UP BEATS CUP

Gordon says survival beats silver double... but he never wants to go through it again

- FRASER WILSON

TOMORROW will mark the third anniversary of St Johnstone pulling off the unthinkable by winning the Scottish Cup and securing a sensational double.

But Liam Gordon insists just keeping Saints in the Premiership on Sunday tops anything that's gone before.

The defender is gearing up for his 10th year at McDiarmid Park and says success in 2021 was EASY compared with the depths he and his team-mates have had to dig to this season.

A threadbare squad] started the campaign then manager Steven MacLean was sacked in October after just 19 games in charge with Saints five points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Another obstacle thrown in their path was question marks over the future of the club with owner Geoff Brown preparing to step down.

Heading into injury-time against Ross County last Wednesday, Craig Levein's side were staring at the relegation play-off-before Adama Sidibeh threw them a lifeline with a 91st-minute equaliser in Perth.

That laid the foundations for Sunday's sensational escape that saw Saints dump Motherwell in Lanarkshire to leapfrog the Staggies on goal difference.

Gordon insists the secret to their survival is a never-saydie culture that pulses through McDiarmid Park.