Temple Of Saints - Back to Basics

Scottish Premier League - 01/12/2001

Sheep 1 Saints 0 League Table Here

Team: Miller, Murray, Tommy, Dasovic, Kemble, Falconer, Lynch, JR, Russell, Paddy, Pope
Subs Cuthbert, Marco, McClune, Peaso, Rachid

After the joy of last week and the faint glimpse of a light at the end of the tunnel I'm afraid it's back to basics time as normal service was resumed at Pittodrie with an inability to finish, a slow midfield and a defence run ragged by an average opposition leaving the away fans (who had outsung a much larger Sheep support for most of the game) still wondering if we're going to turn things round. With Flash out the un-suspended Free Wullie took his place in defence as El Starko stuck to an otherwise unchanged line-up with Tommy and Bet keeping their starting places despite fitness worries.

After the pre-match entertainment of watching one of Grampian Region's finest examples of BSE run around the park chasing cheerleaders (they're very weird up there) it was time to settle down and wipe the smile off their faces. Unfortunately nobody seemed to have told the players that and the first 5 minutes saw most of us squirming in embarrassment as a faster, fitter, hungrier opposition kept us pinned around our own box. As early as the first minute Windy Miller was forced into a snap save as we struggled to cope with this thing called football. And as if that wasn't enough we also had the game held up for a couple of minutes as Kemble got treatment for a head knock.

Despite that we should have taken the lead in the 10th minute when some good work from Lazarus and JR ended up with the latter's cross across the 6-yard box being blasted over the bar by Russell (who's been watching the Paddy Connolly Training Videos again). McClune came on 5 minutes later for Kemble whose head was feeling a wee bit sore. Saints reorganised their defence whilst at the same time Windy started causing panics by dropping simple crosses. Still we broke up the park and won a free kick on the edge of the Dons' box. Hartley sent a great curving shot over the wall only for it to come back off the crossbar. Even then Nick was first to react but his header of the rebound was easily saved.

So we blow a couple of chances. Guess what happened next? Yup 24 minutes gone, the Dons break up the park a cutback from the right touchline finds an unmarked Winters who has all the time in the world to chip Windy and make it 1-0.

The game became a bit scrappy after that with Saints struggling to get the ball and the Dons more than happy to settle for a 1-0 lead. We should have equalised on the half hour mark when Hartley sent a lovely through ball to Paddy. He beat the offside trap but took far, far too long to decide what to do and the shot went wide. In terms of real action that was it for us. Hartley and Dasovic both had attempts off target whilst at our end Bisconti and Zero had efforts which were a lot closer.

Second-half started with Saints still under the cosh. Miller was called into action early to save from Zero the Diver and then saw another effort from the Belly Flopper go wide. We were playing a far too defensive game with both wing backs camped in our own half (and Lynch to be honest was pretty useless as a defender). The other midfielders were just as ineffective and struggling to get forward leaving the strikers easily outnumbered.

Starkers put the Belly on for the rubbish Pope on the hour mark and 3 minutes later they had a good break only for Paddy to lose the ball (again) when sending in a weak cross. This allowed the Dons to break and Thornley had a great shot which forced a cracking save from Miller to deflect it over the bar.

The game had livened up a bit and was fairly end to end if lacking in real goalmouth action. Paddy had a good claim for a free kick when through on goal and held back but the way our luck was going it was never likely. We finally began to force some corners but with little effect as time and time again we ended up putting high balls into the box which no blue shirt could reach. Russell was replaced by MacDonald for the last 20 minutes but we were lucky not to go 2 down a minute after the substitution as the Dons hit Miller's right-hand post with a long-range shot.

Saints were pushing forward more and Miller was called upon to make a series of good saves to keep our hopes alive. The last 10 minutes or so saw us keep the pressure up with a series of corners but the best chances were saved for injury time. Nick had a good volley from 10 yards blocked and then after Lynch had been held in the box (no penalty surprise, surprise) Rachid had a shot blocked on the line.

To be honest we never came close to the levels of the Killie game and that's probably the most worrying aspect of it all - the confidence and fight we've been told are back in the side were all missing today. Miller was my MoM purely cos he kept us in the game for the 2nd half but there weren't many contenders. Murray had another good game in defence although the marking at the goal left a lot to be desired. Hartley looked good in midfield but its plain that other sides are closing him down as our main threat. Lynch and Tommy were both disappointing. To be honest I'd rather see Rachid or Fotheringham get a run out on the right wing instead of Bet. And up front Peaso has faded and for all Paddy's effort he still isn't producing the shots, never mind the goals.

Oh yeah laugh of the day had to be the Sheep fans singing that Saints "have only got 6 points". Now it's either a damning indictment of the state of Grampian's education system or else living up to the stereotype of Aberdonians being so mean that the only way they can get football stories is by trying to read someone else's paper (i.e. upside down). Ach well you've got to laugh.

Still no doubt it'll all be turned around again for next week...

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