EVERYTHING I ASKED 4

Valakari hails Saints' spirit as they blow away sad Ton

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SIMO VALAKARI insists St Johnstone passed a big test with flying colours by smashing four past Ton.

The Perth boss demanded a proper response to losing their first league game last week at Arbroath.

And he got an emphatic answer as Jamie Gullan's double led the way to opening up a three-point advantage at the Championship summit.

Saints had stuttered with two draws and a defeat and just one goal in three games.

But they blitzed hapless Ton with four goals inside 33 minutes as Cheick Diabate and Josh McPake also netted.

Valakari said: “I couldn't have asked more from the result or performance.

“Maybe it was even more meaningful after our first defeat last Saturday - how we would react. There was no talk, just action.

“Talk is cheap. This was exam day. This game would show our mental state.