Saints aim to end slump at Aberdeen

St Johnstone manager Sandy Clark admits the Perth club have only themselves to blame for their recent slump in form.

The Saints have failed to win since beating Kilmarnock 2-0 in November and crashed to a fifth straight defeat in their last match, a 1-0 defeat to Scottish Premier League bottom club St Mirren at Love Street.

Clark insists injuries have been a major factor and has been forced to throw youngsters into the first team in a bid to stop their slide down the table.

But he believes his side have simply not played well enough and now look unlikely to be able to secure a top six place before the league splits for the last five rounds of fixtures.

St Johnstone face Aberdeen at Pittodrie, and Clark said: "It is very disappointing the way the season has gone after starting quite well.

"But I think a lot of that has been self inflicted recently - we've made it difficult for ourselves and made it easy for other teams to pick up points against us.

"The game against St Mirren is one we were disappointed about but we had six teenage players involved and had to play with just one striker.

"Although we were disappointed not to take the three points, that was really the situation there."

St Mirren have been struggling to pick up points recently too, and Clark admits leaving Love Street empty-handed last week - after a Steven McGarry strike gave the Buddies the win - was a major disappointment.

He hopes his side can halt their slide at Pittodrie, but added: "It will be another close game, I am pretty positive about that.

"We're short of numbers just now and that means that some of the younger players will get the chance but I think it's a similar situation at Aberdeen.

"It will be a chance for them but we don't really have any choice about that, although the ones we play will be ready for it."

John Paul McBride and Paul Kane return to the squad but Michael O'Neill is ruled out with a hamstring strain and both Gary Bollan and Momo Sylla are still suspended.

Aberdeen sit just one point above St Johnstone in the table and Dons boss Ebbe Skovdahl believes the chance to extend that lead will act as an incentive for his players.

He said: "We have played St Johnstone twice this season and both games have been draws.

"It is always a hard game against St Johnstone because they are very thorough defensively, but they have a couple of injuries.

"We have jumped above them in the league and we aim to stay above them. We have lost only once since the winter break and we have confidence going into this match."

Thomas Solberg is still out with a calf strain, while Calum Bett is added to the squad.