Mate told me I was favourite for the sack.. Good patter but I like proving people wrong

Saints gaffer Macca insists he's a dab hand at defying the odds

- FRASER MACKIE

STEVEN MACLEAN feels adopting a siege mentality can serve St Johnstone well this season.

Saints have become the trendy selection for pundits picking a team to finish bottom of the Premiership pile this season.

That's understandable after a shocker of a Viaplay Cup campaign which featured defeats to Stenhousemuir, Ayr and Stirling Albion.

Macca has wiped the slate clean with his squad after a series of showdown talks.

And he's got them in the right frame of mind to defy the doom merchants making them big contenders for relegation for the sack.

"It's not a bad thing being written off," said MacLean. "Most of Scotland is probably seeing us as relegation material.

"I will embrace that. My mate texted me the other day and told me I was favourite for the sack.