Considering how the latter stages of Saturday afternoon’s trip through to Tannadice unfolded, the smile on Adam Montgomery’s face was to be expected.
Not long before he ventured up for post-match press duties, team-mate Stevie May had produced a crunching challenge - Steven Anderson and Frazer Wright would’ve been proud - to catch out Dundee United goalkeeper Mark Birighitti and send the ball flying into the net.
The sliding success story had nudged the Saints back in front after Dylan Levitt, just 90 seconds earlier, had levelled proceedings with a long-ranger into the bottom corner.
When the full-time whistle sounded, scenes of celebration took over. And Montgomery is never far away from them. As the party atmosphere centred around a hugely crucial three points on the road, the left-sided wing-back - growing in confidence on a weekly basis, it seems - could reflect on another enjoyable experience with the Perth club.
“Winning games of football is what I’m here to do and I’m loving every minute of it right now,” Montgomery, on loan from Celtic, explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.
“When a goal goes in you want to celebrate. Especially goals like that on Saturday. The fans had been unbelievable all game. They have been brilliant all season actually and I have really enjoyed playing for them and St Johnstone.
“At the start of the season, when I knew there was interest, I wanted to come and learn. The gaffer was obviously a left back and knows the position really well.
“I spoke to him quite a bit before I came to the club and he was very honest with me, saying I had to come in and work. If I did, I would get the opportunities.”
Montgomery, as anticipated and is generally the case, feels his fitness level is reaching new heights with a consistent run of first team football. And he feels how Saints are attempting to play football is helping his cause.
He said: “Playing a full season of first team football is always going to improve your fitness, especially in that wing-back role.
“I enjoy playing up in that attacking third. We have players who want to get the ball down and that is ideal for me.”
When he does venture well beyond the halfway line, the 20-year-old knows there will be someone to work off. Whether Stevie May, Nicky Clark, Melker Hallberg or whoever else is tasked with providing the finishing touches.
Neat football is welcome, of course, but Montgomery also witnessed the benefit of pure hard work against Dundee United. The tireless running of May included.
“Having Mayzo in your team, you know he is going to run in behind and give you legs,” Montgomery said.
“He is amazing on the ball, a great player to play with and a delight to have in the team. The amount of running he does probably goes a wee bit unnoticed because he’s a frontman. But when we press from the front he is always leading us and that is a great starting point.
“We knew we would get another chance and Mayzo’s goal - pressing from the front - just sums him up.
“Mayzo and Nicky Clark have both been excellent this season. They want to play football but can mix it up too. They give you lots of options.
“And I think right at the end on Saturday epitomises us as a team. We will all go right to the end and know we can create chances no matter where we are in the game.”
Saints moved 10 points clear of their bottom-of-the-table Tayside neighbours following Saturday’s win and, again, there is reason to be looking up rather than what sits below.
Home form must improve if there is to be a realistic crack at reeling in those above in the remaining games before the split and that is no secret within the walls of McDiarmid Park.
St Mirren, who sit fifth and six points clear of Saints, visit Perth this weekend.
“I actually thought we played well in the games against Rangers and Celtic,” Montgomery reflected. “We showed some good quality.
“We’ve got a good run of games and to put a run together now would be excellent. We’re just making sure that, in each game, we are playing well and working hard. Results will come with that.”
