Simo Valakari has backed Jamie Gullan to continue with St Johnstone’s penalty duties after his spot-kick failure in defeat to St Mirren. Gullan, a standout on opening weekend with three assists in victory over Kilmarnock, was denied by Jacob Chapman on 49 minutes. Gullan’s misery was compounded when Killian Phillips scored the game’s only goal from the spot after Toby Steward brought down Samuel Ramos. “For me, he is one of the best penalty takers I have ever seen – the precision, how he puts it. “But at the same time, we believe we can improve ourselves when we play more and more these games.”