Tommy Wright hails St Johnstone after European qualification
Tommy Wright hailed his St Johnstone squad after they secured a place in the Europa League qualifying stages with a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle.
Last updated 14th May 2017
Tommy Wright hailed his St Johnstone squad after they secured a place in the Europa League qualifying stages with a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle.
Danny Swanson's first-half penalty secured fourth place in the Premiership at the expense of Hearts.
And Wright is now looking forward to his fourth Europa League campaign in just five years in charge at McDiarmid Park.
Wright said: “I'm so proud of the players. It has been a tremendous season.
“It is the most satisfying season of them all because Rangers are back in the league and Hearts and other clubs strengthened after last season.
“For us to finish above Hearts after being five points behind them shows what a good side we are. They fully deserve to get the prize of Europe because of that.
“We have defied all the odds again. It has been tougher than ever with the club that have come into the league.
“To get into Europe with two games to spare shows what a great season we have had and what a great group of players we have.”
Wright believes his players are still flying under the radar after being overlooked for player-of-the-month accolades this term.
“There are plenty people out there who don't recognise how good we are. I think my players deserve a lot more plaudits than what they get,” he said.
Disappointed Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald admitted his team never looked like stretching their winning run at McDiarmid to five matches.
Despite losing late in the game to Rangers the previous week, Archibald was bewildered by the team's display.
He said: “Our performance levels were miles off it in terms of the amount of stray passes from everyone on the pitch.
“It was awful individually and collectively compared to last week against Rangers. I can't put my finger on why.
“We dropped to a level we haven't seen in a wee while.
“Possibly St Johnstone had more to play for but I wouldn't like to think that was why.
“They were better than us for most of the game.
“We let them in by giving away possession in a key area and they got the penalty off that.
“There wasn't a lot to it before that but we know that when St Johnstone go ahead they are hard to break down.”