MISSING PIECES IN FOOTBALL PUZZLE HOLD KEY TO OUR SURVIVAL

Simo Valakari insists St Johnstone's post-split struggles are not the product of players giving up the ghost on their relegation fight.

- FRASER MACKIE

The Perth boss insists his men possess the right mentality required to get out of bother.

He stressed that 'football fixes' are needed for the current problems to secure better results with three games to go.

Saints can gain a lifeline at the bottom of the table by beating Ross County tomorrow at McDiarmid Park.

Don Cowie's men are six points above Saints but on a losing skid of six Premiership games.

However, Saints have lost form themselves with one league victory in the last seven.

Kilmarnock triumphed 2-0 last Saturday in Perth, with Saints toiling to pose any danger after conceding the second goal.

And Valakari noted: "I understand that people will say 'lack of character, lack of attitude'.

"Yes, at 2-0 down, we should still push. But, in that match, it became too much against a Kilmarnock team who know how to manage a game.