Simo Valakari has backed his fringe players and makeshift defenders to keep St Johnstone’s survival fight alive.
Saints suffered a poor start to the Scottish Premiership post-split fixtures with a 3-2 loss at Motherwell.
Now they face back-to-back home games against Kilmarnock and Ross County, with the Dingwall side the closest in realistic reach, six points away with four matches to play.
Saints will soldier on through their schedule with one recognised centre-half, Daniels Balodis.
Sven Sprangler and Sam Curtis accompanied him in a back three at Fir Park, while Taylor Steven and Josh McPake formed a left-flank alliance in their first Premiership starts of the season.
Valakari is set to ask more of them in unfamiliar roles in a desperate bid to avoid the drop.
“I feel for my players,” said Valakari after the defeat away to the team he made more than 100 appearances for.
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“I cannot criticise them. You cannot just swap and change your backline all the time and believe that you can be so solid.
“It doesn’t work that way. But all our players who went there, playing in different positions, they gave everything.
“Sven at the back; Taylor is not a full-back. Motherwell attacked with power, the strikers played the game of their life.
“But our players were pushing and pushing for a third goal to get something out of the match.”
Valakari will use the week ahead to prime his players on how best to use Uche Ikpeazu.
The towering striker, out for a year with knee problems, made the second substitute outing of his comeback at Fir Park.
Ikpeazu formed part of a double change as on-loan Burton midfielder Elliot Watt featured for the first time in two months.
Watt scored Saints’ second goal with a fine finish from the edge of the box and Valakari said: “It was a great goal from Elliot. With Uche, we all see how he can change the dimensions of our game.
“But we have a little bit to learn; that we can’t all the time just kick the long ball. We need to get a bit closer to create good moments with him.”
Motherwell moved above Hearts into the safety of seventh place.
However, manager Michael Wimmer is far from finished with his desired improvements for the season.
The German, who has won three and drawn two of his eight games in charge, said: “This is no time to be lazy or satisfied.
“It’s not my style to look behind or in front in the league. My style is to work with the players, to develop the players, to improve our game.
“We have four more tough games. We want to collect as many points as possible – and also to improve the playing style. We have to keep working. We don’t stop this.”
