Watch all the action from Kilmarnock's 2-0 win over relegation-threatened St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
Watch all the action from Kilmarnock's 2-0 win over relegation-threatened St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
Available to UK users only
We asked for your views on St Johnstone's defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Here's what some of you said:
Daniel: No way back now, the top flight spell is over. Games v Hamilton and Livingston suggest little chance of a bounce back with Simo Valakari, games where we rely entirely on fluke goals with a better squad than we'll have next season. Owners have a decision to make.
Gordy: Quite simple - no future, in whichever division, with the current manager. Absolutely lacking in judgement as to team selection. He has tested playing out from the back to destruction. Finally no passion which is translated to the team and the fans.
Ally: Got to keep faith with Valakari. We've been three years in decline with one bad decision after another. We were too slow to sack Callum Davidson, got lazy with the Steven MacLean appointment and Craig Levein was never the right fit. We have got to give Valakari time to change and develop the squad. He has a track record of winning things with smaller teams but he needs time and transfer windows to do it.
Ian: Valakari is a lovely guy with great ideas but doesn't have the quality of players to implement. Unfortunately, not what the Saints need during this time. Will he stay next season? How would his style translate into the lower division? I fear we may just linger for a few seasons as we lose any quality players.
Kieran: Second best in all departments yet again, the story of the season. Makeshift defence creaking at every sight of a Killie attack too many players either out of position or out of their depth in the top flight. Josh McPake's performance was the only positive in what was a drastically sub par day at the office. At the time where we needed the players to step up and give us some hope of staying up fans left wanting yet again. Style of play out the window, no tempo to the attacks, is Simo the man for the job?
Jimmy: We had a couple of chances, stout defending from Killie kept the ball out of their goal and more defensive issues cost us the points. There is still hope, we definitely need maximum points from our next home games. Also, other results could help us out, but we need to win this game first and foremost.
Image source, SNSSt. Johnstone have conceded 32 first-half goals in 35 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.
By the 44th minute, St. Johnstone had attempted 11 shots in this match - higher than their season average of 10.0 in the Premiership. However, they have failed to score - as has happened in 25 of their 35 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.
They have conceded 14 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.
Simo Valakari's side have now lost their last three games in the Premiership - their last longer losing streak was from 14 December to 29 December 2024, a run of four games.
Danny Armstrong has successfully converted his last five penalties in the Premiership, last failing to score on 2 September 2023 against Ross County.
The winger has contributed to goals in his last four games in the Premiership (two goals, two assists).
St Johnstone's Scottish Premiership survival has been left hanging by a thread after Kilmarnock brushed them aside at McDiarmid Park to move closer to safety.
St Johnstone's fourth loss in five league games leaves them are eight points adrift of 10th place with three games to play, and six behind Ross County in 11th.
What did you make of that, St Johnstone fans? What went wrong in the loss?
Does a change need to be made in the dugout? Do you think you have any chance of avoiding relegation?
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari told BBC Scotland: "The fight continues. Other results give us a little lifeline and that's what we need to grab.
"We could not perform well enough today. We knew against Kilmarnock, if you go 1-0 down it will be difficult and I'm very disappointed in how we give away the first goal.
"We are very honest with ourselves, it was not good enough how we defended in crucial moments. It doesn't matter who you play, you need to be better with that.
"Disappointment, everyone is down, but we need to pick ourselves up. We have these three matches to grab something. It's the next match. No time to feel sorry for ourselves. It's hard to pick yourself up but we need to do it."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSThat's almost that for St Johnstone, but they'll go down sticking to the principles of play that Simo Valakari has tried to install.
Today, they were beaten by a fine strike and a penalty - two little mistakes that were severely punished.
The inclusion of Uche Ikpeazu was the eyebrow-raiser, finally returning from an injury picked up before the season even started.
His signing, made by Craig Levein, was supposed to be a statement of intent but unfortunately it has gone almost totally wrong.
Today was the start of his redemption story, but try as he might, it just wouldn't come off for him today.
It wasn't for lack of effort. He was bullying defenders, holding them off or winning headers, rolling them when they came to close.
A bit of match sharpness and he might have been on the scoresheet, and Saints fans might be left wondering what could have been.
Image source, SNSUche Ikpeazu sees a shot well saved by Kieran O'Hara
Uche Ikpeazu. You're guaranteed entertainment when the big guy plays.
He's had a rotten time of it since signing last summer, allegedly picking up a knee injury coming down the stairs in his house, but he's had to fight back to fitness and unfortunately, it's probably too little, too late.
He did his utmost today, tiring in the second half, bodying defenders left and right and showing an impressively deft touch.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone remain without Zach Mitchell (hamstring), Drey Wright (ankle) and long-term absentees Bozo Mikulic (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).
Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons will probably miss the game with a groin problem and Joe Wright will miss out with a hip injury. Kyle Magennis is back running and looking to join in training next week following his recovery from a knee injury.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone striker Makenzie Kirk says there has "always been a belief" in the dressing room, as the Perth Saints aim for an unlikely escape from relegation.
The Perth side have lost twice in the Scottish Premiership - both away from home - since beating champions Celtic, and currently sit six points adrift of the pack with just four games left.
The return to McDiarmid Park on Saturday though when they host Kilmarnock, followed by a further two home matches to either side of a trip to Tynecastle to take on Hearts.
