go any lower that that [Livingston game]," the on-loan Celtic full-back told Saints TV.

"We just need to pick ourselves up ahead of the weekend and hopefully get a good result against Rangers.

"You look at the run we went on before the World Cup - the quality in the squad was shown massively then, so hopefully we can get back to that.

"We know we can cause them problems and hopefully we can do that this weekend."

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With Callum Davidson under serious pressure, a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers probably isn't the game he would hope to see next on the fixture list.

Can the Perth side replicate their 2-1 win over Rangers at McDiarmid Park from earlier this season?

Let us know what your starting XI would be here.

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Nicky Clark says out-of-form St Johnstone must take inspiration from their significant recent victories against Rangers as they prepare for the Scottish Cup tie on Saturday evening.

The Saints are on a five-game losing run and have slipped to eighth in the table having been within a point of third place before the World Cup break.

But the striker believes the victory at Ibrox en route to their 2021 Scottish Cup triumph, as well as the Premiership win at McDiarmid Park in November, can give Callum Davidson's side heart for the fourth-round match.

"It's a tough period at the moment but we are looking forward to the game," said Clark, who scored Saints' second in the 2-1 league win in November.

"It's always good playing against Old Firm teams, they always have a good support. But we had a good result against them at McDiarmid last time so hopefully we can do the same again.

"We’ve not been good enough lately but we can take a lot from both the cup game at Ibrox and the league game not so long ago.

"Winning the cups was a great achievement and the boys know what it takes to win a trophy, so hopefully we can go on a run.

"I’ve been to a couple of finals but not got over the line so it is a big chance for me."

Clark is expecting a stiff test from the visitors, who have won seven and drawn one of their eight games since Michael Beale replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

"We know what a challenge it will be. Rangers have a huge squad with great players – but it is a challenge we are relishing," said Clark, who played for Rangers for three years.

"They are eight games unbeaten but hopefully we can change that. The players have responded to what Michael Beale has wanted.

"We have been nowhere near good enough and need to perform much better but we know the capabilities we have and I’m sure we can turn it around."