Falkirk and St Johnstone both need the points

Bairns could get out of bother…

When you are at the bottom of the league, every match is massive. Falkirk are still very much in touch with a cluster of teams at the foot of the table. In fact, if the results go in their favour on Saturday, the Bairns could be off the bottom.

That is not to say that opponents St Johnstone have nothing to play for either. A surplus of games in hand means the Perth side could be higher than their current placing indicates. Three points at The Falkirk Stadium will see them leapfrog Aberdeen.

That’s just the thing that would give Mark McGhee an abysmal weekend, even though the Dons are not in action.

Bairns boss Steven Pressley is preaching the power of positive thinking to his squad. Falkirk made a number of chances against Celtic last weekend but much like their pitch, they had nothing to show at the end of it.

The Bairns did face a goalkeeper in fine form though and may feel they will get more luck on Saturday.

St Johnstone will also feel that luck deserted them last weekend when Motherwell grabbed a late winner at McDiarmid Park but yet again, Derek McInnes’ side showed themselves to be a worthy addition to the SPL.

Falkirk are without Scott Arfield who is suspended whilst longer-term injury problems Pele and Finnigan are absent although there is said to be progress over Mark Stewart and Danijel Marceta.

St Johnstone will have to play without Peter McDonald, Martin Hardie and Stuart McCaffrey.

Many would accept St Johnstone taking their foot off the gas but the newly promoted teams (Gretna aside) usually have enough momentum to stay up. The real test for St Johnstone will come next season when SPL familiarity can set in.

Whether Falkirk can stay up with them is the big question.