TOMMY Wright has no doubts about St Johnstone’s ability to cope with the loss of top scorer Danny Swanson when he leaves for Hibernian.
The winger, who has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Easter Road club, slammed home his 15th goal of the campaign from the penalty spot to secure a 1-0 home win over Partick Thistle on Saturday, confirming fourth place and entry to the Europa League qualifying draw next month for the Perth side.
Swanson, who was fined for his part in an altercation with team-mate Richard Foster at Hamilton recently, has played a crucial role in St Johnstone’s fifth European qualification in six years under Wright and his predecessor Steve Lomas.
Wright said of the 30-year-old’s departure: “Life goes on. Stevie May went and everyone said we couldn’t replace him.
“Michael O’Halloran went to Rangers and we replaced him. Danny Swanson is going and we will find somebody else.
But Danny goes with my good wishes. He has proved that he still wants to play for the club. His attitude has been brilliant and he was quality. But we will go and find somebody else and we will hopefully continue to progress.”
Swanson enjoyed a standing ovation from the home fans after another influential performance, hot on the heels of a goal in a recent victory over Aberdeen, but Wright insisted he was not being given a chance to take a bow. “I’m not sentimental. No chance,” Wright said. “He was tiring and young Craig Thomson has done extremely well. I don’t do sentiment in any shape or form, unless it is family.”
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald acknowledged the performance of his goalkeeper, Tomas Cerny, who prevented a potential second-half rout with a series of high-quality saves.
Archibald said: “He had a niggling injury for the first eight or nine games and we had to leave him out. Since he has been back he has been outstanding.”
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