WATT WE NEED TO ESCAPE

Simo calls for more of same as Saints still alive

- FRASER MACKIE AT McDIARMID PARK

SIMO VALAKARI saw his St Johnstone side keep their Premiership survival hopes alive - then demanded more of the same from his players.

Goals from Daniels Balodis and Elliot Watt secured a critical 2-1 win which saw Saints move to within three points of the Staggies in 11th.

Valakari urged his players to produce a repeat performance against Hearts in midweek to ensure the great escape is still on when Dundee come to Perth next weekend.

The Finnish boss said: "We've won and now we need to perform again.

"We need to keep doing small things right and then anything is possible.

"We've got this confidence. We needed that win. It was our last chance to keep this fight going. And we did it.

"We know the challenge ahead of us, that we need to go and do all these things right again on Wednesday."

It looked like being one of those days for Saints when Adam Sidibeh and Uche Ikpeazu missed sitters.