Saints 2 Norwich 1
Team:
Cuthbert,Trialist,Blaster,Dods,Kernaghan,Dasovic,Tommy L,Hartley,
Russell,Pope,Kane
Subs:
Parker,Connolly,McCluskey,Crozier,Thomas,Lauchlan,McCulloch,Findlay
Oh but it's good to be back with Saints apparently set on playing some sexy football as promised by St. Sandy. With the sun shining down on Gods Pasture and a fairly decent sized crowd the team proceeded to play the ball on the deck and get me worried. I mean when was the last time you saw Saints play a pre-season friendly and feel optimistic about the slog ahead?
With the home side missing only Jones and a first-choice keeper and with the mysterious trialist at right back (more on him later), it was pretty much line-up which is likely to take the field at the Evil Empire at the end of the month. A 4-3-3 formation with "JR" Hartley and Tommy Love on the wings up front supporting Russell as the lone striker with Pope in an attacking central midfield role in front of Dazza and Kane.
Saints went on the attack straight away. JR broke through after 2 minutes and had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside. Three minutes later, Pope had a long-range shot go over the bar. Meanwhile Norwich looked to be happy to hit us on the break and it was heartening to see Father Dougal and Dods handle the attacks with ease and dominate the game in the air. Not that the ball was in the air much as Saints by some miracle of sexy football theory proceeded to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible and play short passes unless it was a long ball to the wings.
And without tempting fate too much we look bloody good on the wings with Tommy L showing that it wasn't just wishful thinking that has built him up to be a talented player in our eyes and JR looking like he will cause SPL defences a lot of problems over the season with a real hunger for the ball. Both players were also willing to backtrack and help out in midfield. Craig Russell looked good as well with some nice touches although he suffered from being marked by 2 or 3 defenders. Very much like Georgio in his style of play but looks like he'll score more than a few for us this season.
Defensively Dods and Cartman looked as reliable as ever if a little slow at times in getting back. Blaster looks to have put on around 5 stone over the summer (and it's not all gone on the Ming the Merciless beard). But the real revelation was Monsieur X at right back. Fairly lanky and skinny he hardly broke sweat during the game. He can read the game, pass the ball, cover plenty of the pitch and likes to attack up the wing as well. Oh yes and he's got some nice Zidane-like touches and turns to entertain the fans. All I can say is we should sign him NOW - Gary Locke couldn't even lace his boots.
Anyway back to the game and the first half saw Norwich miss a couple of sitters. Saints best chance came in 25 minutes when Tommy L got the ball on the left wing beat 2 defenders and got into the box only to see the Canaries keeper save his shot, with Craig Russell missing the rebound.
Second-half started just as lively with JR seeing a similar shot well saved just after the start. But we only had to wait 5 minutes for Saints to take the lead. A Dasovic square ball in from the left saw Saintees galore queuing up to get a shot in before Tommy L prodded the ball home. So 2 games and 2 goals for Saints - this is good.
After that Norwich came back into the game and missed another couple of sitters from 6 yards out although Cuthbert did well to cover his goalmouth (a good performance overall in fact). But on the hour mark Saints made it 2-0. JR was bundled to the ground on the right wing and the resultant free-kick saw him send a cross into the box for Dasovic to bullet a header home from 12 yds at the near post.
By now we were on easy street although there was still plenty of good skilful football on display. JR saw a shot just go over the bar whilst Tommy L proved he doesn't just have one good foot with some nice work cutting into the middle. St. Sandy started to use the subs up for the last quarter of an hour and we saw Nosey on for Russell, Brendan Crozier make his debut in place of Pope (who at least looks a bit fitter than last season), McCluskey for Kernaghan and Thomas for Tommy L.
Unfortunately the only remaining action was in the Saints half with Cuthbert making an excellent stop at his right-hand post before letting himself down by allowing a Norwich long-range low shot to go in in the last minute.
Overall a good performance by Saints and all the new signings look to have been good buys with the team playing some nice attacking football. MoM for me though has to be the trialist - sign him now Sandy !!!!!
Good to be back isn't it?