Saints 2 Airdrie 2
Team ::
Main,Whiteford,Davison,Attila,Weir,Griffin,Scott,ONeill,Grant,Georgio, Dasovic
Subs : Preston,Fergie,Jenko
With the TV cameras in
attendance Saints also paid host to complacency today and one of the worst refs
of the season in Jim Herald (see Sportscene for the evidence). Even with all the
decisions going against us this is a game we should have won but the forwards
struggled against an organised Cheat defence and the Saints defence looked to
be sleeping for most of the game.
The game started as all the typical
Airdrie games do with a booking for Saints right-back Andy Whiteford in for the
suspended McQuillan, for a late challenge on one of the obviously hallowed
Airdrie scum. Amongst some of the early pressure from Airdrie (a couple of close
calls but nothing to trouble Jesus), several grudges started to appear on the
pitch - Davison and Sandy Stewart, Attila and Davies and Kenny Black and
everybody.
The second booking of the game was for ex-Saintee John "if
it moves kick it" Davies for an incredible high kick on Weirs face. In fact
Davies was lucky not to be sent off after several bad fouls and dissent
throughout the game. Saints were struggling in midfield although O'Neil and
Attila seemed to be playing reasonably well. Up front Roddy was struggling due
to a lack of support and Georgio was being marked out the game.
Saints
eventually took the lead towards the end of the half with Roddy doing some good
work to push forward, then laying the ball out to an open space on the wing for
Attila to chase, nutmeg a defender and put a great cross in which Roddy tried to
head home but eventually fell to Georgio to make it 1-0.
With the
start of the second half we all expected Saints to push forward to kill the game
off but the match had only restarted a minute or so when a long ball found Paddy
Connolly through the middle who then beat Weir in the chase to slot the ball
past Main. Airdrie still had some pressure after that but nothing to really
trouble Main until Sandy Stewart made it 2-1 after the defence was caught
napping again. Saints by this time were starting to lose discipline with Phizzy
and Roddy both being booked for stupid offences although in Roddys case he had
seen the Airdrie defenders get away with murder all afternoon without even a
warning. Sturrock put on Fergie, Jenko and Preston for O'Neil, Georgio and
Attila in an effort to make some changes.
The fresh legs added some
impetus to the Saints and with only 4 mins left Preston had a great run down the
right wing and sent a cracking curving shot into the top-left corner of the net.
There was still time for Roddy to miss a shot and of course Airdrie to get away
with a few more nasty challenges. It will also be interesting to find out what
Alex MacDonald said to Attila as he went off the park when subbed - it was
enough for Dino to go over to the away dugout and have an eyeball confrontation
with the Airdrie boss.
Overall Saints didnt play too badly but this
was a strong team we put out and we should have won the game. Airdrie played a
well-disciplined game (esp in defence). Hopefully the 2-week break we now have
will enable the players to find their form again. Unfortunately Attilas now
suspended for 3 games, McQuillan for one and Roddy has crossed the threshhold
and will be looking at a big suspension.