Image source, SNSSt Johnstone owner Adam Webb has no concerns about a possible Aberdeen approach for manager Simo Valakari, saying the Finn is "very dedicated to this project" and "100% about seeing this through". (The Courier - subscription required, external)
Sam Miller
Fan writer
After the Dundee game, my Dee-supporting friend texted me, saying: 'Better team won - we just don't view it as a derby, which is a negative for these games, as you boys are always up for it so much more.'
A bit tongue-in-cheek, a bit bitter. Either way, it got me thinking...
In Scottish football, derby days carry an undeniable electric edge. Yet while neighbouring clubs like Dundee often dismiss their Tayside encounters with St Johnstone, Saints cannot afford to let others dictate their competitive tempo.
For St Johnstone, success requires adopting a simple philosophy: treat every game like a derby.
When a team approaches each fixture with the urgency, tactical discipline and relentless effort usually reserved for local rivalries, standard league encounters are transformed into high-stakes battles.
Rivals like Dundee may downplay the 'derby' status of a match, but that mental posture can quickly breed complacency. St Johnstone turned that dynamic into a clear advantage.
Treating every fixture like a cup final or a derby eliminates passive displays. For a club pushing to establish momentum in the Scottish Premiership, unwavering focus is essential.
St Johnstone prove that while rivals may choose when to care, true consistency comes from bringing derby-level fight to every kick-off.
Halliday hails St Johnstone's adaptability
Sportscene pundit Andy Halliday praised St Johnstone's adaptability after Saturday's Scottish Premiership victory over Dundee took them to the brink of the top half.
St Johnstone's Kai Fotheringham says it had been "a long fortnight" for him after being sent off against Rangers before he returned to the side to score the winner in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Dundee. (Courier - subscription required, external)
Highlights: St Johnstone 2-1 Dundee
Watch the best of the action as St Johnstone beat Dundee 2-1 at McDiarmid Park. (Available to UK users only)
We asked for your views on St Johnstone's 2-1 Tayside derby win over Dundee.
Here's what some of you said:
Gordon: So much better. The energy and tempo we have often been missing was there. We did have a Keystone Cops moment for Dundee's goal but the lads dug deep and got the winner. Kai Fotheringham was excellent.
Bill: Saints played some good football and were more impressive than Dundee. Best team display so far. A well earned three points.
Keith: I think Saints get stronger every week. They are good to watch, I'm enjoying every match. Mon the Saintees!
St Johnstone defender Bozo Mikulic has been dubbed by his head coach as the "unluckiest footballer in the world" after being forced off after only 14 minutes against Dundee having just returned to action following ACL, hamstring and calf injuries, broke his nose and sustained concussion in an aerial duel. (The Courier, external)
Hollywood star Ewan McGregor was back at McDiarmid Park to watch a St Johnstone game – nearly three decades after being asked to leave for not wearing a tie. (The Courier, external)
Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.
St Johnstone moved level on points with fifth-place Dundee in the Scottish Premiership after Kai Fotheringham's second-half winner settled an error-strewn Tayside derby in Perth.
Read the full match report here
Have your say on the game via this link
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone boss Simo Valakari: "I'm very, very delighted about our performance.
"We need to remember we played against a very good opponent, they asked many questions of our players but they adapted and found the solutions.
"We maybe surprised Dundee with our formation. They reacted for the second half, changed the formation, scored a goal and it took us a couple of minutes to find our feet. Credit to our players we found a way to compete and take control of the game.
"We can play football, yes you need to have character and personality but when we need to play football, we can play football and today the boys played good football.
"Overall I think we deserved the win."
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says Danny Schmidt is likely to miss Saturday's game against Dundee with an ankle injury the midfielder played through against Kilmarnock. (The Courier, external)
Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone midfielder Danny Schmidt is a likely absentee after playing on with an ankle injury in last weekend's draw with Kilmarnock, while goalkeeper Toby Steward is suspended.
But forward Kai Fotheringham returns from a ban and midfielder Sam Stanton and right-back Liam Smith are fit again.
Owen Bevan and Ryan Finnigan will return to the Dundee squad after recovering from respective thigh and ankle problems.
Bobby Wales (ankle), Simon Murray, Finlay Robertson and Jack Moorhouse (all ACL) are still out.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSMidfielder Joel Cotterill hopes to contribute plenty more goals for St Johnstone after breaking his duck.
The Welshman got Saints' second goal as they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Kilmarnock last weekend.
"That is a part of my game I think I need to improve so there was no better feeling than getting it in that kind of game," he said.
"It is something I want to build on massively. A big part of my game I am missing at the moment is goals.
"I think I get into the right areas sometimes but it is just something I need to get better at in my game. Last weekend is a good stepping stone for me now to just carry on and get as many as I can."
Cotterill will be looking to add to his tally at home to Dundee on Saturday.
The 22-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Dens Park from Swansea City before making a permanent move to St Johnstone in the summer.
He said: "I think having that experience (at Dundee) was definitely a good progression in the next step for my career and me being here now, this is the perfect place for me, I have got a good feeling of what the league is about.
"Being at Swansea was everything I knew for 14 years.
"You just know when it is time to take the next step and I thought this year was perfect for me and there is no better club for me than St Johnstone to come to. It is absolutely perfect."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone's five draws is the most of any Premiership side this season
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari has challenged his side to pick up more wins as they look to build on their encouraging start to the season.
