Lomas primed for European fight

Steve Lomas insists it is "all to play for" in St Johnstone's quest for a Europa League spot ahead of Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hearts at Tynecastle.

The Perth side have slipped over the past month and after being hammered 5-1 at Motherwell last week, Saints lost 1-0 at Parkhead last night but remain just one point ahead of the sixth-placed Jambos.

"Hearts have us at home and Celtic away and we have them away and Rangers at home," said Lomas. "So it is all to play for. I was looking for a reaction against Celtic after letting ourselves down, probably for the first time in the season, away at Motherwell, and we got it."

Victory in Edinburgh would guarantee the McDiarmid Park club that coveted European spot and the Northern Irishman insists his side are still well in the hunt.

"I thought the team was good and we were pretty comfortable for most of the game, apart from maybe the last 10 minutes.

"We cut out the individual errors which were so prominent on Saturday. So I was happy with that.

"To limit Celtic to so few chances (was good), they probably created more chances against Rangers last week than they did against us."

Midfielder Chris Millar, who had to come off just before the break at Celtic Park with a recurrence of a groin injury will be assessed, as will Frazer Wright, who missed out with a knock.

Lomas said: "Millar's groin tightened up again and I will have a look at Frazer."