GRAEME SHINNIE

“Delighted to get the goals.

“Every time I score, I say that I am desperate to score more goals then they dry up. So I might not say it this time! I am always practicing in training with Tony Docherty my finishing. It training they go in but when it comes to a game they don’t!

“So it is important that I chip in. It is something in my game that I need to do more of.

“I was trying hard for my hat-trick because I think it is the first time I have ever scored a double. I did not think Dom was going to pass it to me for the first one. I think Max or Gary was maybe on my outside so I thought he would miss me out but luckily he found me and I scored with my right foot. I don’t know how! I don’t think I have scored with my right foot. There was one at Motherwell but it took a deflection. I can’t remember many apart from that.

“I thought it was a good team performance. We got a cleansheet, something that we have not had for a while which is a credit to the boys, the two centre halves and the back five. It was a good team performance from everyone and one we are happy with.

“The fans gave us great backing in Perth. Even when we arrived off the team bus. They gave us that boost on the pitch as well.

“The fans will back us if we do well and they will tell us if we don’t. Last week against St Mirren was not good enough. I knew from my own point of view, I always look at that first, and I was not good enough. I knew it all week and said to myself that I need to have a good game. My family also always tell me if I have not had a good game!

“So I knew I had to have a good game against St Johnstone and thankfully I did.

“You know when you play St Johnstone that they are always going to be up for it. They are always going to battle. It is important to fight that back. The important thing is to then show your quality on top of that as well. When you get the chances, it is important to try and take them because they are hard to break down. When you get ahead gaps start to open up and you can create more chances.

“I always know how good a bond I have with the fans. It would never be an easy decision to leave. I have always said that. I am the captain of this club. I love leading this team, especially on days like this. When you have won and have helped the team out it is always satisfying. It is never going to be an easy decision and that is why I cam going to take my time.

“I have always had a good relationship with all my managers. Terry Butcher, John Hughes and the gaffer here, I have a great relationship with him. I have had it ever since I came in, maybe more so since I have been the captain. We chat more than we would do otherwise. You chat about things regularly. He has always had trust in me. He has always given me that platform and it is something I will always be grateful for.

“The relationship means we are in constant communication and that is important with my current situation. He has never put pressure on me.

“All I would say to the fans is please give it time. The age I am at, it is a massive decision for me and something I am not going to rush into. But days like Saturday will show that I am always commitment and my mind is never away from it. I am always focussed on this club and doing as well as I can for them. Words mean nothing, I have to go out and show it.

“There is a lot to take in, and that is why I am not rushing into any decision, but my commitment will always be there.

“Our away form has always been good since I have been here. Our away from recently is something we are particularly pleased with.

“This year our home form has been disappointing when you compare it to our away form. So that is something we need to work on going into the Hamilton game. Maybe away from home teams come out of their shape a bit more as the onus is on them to do a bit more, especially when we get the first goal and then gaps appear and we can exploit the space. Whereas at Pittodrie recently teams have been sitting in and frustrating the team. That is something we need to counter with good passing and playing at a high tempo.

“The performance against St Mirren was so disappointing, especially at home. We should have been taking the three points in a game like that. Our home form needs to get better and there is no better way than coming off the back of Saturday and going into the Hamilton match and we need to make sure our performance is exactly the same.

“We now move onto Wednesday.

“I did not know Alex McLeish was in the crowd. As I have said before I love going away with Scotland. This is probably the first season I have had a proper run at it and been in consecutive squads. I feel like I am part of it now. I have a good bond with some of the players. I know my performance and my form always has to be good and if I get that I will always give myself a chance.”