St Johnstone’s hopes of avoiding relegation from the Scottish Premiership were dealt a fatal blow with a 2-1 defeat against Hearts on Saturday. The loss, compounded by Ross County’s draw against Dundee, confirmed St Johnstone’s relegation for the first time since 2009. Simo Valakari first took over coaching the team last October. Since then, they’ve turned their incredible debut season into a nightmare full of injuries, a season that’s seen them drop to the bottom of the league.
The defeat to Hearts was St Johnstone’s fourth straight defeat and their 21st loss of the campaign. Soccer fans took to social media to share their anger felt at the game, with fans booing the U.S. players off the field at halftime. Despite a spirited effort, including a goal from Graham Carey in the 74th minute, it was not enough to alter the club’s fate.
A Season of Struggles
St Johnstone’s relegation caps off a heavily troubled, inconsistent and mismanaged season. It’s something which has led the team to languish near the bottom of the table ever since a defeat at Tynecastle just before Christmas. That rough stretch turned into a run of disheartening games that proved their undoing.
At halftime, Valakari was not afraid to make some aggressive tactical alterations. He replaced Griffith and Sam Curtis to liven things up a little, bringing on Carey and Sprangler to replace them. Yet, these changes were not enough to spur a near-term reversal. As they battled to get back in the game, St Johnstone almost found themselves level just before the interval. Alas, he was thwarted by an amazing save from Hearts’ goalie, Fulton.
The match’s outcome became even more significant as news filtered through that Ross County had secured a point against Dundee, sealing St Johnstone’s relegation before they even completed their game. The players were long off the pitch when the announcement that changed everything came in.
A Historic Low
The relegation marks a big change for St Johnstone. The team experienced no interruption of top-flight football since gaining promotion from the Championship in the 2008/09 season with former manager Derek McInnes. Both fans and players are experiencing a painful transition. For the first time in that long, they’ll not be doing it in the Championship.
Under Valakari’s guidance, the team had a hard time ever putting it all together. The gaffer conceded post game that his roster just didn’t deliver the necessary performance. He acknowledged that factors outside of their control played a massive part in their relegation.
“We cry tonight, we cry tomorrow and then on Friday we turn our heads to changing this club back to winning ways. That starts on Sunday.” – Simo Valakari
While this loss will be disappointing for the players and their fans, there is optimism that they can bounce back even stronger next year.
Looking Ahead
What lies ahead for St Johnstone now rests upon their ability to react positively to a difficult defeat. Valakari and his crew will find a considerable test in their second term within the Championship. Needs a plan to ensure their next return to the top flight stays permanent. The onus will be on him to rebuild the team and win back the confidence of players and fans.
As St Johnstone faces this transition, they will aim to learn from their experiences this season and build a stronger foundation for future success.
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