Teale wants Saints to be devils

Goal-shy St Mirren head to Rugby Park in a positive frame of mind after a fortnight of attack-minded training over the international break.

The prolonged stint on the practice pitch gave Tommy Craig's side a chance to work on their most obvious failing so far in the Premiership.

After four matches they have yet to score a goal despite creating plenty of chances.

But player/coach Teale feels his Saints can get off the mark by adding a mean streak and a bit of "devil" to their game.

The former Wigan, Derby County and Scotland star said: "We've been working hard on shooting drills and I've been impressed by the application and attitude of the boys.

"But I've had arguments with goalkeeping coach Paul Mathers because, when the ball is just two yards out from goal at training, I tell the lads not to feel sorry for the keepers and just smash it past them.

"Obviously, Paul is looking after his keepers and doesn't want us smashing balls at them all the time.

"But we need to get that devilment into the players.

"We need to make sure that they're ruthless when it comes to these chances.

"It's all about repetition. If they do it every day at training, it should come naturally to them during games."

Teale may be in line to make his first start of the campaign today after being sidelined for most of last season.

It's only in the last few weeks that the ex-Ayr United man has felt ready to push for a starting place.

And he admits he would love the chance to be the man to end Saints' goal drought against his old rivals.

The 36-year-old winger said: "It's up to us older guys at the club to ensure we keep doing the right things.

"We just need that wee bit of luck and, of course, a goal.

"Obviously, it would be nice if I came in and scored it and got us off to a flying start on Saturday in my first start of the season.

"I was in the Premier League with Derby County when we had a terrible run of results.

"It was individual mistakes which would cost us, week in and week out.

"But there is no magic formula. You just need to keep working hard and try to rectify things which have gone wrong."

Turning to Saints' self- inflicted wounds this term, Teale said: "A couple of the goals we've lost were through long punts down the park.

"Do we make ourselves more compact and less expansive to stop that? You have to believe in what you are doing and not just change for the sake of it."

Despite missing large spells of this year through injury, Teale's been kept busy recently as part of Craig's coaching staff along with team-mate Jim Goodwin.

The pair were drafted in when the new boss took over from Danny Lennon.

Teale feels it's been a smooth transition from being one of the boys to one of the bosses.

He said: "I'm really enjoying the coaching side, although it's been a steep learning curve. I try not to take the job home with me because I like to keep my family life separate.

"When you're a player and have a bad result on a Saturday you'll either think about how you could have done better as an individual - or won't bother and just go out for a bevvy!

"As a coach, though, you are constantly thinking about how you could have changed things during the game and how you can improve everybody.

"But the lads here are great. At first Jim and I were a wee bit apprehensive about the new coaching set-up but we're both enjoying it now."