Before the start of today’s game a banner with the Finnish phrase ‘Ei se pelaa, joka pelkää’ was displayed in the stands.
It roughly translates to “no guts, no glory”.
And the Perth players responded with the glory part by clinching their first league win at McDiarmid Park since December 2023.
What was strange was that the guts weren’t truly required – this was a relative stroll to three points.
Nicky Clark was the captain for the day and he headed over after seven minutes from a quick free kick.
Andre Raymond’s dangerous cross to Clark on 13 minutes was at perfect head height but he, somehow, glanced wide from six yards out.
The home side’s bright start was rewarded with the opener.
Benji Kimpioka put the ball in the net from close range from Clark’s low cross on 16 minutes despite County protests for a foul in the build up.
Following an initial VAR check referee John Beaton was not called to the monitor and the goal was given.
The afternoon took an even better turn for Saints after wing-back Elijah Campbell received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Drey Wright.
The chance for a first home league win of 2024 never looked so promising.
Ronan Hale registered County’s first shot on target just after the half-hour mark but his tame effort from outside the box was gathered by Ross Sinclair.
It was nearly 2-0 after brilliant work by Lewis Neilson set up Kimpioka again but he blazed over.
Then, less than a minute later, the striker got his brace. Wright’s low ball evaded the away defence before falling to Kimpioka at the back post. This time he made no mistake and slotted beyond Ross Laidlaw.
Saints could have had five come the half-time whistle.
Ten-man County made three changes at half time to tighten up the rearguard as the attack-versus-defence pattern was set.
Jason Holt saw a goal bound shot blocked on 55 minutes before Adama Sidibeh struck over the bar from Kimpioka’s lay-off.
Sidibeh then forced a low save from Laidlaw before firing the rebound wayward on the hour mark.
Kimpioka turned provider for Clark to make it 3-0 and looked to have put the game to bed before it was chalked off for offside.
Saints continued to probe with the front three of Sidibeh, Clark and Kimpioka looking sharp.
The afternoon got worse for County after substitute Charlie Telfer, on for less than four minutes, was given a straight red card for a lunge on Sven Sprangler. The Austrian was then taken off for the knock.
Substitutes Makenzie Kirk and Graham Carey combined at the death to make it 3-0, with Kirk converting from a yard out.
Saints jump to eight in the standings, level with the Staggies on seven points.
Work permit issues prevented new boss Simo Valakari from taking to the sidelines for the second game in succession.
But the McDiarmid Park faithful will hope his eagle eyed view of his team’s performance today from the stands will help forge a pathway up the table.
LINE-UP
St Johnstone: Ross Sinclair, Andre Raymond, Jack Sanders, Lewis Neilson, Jason Holt, Nicky Clark, Drey Wright, Adama Sidibeh (Mackenzie Kirk 76’), Matt Smith (Graham Carey 83’), Sven Sprangler (Aaron Essel 80’), Benjamin Kimpioka.
Subs not used: Josh Rae, Kyle Cameron, Max Kucheriavyi, Josh McPake, David Keltjens, Fran Franczak.
ATTENDANCE: 3688
REFEREE: John Beaton