Last season Valakari led his side to an immediate top-flight return, scoring 14 goals more than any other Championship team. Of the five top scorers in the league, three belonged to St Johnstone. And after their League Cup exit, St Johnstone fans had concerns heading into the league campaign. Yet from the off against Kilmarnock, St Johnstone hunted in packs and poured forward - mainly down the left where Ruari Paton and Jamie Gullan combined. Saints were on top for much of the game, but were twice pegged back and then somehow found themselves 3-2 down.