WITH two wins from two starts, St Kilda is justifying the resoundingly positive media coverage that followed its NAB Cup win, but Ross Lyon is adamant his Saints still have plenty of hard work ahead of them.

St Kilda recorded a 40-point win over Carlton at Telstra Dome on Saturday night, but fell 23 points behind early and took the foot off the gas late to allow the last three goals of the match, much to the displeasure of the coach.

“We’re under no illusions [about] where we’re coming from,” Lyon said.

“We still feel, regardless of what some media commentators might be saying, we’ve got a lot to prove and I think our start and our finish highlights that we’ve got a long way to go, but we feel that we’re working to improve to get there.

“I constantly say [to the players] … put yourself in a bubble, focus on what you’ve got to work on and ignore the rest because that’s all it is, all it is opinion and hype.

“When it comes game day, I haven’t seen anyone help you get a kick bar your teammates; all the hype and hyperbole means nothing.”

Lyon was critical of the defensive pressure applied by his players all over the ground in the first term when the Blues’ midfielders were often first to the ball.

“[But] I was probably more critical of our midfield and forward line early and I thought our ball use going forward wasn’t great; I thought we lacked a bit of precision,” he said.

After kicking the final two goals of the first quarter, it was a different side that emerged from the quarter-time huddle.

“I thought once we started to lead and move and execute a bit better, it stifled their attack a bit and obviously we scored more heavily,” he said of his side’s 19-goal return.

“Clearly we’ve been unhappy kicking nine and six goals [in the NAB Cup grand final and round one] and tonight we’ve got a result that is more pleasing.

“I think it was a really strong team effort; I didn’t think we had a full four-quarter performer, but I thought everyone really chipped in and worked hard to help the team.

“I thought Carlton really took it up to us all night; they’ve kicked six goals in the last and four in the first. We thought we were a bit tardy at the start and then I thought we really got to work. To kick 19 goals is really pleasing with 53 inside 50s.”

The Saints are well-placed to continue their good start to the season with Brendon Goddard’s return from a knee reconstruction on track and players like Shane Birss, Sean Dempster, Charlie Gardiner and Clint Jones fighting for a senior berth.

“I think everyone’s feeling the pressure a little bit, the pressure to perform week in, week out,” Lyon said.

“For the coaching staff it’s pleasing that’s coming up from behind and for the players, they know they need to keep an even performance.”