St Johnstone made life difficult for themselves in midweek but now find themselves with an eight-point lead at the top of the table. Eric Nicolson and Stuart Cosgrove assess a game of extremes in Airdrie and ask – who is going to challenge the runaway league leaders?

St Johnstone produced another statement win in their top of the table clash with Raith Rovers - but was Rovers boss Barry Robson right about his side not deserving to lose? In this week's Spoony Chop, Courier Sport Saints writer Eric Nicolson, plus Stuart Cosgrove and Sean Hamilton, discuss the ins-and-outs of a characterful performance and a big three points ahead of ANOTHER test against a team in form, when Dunfermline come to McDiarmid Park on Friday.

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Stuart Cosgrove returns to this week's Spoony Chop to discuss the weekend's HUGE clash with Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy. Will Josh Rae have a worldy for Raith? Will Scott Brown come back to haunt Saints? Or will Simo Valakari's side just keep doing what they've been doing and prove themselves serious title contenders? Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton join Stuart to discuss.

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It proved to be a frustrating deadline day for St Johnstone but has the transfer window been a success as a whole and will there be further squad additions now that it’s closed? Stuart Cosgrove makes his Spoony Chop return to discuss the road ahead with Eric Nicolson.

It was back to Championship action against Arbroath - and back to winning ways. Who caught the eye in Saints' solid, 3-0 win over the Lichties? And how might new signings Kai Fotheringham and Liam Smith fit into Simo Valakari's squad as preparations for Saturday's tricky-looking clash with Greenock Morton ramp up?

On this week's Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton chew over St Johnstone's extra-time cup defeat to Motherwell, what the personnel, tactics and performance told us about where the club stands ahead of its return to Championship action against Arbroath, and, with the transfer window starting to creak, when mounting interest in Makenzie Kirk will result in a bid Saints can't say no to.

After that opening day demolition of Partick Thistle, St Johnstone travelled to face pre-season title favourites Ross County and returned with a second "statement" win in as many games. Against Thistle, Saints were swashbuckling. Against County, they were a force to be reckoned with, both physically and with the football. What have these two wins said about Saints to their Championship rivals? Who are the unsung heroes worthy of praise? And with a League Cup clash against Motherwell on the horizon, what might Simo Valakari do to his starting XI?

The Championship season is up and running and Perth supporters have just been treated to a five-star display by Simo Valakari’s men. Eric Nicolson and Colin McCredie do their best to keep a lid on the excitement building at McDiarmid Park (and struggle). 

Simo Valakari's summer rebuild has begun at St Johnstone, with Greenock Morton's Jack Baird becoming the club's first signing. On this episode of the Spoony Chop - the final show before our close-season break - Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss Baird's arrival, whether he will be joined by Morton team-mate Morgan Boyes and Raith Rovers striker Jamie Gullan, Ross County joining Saints in the Championship and the long-time-coming departure of Benji Kimpioka.

The season is officially over and in this episode of the Spoony Chop, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton pore over the last day loss to Dundee, the pitch invasion that followed and the merits - or otherwise - of the players staying and departing. Plus, Saints' history with double-barrelled players - debated. Interested in local sport news, you can save now with The Courier Sport Pack. Keep up with the latest on your local team or sport with the latest news, opinion, match reports and so much more. Subscribe today for only £3 per month.