Steve Lomas counts on ‘honesty’ to end poor run against Buddies

STEVE Lomas is not surprised that St Johnstone have failed to beat St Mirren this season, but aims to end that record when they meet in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League in Paisley today.

The Buddies have won twice in Perth, once in the league and once in the Scottish Communities League Cup, while the SPL meeting at New St Mirren Park was a goalless draw. All three games came before Lomas took over from Derek McInnes in November, but the McDiarmid Park manager has seen enough of Danny Lennon’s men to know why they have caused problems.

“For whatever reasons, we haven’t been able to beat them,” said Lomas. “I wasn’t here, but I can see why they take points off teams. St Mirren are a good team. Last week (against Hearts) they could have been out of sight. At one stage they had about 30 passes.

“They have had quite a few draws or they could be higher up the table. We just want to go there and put in a good performance but at this stage of the season it’s all about results.”

St Johnstone, who are behind fourth-placed Dundee United only on goal difference, have only lost two away games away in the league this season.

Lomas believes his side’s “honesty” has made them hard to beat on their travels. “Away from home you have to earn points,” he said. “So all credit to the lads, that’s why I can never criticise them, win lose or draw, they give the same every week. There is an honesty about them, I think that’s why they do well away from home, they graft and do the ugly part of the game”

Lomas is delighted that defender Callum Davidson, 35, has signed on for another year. “Callum has very good experience and is good around the changing room,” he said. “He’s a top pro who trains well, he hardly misses training or games and I’m sure we can get another 30 games out of him next season.”

St Mirren’s Marc McAusland has passed the ‘Steven Thompson test’. The defender, 23, suffered a fractured eye socket against Aberdeen three weeks ago but was fortunate not to need an operation. He has been playing against burly team-mate Thompson in training and is confident of returning against the Saints. He said: “I have been training for a week and a half and been up against big Thommo so you are always going to get a wee knock but I have been all right. Luckily I haven’t had another bash on my face but I am heading the ball and everything seems fine.”