St Johnstone's first defeat of the league season has been dished out by Arbroath. And the Red Lichties were well worth their victory. So what went wrong for Saints at Gayfield? And how might Simo Valakri react ahead of Saturday's trip to Greenock? By which time Partick Thistle could have wiped out the Perth side's lead at the top of the table. Join Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton as they talk it all over.

Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/newsletters/

Despite another 0-0 draw, this time with Ross County, St Johnstone's six-point lead at the top of the table remains intact. Ahead of the weekend trip to face Arbroath, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss a dominant display against the Staggies, albeit one that produced no goals, whether Saints have a problem with 'over-playing', Liam Smith's impact at right back and the Jamie Guallan/Adama Sidibeh conundrum.

St Johnstone capped off an unbeaten first quarter of the Championship season with a goalless draw at home to Ayr United. It's a start to the season fans would have bitten their own hand off for ahead of the big kick-off. But did the performance against the Honest Men contain worrying portents? How should Simo Valakari look to freshen things up ahead of Ross County's visit? And who should step in at 'No. 9' off the back of Adama Sidibeh and Uche Ikpeazu's departures on international duty?

After another late Josh McPake goal sealed St Johnstone's third win in seven days, this time over Queen's Park, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton are back to discuss the latest goings on at McDiarmid Park. Saints remain unbeaten in the league and secure at the top of the table, but should a succession of increasingly close matches worry fans? Should Saints be looking to sign a 'No. 9' like Queen's Josh Fowler in January? And can the Perth side close out the first round of Championship fixtures without defeat, with Ayr United their final opponents?

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.

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. Available exclusively on The Courier. Pay only for the sports you love with this special offer. Sign up today at https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/?tpcc=spoony

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.

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. Available exclusively on The Courier. Pay only for the sports you love with this special offer. Sign up today at https://www.thecourier.co.uk/subscribe/?tpcc=spoony

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.