St Johnstone

Tonight's Scottish Premiership play-off final is Caley Thistle's biggest game since Scottish Cup final success in 2015, writes Danny Law.

It will take another massive effort but this is a great opportunity for Caley Thistle to get back to the top flight and they have to grasp it. To have to play six matches to win promotion at the end of the season is a ridiculous scenario and the sooner it is changed to replicate the play-off format in the other divisions the better. The Inverness side were relegated five years ago and this is the closest they have got to getting back to the top flight. But the chance is there for Caley Thistle to inflict that misery on the Saints and seize their return to the top flight. The momentum is with Caley Thistle, while a nervy night awaits St Johnstone and the home support at McDiarmid Park. The Caley Jags manager shuffled his pack and changed formation at the break and his team responded in style.

Saints were utterly dominant for the majority of the cinch Premiership play-off final first leg on Friday.

We just need to do it again on Monday and be more clinical.” “I thought we did a lot well but could have done better going forward. “But we fancy our chances as well. I was saying to the boys not to be too down. “I don’t really know how we didn’t (win) to be fair,” the defender said. “There are plenty positives to take.

The battle for a place in next season's top-flight heads for a thrilling conclusion at McDiarmid Park.

It's a bright evening in Perth, there's no wind to speak of and the McDiarmid Park pitch looks in good condition. A bit of a blow for St Johnstone as Jamie McCart misses out with a head knock sustained in the first leg. But Davidson is still fuming from Friday’s first leg 2-2 draw in which he’s adamant Madden should have stopped the game for a head knock to Jamie McCart in the build up to Inverness’ first goal as Caley Thistle fought back from 2-0 down. Broadfoot steps up smartly to intercept a telegraphed ball out from the Saints backline and he's taken out by MacPherson in the middle of the park. There's a soundcheck under way off to the left of the press box as the Caley fans and their resident drummer start to make a bit of noise. Thankfully for Saints his positioning is wide of the goal and a corner, which is well defended, is all they concede. Carson shown a yellow for a late on Brown in the middle of the park. Hearts in mouths for the home support as Cleary takes his time passing back to Clark and the keeper slices his attempted first time clearance. This time it's Caley who invite pressure as the ball is knocked from high up the pitch straight out for a Saints corner. Samuels goes for the rebound but Walsh blows for a foul as the loose ball is contested and the home end can breathe again. Billy Dodds will believe the momentum is with his side as they head for Perth in search of a place in the top division for the first time since 2017. Callum Davidson 's Saints blew a two-goal lead in the first leg in the Highlands as the Championship hopefuls roared back to claim a draw.

Callum Davidson insists leading St Johnstone to Premiership survival was even more rewarding than last season's cup double. The manager masterminded the Perth club's triumphs in both the League Cup and Scottish Cup in the 2020/21 campaign.

"But it was a bigger achievement today. "We really thought, how do we get the boys out of this rut? He told Sky Sports: "For me, this was a lot harder to achieve.

Match report at St Johnstone beat Inverness 4-0 to secure their Scottish Premiership survival; it ended 6-2 on aggregate; goals from Stevie May, ...

Big thanks to my staff, my players and everybody involved." Another Saturday, another chance to win £250,000 with Super 6. Another Saturday, another chance to win £250,000 with Super 6. "All credit to everybody involved. Some performances weren't good but we got there in the end. Clark stopped Samuels' strike, Mahon blocked from Duffy and substitute Aaron Doran sliced wide from a good chance.

Former Aberdeen striker Stevie May made an instant impact after coming on at half-time when he slammed home the Saints' opener. It was effectively all over soon ...

Sub Aaron Doran seemed odds-on to halve the deficit on 68 minutes, but sliced his effort wide. Subs not used – MacKay (GK), Hyde. That was as close as it came for ICT and two late cool finishes on the attack from Hendry and Rooney added a sore outcome for the visitors. It was a cruel start to the second half and it was 2-0 on 53 minutes when a MacPherson drive diverted off Duffy, which sent Ridgers off course and the ball flew into the net. It was a real toe-to-toe battle and ICT were far from overawed by the occasion and they were not far off with a Duffy downward header from a Chalmers corner, with Billy Mckay’s follow-up dealt with by Clark on 22 minutes. He was handed a start, along with Wallace Duffy, Logan Chalmers and Austin Samuels, with ICT going to four at the back after 3-5-2 failed to fire in the first half on Friday.

Premiership salvation is not something which can be dressed with ribbons or placed on display in that newly bolstered trophy cabinet at McDiarmid Park.

