THE WEEKEND PREVIEW: Scottish Cup duty provides a welcome distraction for Simo's struggling Saints
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He’s not been here for long, but it would appear as though St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been well and truly swept up by the romance of the Scottish Cup. No shame in that, it happens to the best of us. Speaking after his side’s 3-1 defeat Premiership defeat to Rangers at Ibrox last weekend — a result which left the Saints nine points adrift at the foot of the Premiership table — the Finn (pictured) insisted he was excited about the ‘beautiful week’ which was set to come ahead of today’s fourth-round tie against Motherwell in Perth.
![[St Johnstone have gone nine games without a win and sit bottom of the top-flight table]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/20/94225181-14298039-St_Johnstone_have_gone_nine_games_without_a_win_and_sit_bottom_o-a-3_1737146579935.jpg)
Having just moments earlier described their current predicament as ‘catastrophic’, it was an unexpected moment of misty-eyed wonder from a man who is searching for a ray of light in what has so far been a miserable season for all associated with the Perth club.
![[Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell is facing an injury crisis ahead of the trip to Perth]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/20/94225077-14298039-Motherwell_manager_Stuart_Kettlewell_is_facing_an_injury_crisis_-a-2_1737146579935.jpg)
While a repeat of the glorious run which ended with them lifting the famous old trophy back in 2021 is nothing more than a pipe dream at this stage, progression at the expense of their fellow Premiership opponents at McDiarmid Park would at least give fans something to cling on to as they stare down the barrel of what unfortunately looks likely to be an almighty uphill struggle between now and mid-May.
![[Toyusi Olusanya missed from the spot in St Mirren's defeat against Dundee United last week]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/20/94225083-14298039-Toyusi_Olusanya_missed_from_the_spot_in_St_Mirren_s_defeat_again-a-4_1737146579935.jpg)
The good news, at least, is that they are facing a Motherwell team who at this rate will be lucky to even field a team given their scarcely believable injury issues. Paul McGinn — only just back in the fold following a long-term absence — suffered a heartbreaking recurrence of his thigh problem against Hibernian last Saturday. He'll now miss the rest of the campaign, making it nine players manager Stuart Kettlewell must now do without for the foreseeable future. Bleak indeed.
![[Dumbarton were placed in administration in November and are now fighting for their future]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/20/94225071-14298039-Dumbarton_were_placed_in_administration_in_November_and_are_now_-a-6_1737146579936.jpg)
