Saints must put on a show, say supporters

Jan 18 2013 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

Danny Lennon’s Saints resume their SPL campaign tomorrow following a two-week break – and the fans on Buddie Banter are looking for a red-hot performance to warm their hearts.

Lennon’s side take on Ross County and no-one will forget that thrilling 5-4 league victory Saints registered over the Staggies earlier in the campaign.

And while the fans don’t think another high-scoring affair will be on the cards, they’re looking for their players to turn up the heat – and give the manager the best possible selection headache ahead of next weekend’s trip to Hampden.

Sheila Connolly of Paisley kicked things off when she said: “On Saturday, I expect the players to be going all out to try to impress.

“After all, this is the last game they will play before we go to Hampden a week on Sunday for the Celtic game.

“Surely the players will want to show up well and make sure they are in that starting 11?

“I’m expecting a good performance this week from a number of players and, of course, three points!”

Charles Tait of Elderslie echoed those sentiments when he had this to say: “The players will be pumped up and desperate to make sure their are in the manager’s thoughts for our league cup semi-final.

“That’s why I think we’ll win convincingly, but we’ll also get a few goals too. My prediction is 3-1.”

Mr E Burt, from Glasgow, penned a latter to Buddie Banter, giving us his take on the team’s current form.

He said: “It’s great to see big Stevie Thompson banging in the goals and he’s already into double figures and I think Paul McGowan’s return to action is going to be important as well.

“But the one player that’s really impressed me the most is Gary Teale.

“He seems to have rediscovered some of the form he showed when he first signed with the club, and long may it continue.

“His crossing is precise and I’d expect him to be a stick-on for a Hampden jersey next week.”

John McGinn, St Mirren’s latest teenage sensation, is back from his jaunt to Turkey with the Scotland Under-19s.

And David Gallacher is tipping the youngster for a place in the Hampden starting line-up, especially if fellow midfielder Kenny McLean is still ruled out through injury.

He posted this message: “I like the look of the boy McGinn. He seems to have bags of energy and all that enthusiasm you’d expect from a young player.

“I read that Kenny McLean might not make it for Hampden but I would have no hesitation in sticking wee McGinn in there – the boy’s fearless.”

But before the Hampden showpiece there’s still the bread and butter of the league to contend with.

M. McKinven, of Cardonald, had this to say: “I just hope the players are not thinking too much about next week as we have a big game to play in the league first.

“It’s the old saying, ‘one game at a time’ and hopefully the players’ heads will not be turned by all the talk of going to Hampden because we have still to improve our league position, which is currently a disappointment.”

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