The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

Stepping Up

Having won the Championship by 11 points, St Johnstone are Premiership-bound. So which members of Simo Valakari's squad are ready for the step up and which are not? Is the rebuilding job required this summer as big as the one needed last year? Is it bigger? On this week's Spoony Chop - the final episode before our summer break - Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Saints' final win of the season against Ayr United and what comes next for the Perth side.

Stand Up For the Champions

St Johnstone have sealed their return to the Premiership at the first time of asking by securing the Championship title. Simo Valakari's side got the job done with a comfortable win at Dunfermline in front of a bumper travelling support, then lifted the trophy at home to Raith Rovers. On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton assess those two wins and how they have contributed to Saints finishing the season looking every inch the Champions. 

Two Bites at the Title

St Johnstone have two chances to seal the Championship title - away to Dunfermline, then at home to Raith Rovers. On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Saints' chances at East End Park, against a Pars side on a high after reaching the Scottish Cup Final, how Simo Valakari will deal with losing Jack Baird to suspension and the spectrum of possible outcomes, from emphatic to catastrophic.

Gayfield of Dreams

After a tough first half in wild conditions at Arbroath, St Johnstone turned in a strong performance after the break to win 4-2. The result saw Saints stretch their lead at the top of the Championship to five points, thanks to Partick Thistle dropping points to Ayr United. Josh Fowler's arrival as a half-time substitute at Gayfield helped turn the tide in the Perth side's favour, amid howling wind and driving rain. But what impact will the second half performance influence boss Simo Valakari's thinking ahead of Saturday's clash with Airdrie? Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss the win in Arbroath, Josh Fowler and Sam Stanton's roles in the team and how Saints should counter the Diamonds.

SHOOT!

After dropping two points against Queen's Park, St Johnstone's lead at the top of the Championship has been cut to just three points (plus a superior goal difference). What went wrong against the Spiders? How should Simo Valakari fix it - and with which players - ahead of Saturday's crucial clash with Arbroath? On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton try to make sense of an increasingly fraught situation for Saints, with the help of a particularly telling statistic.

'St Johnny' is Unacceptable

St Johnstone preserved their eight-point Championship lead over Partick Thistle on Friday night. By Saturday's clash with Queen's Park, the Jags COULD be within two. On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss what Saints still need to do to secure the title, Friday night's draw at Firhill and Eric's cameo appearance on YouTuber Sam North's channel.

Is St Johnstone's Clash with Partick Thistle Make or Break?

St Johnstone are heading to Firhill to face Partick Thistle with an eight-point lead over their title rivals. And with just seven games to go (eight for Thistle), a win would go a long way towards killing off the Jags' challenge. So where is the path to victory for Saints? And would a draw do? On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss what will be the biggest game of the season so far, plus Saturday's hard-fought win over a physical Ross County side.

The Game Before the Game

St Johnstone moved eight points clear at the top of the Championship after the weekend's 2-0 win away to Greenock Morton. It's the strongest position Simo Valakari's side have been in all season - and with a clash against title rivals Partick Thistle on the calendar after Saturday's meeting with Ross County, things are getting 'real'. Would Saints settle for four points from these two games? Might that be enough to all-but secure the title? Or is everything still hanging in the balance? On this week's Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss a potentially huge two games to come.

Chance for clear blue water

St Johnstone opened-up a five-point gap over Partick Thistle on Saturday but can they now make the most decisive move of the Championship campaign by beating Morton? Stuart Cosgrove and Eric Nicolson contemplate the potential of a season-defining weekend. 

Do St Johnstone have a pyro problem?

On the field, St Johnstone dropped points against Raith Rovers on Friday night and off it, the club have reacted to a pyrotechnic display in the away end at Stark’s Park. In this week’s episode, Stuart Cosgrove and Eric Nicolson discuss both topics.