If we take only the matches from January onwards, there is a marked improvement. Maybe both the Saints should be worried for next season. Not great, but many other clubs will be worrying with these stats as well.....

http://www.theawayend.net/component/content/article/974-spl-2012-table

I've always thought something like this is slightly distorted and masked by the fact that our world beating league has a split. For instance would St Johnstone have lost five games in a row at the end of the season had they not been in the top six? Would we have got 7 points from the last 9 had we not been in the bottom six?

What it does show is that if you are at near the bottom and have been in the bottom six then there are big problems or for St Johnstone they have to make big strides if they aspire to top six every season and challenge in it.

grasping at straws also clutching at straws : trying to find reasons to feel hopeful about a bad situation.

Is that better or worse than trying to find reasons to stick the boot in???

Better

I realise it is a bit of clutching at straws indeed. However, I'd be very worried if I were a Saint at the moment. Midden seem to be on a downward spiral and the Fermers are slipping drastically under Lomas. Yes, they had top 6 teams to play but they were struggling before the split as well. It's not looking good for Lomas' record. Every club is rebuilding and some teams (including the Fermers) have hardly any players signed up. There's a few of us in the same boat, so it's not doom and gloom.... yet!

feck me I forgot - our boat is the HMS Sneck - I feel a lot better.