The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

The Courier’s football podcast, with a special focus on St Johnstone FC

Episodes

December 2, 2025 51 mins

An ignominious Scottish Cup exit has turned a critical spotlight on St Johnstone, even though they are still top of the Championship. In this week’s Spoony Chop, Eric Nicolson and Stuart Cosgrove get to the heart of the problems that need corrected and stress the need for unity when Raith Rovers come to town this weekend. 

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After St Johnstone's disappointing loss to Partick Thistle in their top-of-the-Championship clash, Stuart Cosgrove, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton assess what went wrong at Firhill, how many Thistle victories referee Don Robertson has overseen and why repeatedly booing Tony Watt might not be the best idea Saints fans have ever had.

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November 18, 2025 49 mins

St Johnstone successfully negotiated a tricky contest with Queen's Park to ensure they will face title rivals Partick Thistle with a six-point lead at the top of the Championship. What went well against the Spiders and what was not so good? Was the penalty decision in favour of Queen's the worst ever made at McDiarmid Park? And what lies in store at Firhill on Saturday?

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November 11, 2025 47 mins

A sickening late Dunfermline equaliser robbed St Johnstone of the chance to stretch their lead at the top of the Championship to five points. With Queen's Park next up at McDiarmid Park, what should Simo Valakari be doing with his team, which will be without Adama Sidibeh and Uche Ikpeazu? And how much pressure comes with the game before "the game" against Partick Thistle on November 22?

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November 4, 2025 54 mins

St Johnstone picked up a comfortable three points against Airdrie thanks to Adama Sidibeh's best performance for the club. The Gambian striker notched a "perfect" hat trick to cap off a team performance that become more impressive as the game went on. Can he keep it up? Can Jonathan Svedberg further cement his place in the team? And can Saints find a "big brother" performance to see of Dunfermline at the weekend?

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October 28, 2025 52 mins

After last week's loss at Arbroath - and having taken just two points from the last available nine - St Johnstone needed to get back on track. Partick Thistle's midweek win had seen them go level on points with Saints at the top of the table, but Simo Valakari's side strolled to a well-deserved 4-0 win over Greenock Morton. In doing so, they re-established a three-point cushion at the top of the table and, with Airdrie the next vis...

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October 21, 2025 47 mins

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.

 

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October 14, 2025 51 mins

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.

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October 7, 2025 52 mins

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 Sid...

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September 30, 2025 51 mins

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 Janu...

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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?

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September 16, 2025 50 mins

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 Mc...

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September 9, 2025 45 mins

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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September 2, 2025 53 mins

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.

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August 26, 2025 53 mins

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?

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August 19, 2025 47 mins

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.

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August 12, 2025 55 mins

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 pr...

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August 5, 2025 49 mins

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). 

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May 27, 2025 49 mins

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 t...

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May 20, 2025 51 mins

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 l...

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