Kirk said: "The next two games, especially at home, they're massive for us.
"We need to get a result. So it's important for us to focus on the task ahead.
"There's always been that belief within the dressing room. It's just about staying together and making sure that we can stay focused and get the results.
"The pressure is dealt with within the dressing room. We need to take a game at a time and we need to focus on the task ahead.
"We just need to make sure that when we go into the game on Saturday that we're fully focused and ready to do what we need to do."
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes has warned Kilmarnock must be ready to "fight fire with fire" against a St Johnstone side who are in "last chance saloon".
Saints are six points adrift of second-bottom Ross County with just four games left.
But Killie, who sit ninth, are taking nothing for granted at McDiarmid Park on Saturday as they look to move further clear of trouble with just a third away win of the season.
"If I was the St Johnstone manager, I'd still feel we had a real chance," said McInnes.
"I feel that when you hear Simo [Valakari] speak, he's full of belief and full of encouragement for his players to believe that they can get a result.
"And they'll be thinking that if they can go and win the next couple of games, then they're right back in it.
"I think Motherwell are now the only team in the bottom six who can breathe a bit easier after their win last weekend and there's still work for us all to do and we are well aware of that.
"St Johnstone are possibly in the last chance saloon in terms of winning games, but we're well aware of their threats.
"St Johnstone can beat us on any given day, they've shown that this season and they can beat other teams.
"They are a team that puts bodies forward. They've got good players and I think a lot of their best players are probably attacking players.
"So with that in mind I think, you normally see an attacking approach from St Johnstone and I firmly believe that will be the case.
"They will come right after us, they will see this as a big chance for them, they are at home and we have got to be ready to fight fire with fire, as we will do."
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone have won five of their past six Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock, with the exception a 2-0 defeat in April 2024.
Kilmarnock have won three of their past five league meetings with St Johnstone (L2), as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W3 D3 L7).
St Johnstone have won three of their past five home league games (D1 L1), one more than across their previous 20 beforehand (W2 D5 L13). The Perth side could win back-to-back home matches in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since December 2023.
Kilmarnock have lost their past six away league games, last losing seven in a row on the road in the Scottish Premiership in May 2021 under Tommy Wright en route to relegation.
Bruce Anderson is the first player to score 10+ goals in a Scottish Premiership season for Kilmarnock since Eamonn Brophy in 2018-19 (11). However, Anderson has scored just two goals in 16 appearances against St Johnstone in the competition, only scoring fewer against Celtic (0) and Hearts (one) among sides he had faced 6+ times.
Image source, SNSIt will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.
A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".
Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.
"Look at the 16, which is the one that supporters really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.
"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."
Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".
"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.
"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."
St Johnstone defender Zach Mitchell has returned to parent club Charlton as the Perth outfit wait for news about whether he can play again this season. (Courier), external
Sam Miller
Fan writer
Lapses in defence were once again the team's downfall last weekend.
It has been the most common of tales for the sorry Saints this season. You can't concede the types of goals we did against Motherwell and expect to compete at the higher end of the league.
We are in the position we are in based purely on the softest of goals conceded every week.
It's a huge game and one last throw of the dice on Saturday against Kilmarnock. Many things will have to go our way if we are to claw ourselves out of this mess.
If we are unable to get the job done then the reset button needs hit for the Championship campaign and Simo Valakari has to remain at the helm.
A conveyor belt of manager sackings is not in the Saints blueprint and faith needs to be shown in the Finn.
This is a thought for another day - all focus must on be putting Killie to the sword and trying to get us to safety.
Watch as the Sportscene team analyse St Johnstone's chances of survival following their defeat by Motherwell on Saturday.
Watch the Sportscene panel analyse St Johnstone's disastrous defending in their 3-2 defeat by Motherwell.
Available in UK only
Goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu, who won a Nigeria cap in November 2022 but currently plays for Tayport in the Midlands League, is to join Aberdeen on trial this week having spent last week with St Johnstone and with Stoke City, St Mirren, Dunfermline Athletic and Dumbarton all monitoring the 19-year-old. (The Herald), external
Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Watch highlights as Motherwell dent St Johnstone's survival bid.
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We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 3-2 defeat against Motherwell.
Here's what some of you said:
Paul: That's the season in a nutshell. Played well then dropped their level for a short time and get punished. Defensively, especially down our right-hand side, we were very poor.
Les: Simo Valakari talks well but the performances are just nowhere near good enough. We would probably need to win all four now and that just isn't going to happen. Our chairman has a huge decision to make irrespective of what happens now. Is Simo the man to take us forward? I'm not sure at all on this one.
Jimmy: Our defensive issues have caused us points. Personally speaking, I don't think the team are playing that badly, just that things haven't gone our way this season. There are still enough points to win in the upcoming games that should see us climb off the bottom. Some fans are criticising the players for not putting enough effort in and head coach for his team selection, but I think they know what's needed and he's doing a decent job.
Image source, SNSMotherwell have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 28 September 2024 against St Mirren (13 games without a win).
St Johnstone have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 26 December 2024 against Dundee United (five games without defeat).
Motherwell attempted 360 passes in this match, higher than their season average of 310.1 in the Premiership.
St Johnstone have lost 20 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (23) have lost more.
St Johnstone fans, what did you make of that one? Let us know your thoughts here.
