Craig Levein says ‘naive’ Adama Sidibeh must learn from four-match suspension

Craig Levein claimed Adama Sidibeh was “naive” following the four-game ban the St Johnstone striker was handed for his double red card against Dundee United last weekend.

The 26-year-old Gambian international striker was dismissed by referee Don Robertson after picking up the second of two yellow cards, then received another ordering him off for clashing with United’s Kevin Holt.

Ahead of the home William Hill Premiership game against Motherwell on Saturday, Levein said: “I think there’s a touch of naivety. He was wound up but he has to learn his lesson.

“It’s difficult for him, it’s difficult for the club, but we just have to take it on the chin and hopefully Adama learns his lesson.

“He’s apologised. He’s a great boy and he realises himself that he shouldn’t have taken the bait.

“He plays with great gusto and enthusiasm and it’s foot-to-the-floor stuff with him and you only need to get your timing wrong in a tackle or going full out, you’re on the edge at times.

“But he’s done very, very well. There is an honesty about him that I really like but it comes back to the same thing, he needs to learn that if players are winding him up, that’s a compliment because they’re obviously trying to get him booked or trying to get him sent off, because he’s causing them trouble.

“There’s a disciplinary procedure, part of the code of conduct (at St Johnstone). I think we’ve placed this at the sort of light end of the spectrum, because he’s never been sent off before, as far as I’m aware, and I think he was drawn in on this occasion, and he’s been naive.

“We’ve got other players that can play the front line and Nicky Clarke is up to full speed now. We have Uche Ikpeazu (knee) who’s recovering well and we have we’ve got Makenzie (Kirk) as well. He’s fit and available.

“So one of the good things about having a number of strikers this season is that if something like this happens, we’ve still got some strength and depth”.

With two wins in their last six games, Levein is hoping that results start to reflect performances.

He said: “We’re playing well. We’re working hard and creating chances. If you said that to me four or five weeks ago, I would take that all day long.

“So we’re at a phase now where we just need to turn all that good stuff into points.”