The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Perth boss asked for mentors’ advice but ignored it Saints star is awaiting his orders
Callum D av i d s o n sounded ou t m a n a g e r i a l mentors south of the border when the results weren’t coming.
But the St Johnstone m a n a ge r a l w ay s k n ew where the buck stopped.
And Davidson had seen enough from his players in a series of narrow defeats to know they were on the right track.
After a 5-3 win at Hamilton Accies lifted them off the foot of the table, rejuvenated Saints go into tomorrow’s Tayside derby clash with Dundee United looking for a win to hoist them above the Tannadice side.
“I spoke to a couple of managers I know from down the road when the results weren’t coming,” revealed Davidson.
“That didn’t really help because they gave me two different opinions.
“One said to stick with it and the other said to try something different. So, I ignored them both!
“I had belief in what I was doing and the players could feel it on the pitch.
“If they weren’t getting it I might have had to change things, but when I watched games back I thought we had been the better team without getting goals.
“It was progress.
“I also a knew work it in would t a ke a f ew games for players like Craig Conway and Craig Bryson to get up to speed.
“Murray Davidson was the same after his injuries. He is a leader and it’s good to have experienced players guiding the younger ones in games.”
After the first quarter, Davidson suspects the top four spots are already earmarked by Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibernian.
But he has challenged his players to press for another top-six finish.
“The league table doesn’t lie. The top four are winning more games and it will be a fight for everyone else to try to get in that top six.
“We are looking to be top of that other pile. That is w h at we h av e to aim for to enjoy a successful season.
“I suspect it will be tight all the way. It is about having belief in ourselves and hopefully our ability will get us there.
“Hopefully we can on the recent wins.
“We didn’t know much about United or what their team was going to be in the first derby, which was a draw.
“Obviously we know a lot more about them now.
“They have signed some big players so it will be tough. We know what we are up against, but we will build go in plan.
“And we need to be switched on about their coun t e r - a t t a ck in g threat.”
Davidson will make a late decision on whether to list Israeli striker Guy Me l a m e d among his substitutes after he emerged from quarantine this week.
“Guy is desperate to get going now, but he needs to understand that Scottish football can be a bit hectic and he’s getting a taste of the tempo in training,” he said.
“I’m not sure yet if he will be involved against United, but then we have a week to build up his fitness.
“That gives us some time to work on him.
“The poor lad sat in a room for 14 days so we don’t want to push him too hard too quickly.
“When we signed Guy we started to score goals so maybe he has already put pressure on the strikers that are here.
“They have been looking to prove themselves and getting back to full fitness.
“David Wotherspoon has also been excellent in the last two or three games in an attacking role.
“He can create and score as well.
“It’s great that Guy knows he has a fight on his hands for a starting place.” with our own game chances
He’s usually powering forward and trying to create chaos in opposition penalty areas.
But St Jo h n s t o n e m idf ie lder Murray Davidson had to rein himself in after being handed a more defensive role in the 5-3 win over Hamilton Accies.
Now he’s waiting to hear if Perth boss Callum Davidson will hand him the same orders for tomorrow’s Tayside derby clash with Dundee United.
“It was strange on Saturday because I felt I was half-cheating sitting so deep,” he said.
“I’m usually trying to get in the box, but I don’t think I got near it.
“I was trying to do a disciplined job for the team and with that.
“I felt I did OK. I’ve never really been one to be a headline-grabber. I’m not going to score an overhead kick from 30 yards – it’s not my game.
“If the manager said I did well, I’m delighted with that.
“It’s up to me to keep my performance levels up.”
Davidson had to bide his time to claim a firstteam spot after picking up an injury during lockdown.
“I’m feeling fit after my tendonitis and the manager probably did me a favour,” he admitted.
“I’m always keen to get back too early, but he was really patient and was
I was happy insistent I didn’t rush it. At the time it was frustrating, but looking back he has made the right call and has been sensible with it.”
The fans might still be kept away from games, but the Perth midfielder knows the importance of the first match-up with United at McDiarmid for four years.
“We’ve got to take heart from the first game of the season when we got a draw after being down to 10 men.
“It’s a derby, there is no getting away from that. It will be days like Saturday where you miss the fans the most.
“I’ve stayed in Perth for the last 12 years and I know exactly what the game means.”