Soccer
Simo Valakari says Josh Fowler is proving he belongs in top-flight
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari is thrilled to see Josh Fowler proving he is a top-flight striker.
Fowler scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Hibernian at McDiarmid Park as Saints leapt above the visitors into seventh in the William Hill Premiership.
The 24-year-old had a tough first five months in Perth after leaving Queen’s Park in January.
He scored just twice in 13 outings as Saints earned promotion but the brace against Hibs took his tally to four goals for the season and top of the scoring charts.
Fowler netted on 17 minutes to give Saints the lead and, after Nathan Lowe had levelled, Fowler kept his cool from the penalty spot before half-time.
Valakari said: “Josh is showing that he can score goals at this level. I have never doubted that – and Josh himself never doubted that.
“Of course, strikers live for goals and when you score them you get so much confidence.
“But I always say that, in our team, our strikers need to work so hard without the ball. They’re our first line of defence. We go down as a team if we don’t do that.
“Josh has been working so hard on that side of the game, which pleases me as much.”
Valakari was pleased to see his stylish team show a different side to their game to see out victory. Hibs were the dominant second-half force but the hosts held on well.
“It was a good win and an important win,” said Valakari. “I think there was everything across the 90 minutes.
“In the first half we played some excellent football, progressing our passes and were very solid.
“In the second half we had to show the other side of our game – this grittiness and readiness to put our bodies on the line and block shots.
“And Toby (Steward) had to make a couple of big saves.”
Hibs boss David Gray was angered by his team’s first-half efforts, particularly as he expected a big reaction to Thursday night’s Edinburgh derby defeat.
“The biggest thing for me is the manner in which the first half went for us – again,” Gray said.
“It was summed up in the way we conceded the two goals. So, a lack of desire to stop somebody advancing past you, gambling in the box, guessing in the box.
“Then a needless penalty that we give away. They were poor goals. But the players went to the end and we created a few chances.
“But I certainly can’t sit here and say we deserved to win the game. Back-to-back defeats is tough to take.
“And, understandably so, criticism will be there.”
