Tommy Wright insists avoiding the worry of relegation from the Ladbrokes Premiership yet again is a “fantastic achievement” for St Johnstone.
The Perth club, who returned to the top flight in 2009/10 after a seven-year absence, finished eighth last season after enjoying six successive top-six finishes.
With three post-split fixtures remaining this term, Saints are sitting in seventh place, one point ahead of Motherwell and looking to finish the ‘best of the rest’.
Wright told the club’s official website: “We’ve achieved a lot as a club in recent years, but to have not been involved in any relegation battles since returning to the top flight is a fantastic achievement.
“There are some big clubs who have dropped down a division in that time but we’ve never once finished lower than eighth.
“It shows you just how well this club has done over that period of time.
“I know the chairman is extremely proud but the players, supporters and everyone connected to St Johnstone should be too.
“The season isn’t over though and we want to finish strongly. I keep mentioning that seventh place is very important but aside from that personal pride comes into it too.
“A footballer should be looking to win every game he plays in, even friendlies.
“We will approach the final three games in the right manner as my players always do and hopefully we can have a strong end to a good season.”
St Johnstone face Livingston on Saturday – the fourth meeting between the clubs this season and the third of 2019.
After two Saints victories, Gary Holt’s men came out on top with a 3-1 win at the Tony Macaroni Arena in March after Joe Shaughnessy had given the visitors an early lead.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there,” said Wright.
“Our home record has been pretty good and we know we’re more than capable of keeping that going tomorrow.
“It’s going to be a difficult game as it has been in the previous three matches with Livingston this season. We have won twice but lost last time out.
“That was disappointing because it was a game of fine margins. We took the lead and had a great chance to go 2-0 up.
“Then we didn’t deal with a situation and conceded a poor goal then didn’t turn up at the start of the second half.
“We go into the game knowing a win goes a long way to helping secure seventh place for us and would guarantee us at least eighth.
“We’re looking forward to it. We’ll be looking to get on the front foot and take the game to Livingston.”
