Celtic started the second half at McDiarmid Park 1-0 behind - courtesy of a soft penalty awarded to the Perth side early in the first period - but were giving a boost almost immediately when Graham Gartland was correctly red carded for illegally stopping Marc-Antoine Fortuné as he ran through towards the St Johnstone goal. The Celt's turned up the heat and finished 4-1 winners but would they have won so convincingly if the Saints had remained at full strength? The boss thinks so and is pretty confident that the team would have collected all three points in the second half regardless of the sending off.
'Just keep writing me off'
"St Johnstone made it a very competitive game and a lot of credit to them for the way they applied themselves." said Mowbray. "But I always had a belief that if we kept to our principles we would get a result. I think the players believe in what we're asking them to do and they will get their rewards in the end. It's about keeping faith. Days like today are pleasing because the players can see why by asking them to do what we preach they can get their rewards."
"But we just have to keep going, keep playing the way we do and we've got another game on Wednesday against a team in good form and confident mood. The quality of the players that we possess ultimately came through today. You know my thoughts and beliefs and I know some of you believe in it and some of you don't. But you've got to keep doing what you believe in, that's a quality in itself."
"First half they needed to stand their ground against a strong, well organised physical side and I thought they did that." said the manager. "St Johnstone were competitive and showed great desire. We tried to match that as best we could. We competed very well and showed both sides of what I'd like to think is a decent team. The three points are important for us and every game has significance."
The weakened squad that travelled to Perth yesterday did the club proud but the manager is delighted that many of his major players are nearing a return to full fitness. "The strength of the squad is going to be significant." he said. "And the pleasing thing for me is that Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney are almost ready to join in full training, most probably tomorrow. Scott McDonald will be Tuesday or Wednesday while Stephen McManus is ready and so too is Mark Wilson. We'll be stronger as we move on rather than be weaker."
"I think Brown will actually be desperate to pull on a shirt on Wednesday night, that's the boy he is. I'll have to assess the danger of getting himself injured again if he goes back in again too soon. Jos Hooiveld, though, is not ready yet but if Glenn Loovens doesn't make it then we might have to look at things. Overall, though, the target and the challenge for us is to keep chipping away."
"The games are going to now come thick and fast and the ones who can find the most consistency over the next period will be champions." Mowbray said. "But let's hope for Scottish football it becomes tight and stays tight. That it's competitive. Let's hope also that both Hibs and Dundee United can stay in there and that Hearts can also throw in a challenge. I want it to be an exciting league and one that there's plenty for you to write about."
"From our own perspective we just have to keep on winning matches and not worry too much about anybody else." said the manager. "Rangers have got their own squad problems. But when they have everyone available they are a very strong outfit, as they have shown. However, we believe when we get everybody fit we are a pretty decent football side. We just have to prove it on matchdays."
Marc-Antoine Fortuné looks to have settled into the side now following a debut season curtailed early on by injury and his two goals yesterday capped a great all round display. Judging by his post-goal celebrations the media-led criticism of the big French forward has annoyed the player and he's enjoying ramming their words back down their throats but Marco's form has not surprised his boss. "I think Marc's been doing very well." said Mowbray. "He works extremely hard for the team every week. All strikers need goals, of course, and the two today will help him. But nobody needs to persuade me of his qualities. I see them every week. I am fully aware of his talent."