The ball skidded out for a corner. Inverness had looked the more dangerous side in a tight opening half. Perhaps May should consider changing his number to 23 in recognition of the date after he graced another big occasion a minute after half-time. St Johnstone were determined to avoid their fate in the first leg on Friday night and let another two-goal lead slip. Stevie May got things underway moments after coming on at half-time while Shaun Rooney replicated Callum Hendry’s cheeky chipped finish a couple of minutes earlier to put some real gloss on the scoreline. Two cup heroes were instrumental in this stunning turnaround after a goalless opening half.

The Perth side beat Inverness 4-0 in the second leg to retain top flight status.

With a lead to defend, St Johnstone grew in confidence and they had a second goal after 52 minutes. He got an instant reward when Melker Hallberg’s header was saved by Mark Ridgers and May was on hand to smash in the rebound. St Johnstone stay in the Premiership after play-off final win

The half-time substitute took less than a minute to open the scoring as Saints beat Inverness 4-0 in the play-off final second leg.

Clark stopped Samuels’ strike, Mahon blocked from Duffy and substitute Aaron Doran sliced wide from a good chance. The half-time substitute took less than a minute to open the scoring as Saints beat Inverness 4-0 in the play-off final second leg to retain their top-flight status. The half-time substitute took less than a minute to open the scoring as Saints beat Inverness 4-0 in the play-off final second leg.

A 4-0 win on home soil ensured that the Saints will be playing in the top-flight next season.

The ball deflected heavily off Sean Welsh and nestled in the back of the net. The reward was a corner, which came to nothing. And then there was a second. But the latest chapter turned into a campaign of struggles and one where Saints tasted victory in just eight of their 38 league matches, finding the back of the net only 24 times. One minute later he had opened the scoring. But the big No.1 had a hairy moment early doors when failing to deal with an aggressive Dan Cleary pass back. The midfielder celebrated wildly. League positions from 2009 onwards were consistent and at times verging on the spectacular. What a noise inside McDiarmid Park. But the knockout blow never arrived. When the full-time whistle sounded, the outpouring of emotion and relief was clear to see on and off the park. Relegation was lingering with intent.

After a draw in The Highlands on Friday night, goals from Stevie May, Cameron MacPherson, Callum Hendry and Shaun Rooney made sure that McDiarmid Park would ...

It was maybe pick of the day. It has been a tough campaign for Davidson’s team but it is good to see them retain their place in the top flight. Hatate was fouled in the box, Josip Juranovic converted the penalty.

A wickedly deflected strike from Cammy MacPherson, then two beautiful chips from Callum Hendry and Shaun Rooney then secured the vital win, which was resounding ...

The striker’s predatory instincts were on show as he followed in a superb point-blank save from Mark Ridgers to fire high into the net. He had to take the shot early on the stretch, but Clark was able to gather. They were no longer stroking the ball around with such swagger, as resorted to going long to try salvage the game. The fans packed out McDiarmid, as they created a great atmosphere for the end of season showdown. And moments later Clark nearly made an almighty blunder as he took a fresh-air swipe at a back pass. It was an unbelievably tough one to take for Billy Dodds and his team.

A resounding 4-0 win for Saints against Inverness CT this evening saw Callum Davidson's side defeat the Highlanders 6-2 on aggregate to retain their cinch ...

Barley a minute into the second half Saints took the lead as Brown’s cross into the box was met by Hallberg but Mark Ridgers made a smart save from point blank range as he clawed the ball off the line. Saints continued to push for a third knowing that a goal for Inverness would pull them back into the tie and on 77 minutes Hallberg saw his left footed strike go wide. Saints though were not done and the icing on the cake came in the final minute. Inverness made their first change of the game on 65 minutes as Logan Chalmers made way for Aaron Doran who was quickly involved in the action. The Saints skipper was involved in the thick of the action again on 32 minutes, this time he made a crucial challenge to turn the ball behind for a corner after Samuels had been played in by David Carson. As the match approached half time there were chances at both ends as firstly the ball dropped to Callum Hendry in the box however, he couldn’t get his shot away as Inverness cleared their lines.

The last 45 minutes of their 2021/22 campaign was their best, with four second half goals securing the Perth club's Premiership status. That doesn't mean all ...

Saints knew better than to think this was done and dusted and Clark had to get down to his right to thwart Samuels who had let fly from just inside the box on 62 minutes. Saints gradually started to enjoy a bit of territory and possession and Cleary would have been disappointed not to hit the target with a header from a Melker Hallberg corner. The visitors made a much better start to this contest than the last – not that it would be hard – and Devine got his head to a Sean Welsh free-kick. And it was Chalmers who had the first shot of the game with only seconds on the clock – thankfully for Saints, straight at Zander Clark. Cammy MacPherson, Callum Hendry and Shaun Rooney were the other scorers on a night that had started worryingly and finished in a party and a lap of honour. The pressure was as weighty on this team over the last few days – probably the last few weeks – as on any of the sides who have played football for St Johnstone in this 13-season big league era.