St Johnstone face a must-win encounter against League 1 side East Fife to keep their knockout stage ambitions alive in the Premier Sports Cup.
Following a midweek defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the Saints find themselves sitting third in the group standings, trailing Saturday’s opponents by a single point and sitting two points behind the Highland side.
A victory for East Fife would secure their progression, as would a win for Inverness in their fixture against bottom-placed Greenock Morton.
Saints manager Simo Valakari expressed confidence that the mounting pressure could serve to sharpen his team’s focus.
“I mentioned before Tuesday night that there is very little margin for error in this competition,” Valakari remarked. “After our loss, our fate is largely in our own hands.
“Our only option now is to go out and win. We have to take control of our own destiny.
“Looking back at Tuesday, there are no excuses; it simply wasn’t our performance. It is easier to admit that we were substandard and did not deserve a result.
“However, that is the nature of football. We have a new opportunity tomorrow to make things right.”
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