LIAM CRAIG is targeting maximum points from the next two games as St Johnstone look to wrap up the first third of the season in style.
Saints travel to Murrayfield to face Hearts on Saturday before hosting Ross County on Tuesday, which will bring an end to the first set of fixtures.
Tommy Wright’s side made a promising start to the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign, going unbeaten in their first five games, but have fallen away of late, losing three of their last four and leaking goals.
However, midfielder Craig is keen to get back on track after defeat at home to Rangers last Friday.
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“We’ve always done well against Hearts and the biggest thing for us is getting back to winning ways and, at worst, stopping the run of defeats,” he said.
“We’ve had a good start to the season, we have two games before we’ve had a look at (every team in the league) and we want as many points as we can.
“If we can get six points from the next two games, that puts you on 20, which would be a great return.”
He added: “What we’ve done over the last few years in terms of being in the top six – that’s where we want to be.
“I think we’re fourth or fifth in the league now with Rangers, Aberdeen and Celtic ahead of us, so I think the start has helped us but it’s important we get back to winning ways and being hard to beat.
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“Conceding six goals in the last two games, regardless of going down to 10 men against Rangers, that’s not like us and we need to get back to being hard to beat because we definitely carry a threat going the other way.”
St Johnstone will make the trip to Murrayfield – the temporary home of Hearts, while Tynecastle is being rebuilt – and the visitors are relishing the prospect of playing at the home of Scottish rugby.
“We’re looking forward to Hearts on Saturday,” Craig said. “With the game being at Murrayfield it has the novelty factor with it.
“It is (like an away game for them), but obviously they will have a lot more supporters.
“Hearts is always a game you look forward to away from home – usually at Tynecastle – but we’re looking forward to playing at Murrayfield.”
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