Tommy Wright hails St Johnstone's top-six finish and has eye on Europe

Tommy Wright believes St Johnstone deserve more credit than they get after a 1-0 win over Dundee secured a fourth straight top-six finish and kept them in the race for a European spot.

Brian Graham's impressive first-half goal gave the Saints victory in an evenly-matched encounter at McDiarmid Park.

Wright was full of praise for his players after the match and suggested they do not get as much credit as those at higher profile clubs.

He said: "I think this season what they achieved has been nothing short of a miracle and I'm really proud of them.

"I have got nothing but praise for the players for what they have done again this season under really difficult circumstances losing Stevie May late on [in last summer's transfer window].

"To score only 29 goals and be in fifth place tells you that there is something special - they can find a way to win games.

"I am absolutely delighted with them. I know they won't get the credit they deserve but they are right up there."

Wright also refused to rule out pushing on and reaching a European spot now their top-six spot has been secured.

He added: "The win was what we wanted because it keeps the pressure on the team directly above us - Dundee United - so that was important.

"Europe has to be the aim now to keep your season alive. The game was so important for many reasons. There is the financial aspect of it but we also don't get noticed a lot.

"If we were to drop into the bottom six I think seventh place was almost guaranteed and we certainly would have been completely off the radar in the last few weeks of the season.

"Now we are in there with the teams at the top end of the table like we deserve to be and we have an opportunity to possibly get back into Europe again."

Dundee boss Paul Hartley took consolation from the fact his side were close to securing a top-six berth despite the defeat and was hoping the matter could be settled when Kilmarnock play Aberdeen on Sunday.

A point for Derek McInnes' side against Killie would lock Dundee into the top half before both sides play Celtic in their 33rd and final matches of the campaign.

"We are nearly in the top six," Hartley said. "Kilmarnock have still got two games to play and obviously we have got a game also.

"We will all be tuned into the game tomorrow and hoping Aberdeen can get a good result. If we can get in there it has been a fantastic season for us.

"We want to get as many points as possible in the games we have to go. As a group and as a club we have come a long way in a short space of time."