Liam Gordon declares St Johnstone survival tastes even sweeter than cup double as he pays Geoff Brown tribute

Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of St Johnstone pulling off the unthinkable by winning the Scottish Cup and securing a sensational double.

But Liam Gordon insists just keeping Saints in the Premiership on Sunday tops anything that’s gone before. The defender is gearing up for his 10th year at McDiarmid Park and says success in 2021 was EASY compared the depths he and his team mates have had to dig to this season.

A threadbare squad to start the campaign, manager Steven MacLean sacked in October after just 19 games in charge and with Saints five points adrift at the bottom of the table and question marks over the future of the club with owner Geoff Brown preparing to step down were just some of the obstacles thrown in their path. Heading into injury time against Ross County last Wednesday night Craig Levein’s side were staring at the relegation play-off - before Adama Sidibeh threw them a lifeline with a 91st minute equaliser.

That goal laid the foundations for Sunday’s sensational escape that saw Saints dump Motherwell in Lanarkshire to leapfrog County on goal difference. And Gordon insists the secret to their survival is a never-say-die culture that pulses through McDiarmid Park. He said: “This season has been challenging, the last few years have been tough. I would say staying up this season has been the best achievement as a St Johnstone player.

“The success we’ve had in the past, being in the top six and winning cups - you don’t learn anything from that. When success comes it’s easy, but when there’s so much thrown at you all the time you have to dig deep.

“It has been testing but to share that moment with the fans at the end made it worth it. It’s been a long, tough season. It’s been draining and we have had so