After stepping up from the Championship, Saints are well placed in seventh in the Premiership with 14 points from their opening 12 games.
They are earning a reputation as draw specialists, having shared the spoils in five matches.
Speaking before Saturday's visit of Dundee, Valakari said: "Let's be very clear, we need to win football matches because the three points is so big.
"And especially if you can put those three pointers in a row, it is so big in this league.
"But with late comebacks and things like that, it shows what we are capable of and has reduced the opponent from getting the three points, we are taking those two points out of them.
"And when you add these in a long season they are valuable points, so that has been almost the biggest thing, that you have not given the opponents the three points when you could not win the match yourself."
Last weekend was a case in point as Saints twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Kilmarnock in a game where goalkeeper Toby Steward was sent off after just 13 minutes.
Valakari said: "What I am most pleased with during this season, yes we have our way of playing, we have our identity, but our players have adapted so well for different situations.
"A good example last week against Kilmarnock, after 10 minutes our whole gameplan is out the window. You need to do something different and we did, so I have been most pleased during this season that our players have been able to adapt to situations."
With just one defeat in six at home in the league, St Johnstone are looking to continue their impressive form at McDiarmid Park when the Dark Blues come calling.
"We know how to play in this stadium and, especially in this league, you need to be strong at home because away matches are so difficult," added Valakari.
"They (the fans) need to push and our players give everything so together we can make this a fortress."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership visit of Dundee (15:00 GMT).
Here are the main points:
He is looking forward to a "big game" in the Tayside derby against a "very good team who are in very good form".
Valakari is proud of his side's strong home record - just one defeat in six league matches - and adds: ''They (the fans) need to push and our players give everything so together we can make this a fortress."
The Perth boss is full of praise for Dundee: "I have been very impressed with what the manager as done there, with what the players have done there. They know what they are."
Seventh-place St Johnstone have lost just one of their past six games, drawing four, and Valakari says: "We want to win football matches, we need to win football matches and we will win football matches."
His side's adaptability pleases the Finn, who cites last week's 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock in which they twice came from behind after having goalkeeper Toby Steward sent off early as "a good example".
Spanish winger Unax Alvarez, who signed in the summer, has yet to make his debut because of injury, with Valakari saying "he has been the unluckiest player".
Team news: Steward is suspended but winger Kai Kotheringham returns from a ban. Defender Morgan Boyes is out after picking up an injury in training.
Sam Miller
Fan writer
As the first quarter of the season drew to a close, life following Saints has been anything but quiet.
Looking across our opening 12 league matches, one glaring pattern defines our season: razor-thin margins.
Barring that heavy afternoon away to Rangers, there has been no more than a single goal separating us from our opponents in every match.
Whether it was the thrilling 4-3 opening-day win over Kilmarnock, tight 1-0 battles against Hibs and Aberdeen, narrow one-goal losses, or hard-fought draws against the likes of Dundee United and Motherwell, we have lived on the knife-edge.
While the Ibrox result was a tough pill to swallow, the rest of our quarter proves we are competitive in every minute of every game.
We aren't being blown away, nor are we coasting. Every point earned has taken immense grit.
If we can convert just a few more of those tight draws into narrow wins in the second quarter, we'll be in a fantastic position. Up the Saints!
St Johnstone forward Unax Alvarez, who is yet to feature after picking up an ankle injury in a pre-season friendly, sustained a calf problem from a closed-doors match in September and still isn't back in training. (The Courier - subscription required, external)
St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari has revealed that goalscorer Danny Schmidt's injured ankle is in a "horrible state" after the German striker played on for the final 20 minutes against Kilmarnock. (The Courier, external)
Danny Schmidt says there was no way he coming off against Kilmarnock when he learned St Johnstone had no more substitutes to introduce despite finished his first full game for the club barely able to walk, never mind run. (The Courier, external)
Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.
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St Johnstone frustrate Kilmarnock in a four-goal Scottish Premiership draw, despite being down to 10 men (UK only).
Ten-man St Johnstone twice came from behind to deny struggling Kilmarnock a precious Scottish Premiership victory.
Read the full match report here
Have your say on the game via this link
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone manager Simo Valakari was not for blaming goalkeeper Toby Steward, who was sent off in the first half for handling outside his penalty box.
The Finn stressed that he wants his goalkeepers to come off their line.
"That's my tactical choice," he tells BBC Scotland. "I want my keeper to be like a sweeper behind those long balls.
"And he has been very good, he reads those moments.
"As you know in football, it's a teeny, teeny line you know, where he was and now this time it went this way, a red card, but Ross Sinclair came in and made some great saves.
"We came here to win the football match. We want to win the football matches.
"Sometimes you need to take what the game gives you. What our players did today, playing 80 minutes one man short – and in the last 20 minutes playing with two players short because I had made all my substitutions and Danny Schmidt couldn't run – we have been talking a lot about the players' character.
"Today, the personality and character: they never ever doubted. We always felt we could get something out of the match if we did things right and actually we scored two good goals."
Image source, SNSKilmarnock were without Mark O'Hara, Bailey Rice and Johnly Yfeko in midweek.
St Johnstone have Liam Smith available after he missed the game against Motherwell with a groin problem.
Kai Fotheringham completes a two-match ban and Sam Stanton faces another week out with an ankle injury.
