St Johnstone welcome LASK to McDiarmid Park with their 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League Play-Off tie locked at 1-1 apiece after the first leg.
Victory for either team would send them through although if they draw with 2-2 at minimum, LASK would advance via away goals rule.
Team News
St Johnstone have no fresh injury concerns to report as Craig Bryson (knee) and Charlie Gilmour (unspecified) remain absent.
LASK could again be without James Holland after he missed the first leg with a knock.
Andreas Gruber remains absent with a knee injury suffered in February.
Stat Attack
- St Johnstone drew their only previous meeting against LASK, holding their Austrian opponents to a 1-1 draw last week in Austria in the first leg of their play-off.
- LASK lost their only previous away trip to Scottish opposition, losing 5-1 at Dundee United in Round Two of 1984-85 UEFA Cup.
- St Johnstone have won just one of their last five home European ties (W1, D1, L3).
- LASK have won four of their last five away ties in all European competitions (W4, L1).
Prediction
This feels like a case of Deja vu for St Johnstone because they were here two weeks ago albeit in the Europa League following a 1-1 away draw in the first leg, yet they collapsed at home to lose the tie so I expect them to have learned from the experience and continue to play their expansive attacking football.
LASK meanwhile now know how to play the Saints so I expect a better performance after their manager – Dominik Thalhammer described their Scottish opposition as ‘disgusting’ with their style of football, which could indicate towards a counter-attacking style being deployed by the Austrian team here.
This game consequently feels like one where tactics will be key because if LASK sit in and soak up waves of attack, they will certainly be a threat on the counter, whereas if St Johnstone can continue their momentum and score first then they could certainly snatch the win.
Prediction: St Johnstone 2-1 LASK
Result: St Johnstone 0-2 LASK (LASK win 3-1 on aggregate!!)