Dundee v St Johnstone: Midfielder to get closer look at what might have been

Saturday 29 September 2012

Mark Kerr might have been feeling differently about this match.

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The midfielder was being measured for his St Johnstone strip earlier this month as a deal moved closer, only to then find himself trying on a Dundee one and finding it fit better. A last-minute hitch had caused Kerr to turn away from Perth and it was not long before he was at Dens Park.

His former suitors have will join him there today. Neither club can boast to have started the season strongly but St Johnstone have since picked up consecutive wins – against Celtic and a hitherto unbeaten Ross County – which has allowed them to bring both momentum and confidence to McDiarmid Park. By contrast, Kerr is part of a side that have yet to win at home; they have lost all three of their league matches at Dens Park this term, and are sat at the bottom of the league table. The added derby element to this match will ensure that home comforts are in short supply this afternoon, too.Yet while Kerr is well aware of the comparative strength of the two teams he will not look longingly towards the visiting dressing room. "I could have been lining up on the other side if things had gone through," said the midfielder, whose side hope to have on-loan Celtic full-back Lewis Toshney back despite an ankle knock. "But that's the way football goes sometimes and I'm just looking forward to playing against them now and hopefully doing well."It will obviously be a hard game because St Johnstone are on a bit roll right now. They've started to come good by winning three games on the trot and scoring goals into the bargain. I feel they're a top-six side anyway when you look at the players the have at their disposal and that's something I saw for myself when I was there on trial."Such sentiments were decidedly muted within the St Johnstone squad, though. Their recent form has been welcome after the indifferent results which rung in the new season, but their mentality is still that of a team trying to prove itself."If we turn up with a poor attitude thinking we are going to walk that game then we are in real danger, it is not going to happen," said Dave Mackay, the St Johnstone full-back. "It will be a very tough game. It is a derby as well, Barry [Smith, the Dundee manager] will have his players up for it so we will be wary of them."A couple of weeks ago people were starting to think St Johnstone were in danger of relegation but you win a couple of games and everything is rosy again. So they are definitely not out of it. They have a few points on the board, there are still plenty to play for."

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Dundee v St Johnstone: Midfielder to get closer look at what might have been

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