ANGE POSTECOGLOU has ordered his players to “show a bit more composure” in their finishing after firing blanks in the stalemate with St Mirren in Paisley in midweek.
The defenders are doing their job in the best rearguard in the Premiership with a mere 11 goals conceded in 19 games, but the forwards are failing to hit the high notes up front with six odd-goal wins in their last seven domestic outings.
Postecoglou will tell them to open fire in Perth this afternoon against Callum Davidson’s struggling St Johnstone team that is anchored at the foot of the table.
The Hoops couldn’t penetrate the makeshift Paisley back four as they squandered two crucial points to go six adrift at the top of the league.
The Greek-Australian gaffer said: “If you watch the game on Wednesday we had enough chances to win it. It’s not like we didn’t create the opportunities.
“You would like to think if we create an equal amount today we will score one and get the job done.
“It’s not about being scrappy or fighting. It’s just that we need to be stronger in our mentality in that front third, show a bit more composure.
“We create chances, so there shouldn’t be any anxiety around it and there was anxiety against St Mirren.
“We have players in those positions who are maybe not natural in the roles and that makes the task a little more challenging. Ultimately, when I sit down and watch the game again, it’s one we should have won.
“That we didn’t is down to our own lack of ability to get the ball in the net.”
Postecoglou, speaking to the Sunday Mail, added: “I get that the league table is people’s reference point, but I can’t control that. All we can control is our own destiny.
“What we know is that if we continue with similar form to what we have shown over the last two and a half months through Sunday and into the second half of the year we will give ourselves a chance.
“I’m not going to stress or worry about what I can’t control. I can’t control what other teams do, whether they are above us or below us.
“On a match day the only thing we can control are the games we play in.
“We had a slow start which has meant that we’re not in the ideal position, but if we continue the way we have been we will give ourselves an opportunity.”
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