Simo Valakari challenges St Johnstone to take positives from cup run into league

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari challenged his players to take the positives from their cup journey and fix the problems that have taken their toll in the league.

Valakari was pleased with his side’s start against Celtic at Hampden on Sunday but they conceded four goals in 12 minutes before half-time after some slack play in their own half led to Callum McGregor’s opener.

The 5-0 defeat drew a line under their Scottish Gas Scottish Cup run but another major challenge awaits as Saints look to complete a great escape at the foot of the William Hill Premiership.

They have halved a deficit that stood at 10 points in January but they only have five matches to make up the rest of the ground, starting with a trip to face Motherwell on Saturday.

Valakari said: “Cup games are totally different. This was a cup semi-final against a top, top, top, top opponent.

“I can’t predict the future, but I can say only we had a very good cup journey. And these cup games between the league games, they were like a breath of fresh air to us out of this pressure of the Premiership.

“It was the same on Sunday. This was a cup semi-final, go on out and play.

“Now, we are back on what means most to our club, to ourselves, these Premiership games.

“I have said it a long time. I see what my players can do, but if we use this game as an example, it’s still there, what affects us.

“We can do a lot of good things, but then our bad things are dragging us down and they have been for a long time – and that’s the thing that we need to fix.

“If we can do that, I believe our level is good enough to compete and stay in this league.”