‘We all wanted to try and go out with a win with it obviously being our last game at home but today for us it was all about Russell and trying to go out and make sure we got a win.

“I thought his performance was deserving of that as he was very solid and it was probably a very familiar performance. From being an 18 year old making his debut to a 36 year old today, it was another solid and dependable performance from him which was pleasing. He can be pleased with his efforts today.

“Although we didn’t manage to get the win that we wanted I thought we did enough to win the game. We went with a shape that was a wee bit unfamiliar because there was a real lack of central midfield players available to us. We have tried to manufacture a team there in a system that we thought wouldn’t leave us too stretched and would keep us quite solid at the back. We had more than a few opportunities to win the game at 0-0 and Mannus pulled off a couple of good saves.

“There wasn’t much in the game and it always looked as if one goal would win it.

“St Johnstone showed how much it meant to them at the end today, the motivation was there for them and we were well aware of that. Our motivation wasn’t quite at the same level but it was still enough to try and win the game in front of our supporters. There are not many clubs that can almost fill out their stadium with one game remaining with nothing really to play for so to have 16,500 here today was great recognition of the player’s efforts and recognition of our captain.

“I think St Johnstone got a bit of fortune with the Cammy Smith incident when he ran through on goal, there was no touch on the ball from Scobbie and I think as last man he has caught Cammy. They have probably got a break there. Having said that St Johnstone put in a very strong committed performance and you wouldn’t say that they didn’t deserve that break.

“We have taken the luxury the last few weeks of looking after Aberdeen players for next season. We have not taken risks with players who are running the risk of getting a suspension and we have tried to look after our international players too as the close season is ridiculously short.

“If nobody else is going to look after the players we have got an obligation to do it and with a number of players heading off on international duty we have taken the decision to rest them down and hopefully we will see the benefit of that next season.

“It was important also to get some of the younger players a taste of the first team action and hopefully they can get the benefit of that next season too.

“It was a very tough decision to let Jim (Leighton) go, he has been a great servant for the Club. Some decisions are harder than others as a manager and that one was particularly tough. Any decision I make is always based on what is best for the Club. I told Jim a couple of days ago to give him the opportunity to make this his last game if he wanted to do that but Jim refused that which we fully respect. We wish Jim well, we have got a lot of respect for him. People move on and changes have to be made at times and that’s what I’m here for to make those changes.”

“It was a very tough decision to let Jim (Leighton) go, he has been a great servant for the Club. Some decisions are harder than others as a manager and that one was particularly tough. Any decision I make is always based on what is best for the Club. I told Jim a couple of days ago to give him the opportunity to make this his last game if he wanted to do that but Jim refused that which we fully respect. We wish Jim well, we have got a lot of respect for him. People move on and changes have to be made at times and that’s what I’m here for to make those changes.”