The performances against Hearts and Rangers in the last week or so have been excellent. We've got in the faces of teams, fought and harried for everything that was going and looked far more dangerous in attack. However, it is likely to come at a price. Andy Millen indicated after Saturday's game that the players are knackered, and it doesn't help that we are going to be playing two games a week for the next month or so, having just gone through a similar period. It will be hard for the level of performance we have seen to be maintained, which could unfortunately see the 3-5-2 formation ditched tomorrow night for the more favoured 4-4-2.
This is a pity as the midfield five has worked well for us. It allows the central midfielders to play in their natural position, while having Jack Ross and David Barron as wingbacks makes up for our lack of wingers. The three centre halves have done well, while Billy Mehmet and Michael Higdon have battled away up front. However, the 3-5-2 seems to require a higher work rate from the team as they are asked to close down more, resulting in them tiring a bit too easily. As a result, we can't go with it every week, so we'll almost certainly see it changed for tomorrow.
Michael Higdon and Andy Dorman seem to have tired more than the rest of the team in the last few games, resulting in them both having to be subbed. It would not be a surprise to see Craig Dargo taking over from Higdon up front, but it's anyone's guess who'll replace the suspended Steven Thomson, or Dorman if he is rested. Garry Brady, Allan Johnston and Stephen O'Donnell surely lead the way, but which of them will get the nod is hard to tell. If we resort to a back four, one of Lee Mair, John Potter and Chris Innes will drop out, with Steven Robb or Graham Carey the most likely to take over. Or it could be Brady if he is pushed wide left. It really is a lottery! All we know for definite is Chris Smith and Tom Brighton won't play as they're both injured.
We haven't done too well against St. Johnstone this season, which has been the source of much frustration for our fans. Our performance against them in Paisley at the start of the season was pretty poor, while they performed more like an established SPL team rather than one just promoted. They had width, created plenty of chances, passed the ball about quickly, had pace in their side and displayed many of the attributes we have been missing in the past few years. Derek McInnes has done a good job there since replacing the Burnley-bound Owen Coyle a few years ago and it'll be interesting to see how long the Fake Saints can hold on to him. He's already been linked with a few other jobs and he is surely destined for bigger things.
If you watched the English Premiership a decade or so ago, you may have spotted Jody Morris and Michael Duberry playing for Chelsea or Leeds. At no point would you have thought you'd one day see them in a St. Johnstone shirt, but that day will arrive tomorrow. Morris has been in Perth for a few years and has done well, while Duberry arrived last week after being let go by Wycombe Wanderers. He has a good presence at the back and has the potential to be a pretty good signing.
McInnes was able to make some other decent signings in the summer, plundering the lower leagues for a few gems -something we seem unable to do. Murray Davidson has been an excellent signing, although talk of him getting a call-up to the Scotland squad is maybe a bit far fetched. Dave Mackay has been good in defence, and should benefit from playing alongside someone of Duberry's experience. Kenny Deuchar was another summer arrival and is well known for his goal exploits with Gretna, although he came from SPL side Hamilton. With Deuchar's height and the pace and trickery provided by the likes of Peter MacDonald and Collin Samuel, our defence will really be up against it tomorrow night.