Scottish Cup 3rd Round - 08/01/01
Scottish Cup 3rd Round - 08/01/01Saints Sod All Aberdeen 2
Team: Miller, Murray, Flash, Dasovic, Dods, McCluskey,
Rachid, JR, Peaso, Paddy, Kane
Subs:Subs Cuthbert, Russell, McClune, Pope, Falconer
Before this all-important tie Stark had been waxing lyrical about how the performances on the park were improving and how there's a great spirit and effort amongst the team. Well I hate to disappoint you but a bunch of headless chickens can put in as much running on the park as the pathetic display tonight and at the same time it's more than likely that they'd show a bit more fight and skill.
Yup you've guessed it - that chubby woman in the corner is preparing for her soundcheck..again.
Tommy missed out as expected and surprisingly Rachid was deemed worthy enough to be given a starting slot on the right wing of a 4-5-1 formation with Peaso left and Dasovic and Kane playing in front of Hartley. Yup that's right. We're at home in the bloody cup and we play one striker up front whilst our most creative player of recent weeks is stuck behind a couple of defensive midfielders who with all the will (and spirit Mr. Stark) aren't exactly going to be able to rush to support our attack.
Ah yes the attack. Step forward Mr Patrick Connolly whose heading ability is so renowned and famous across all of Scottish football that it's only natural for our defensive stalwarts of Dods and McCluskey to want to continually pump long balls for him to flick on to...well to nobody in particular. And that was on the odd occasion that he headed the ball. Still at least it helped bypass the midfield who seemed to want 15 minutes on the ball every time it came near them. Even the "youngsters" were poor with Peaso guilty of flicking on a neat ball for Paddy / Rachid to run on to then standing bloody still to milk any applause. Where's the bloody support for the front men? Sorry but we all know the problem is not putting the spherical object in the pokey so why on earth do we persist in leaving it all to a sole striker to run at a defence in the vague hope we'll get a lucky bounce whilst the rest of the side sit back on the halfway line waiting the inevitable counterattack? It's bloody schoolkid stuff.
The game itself saw Saints sit back for the first 20 minutes and rarely venture out of their own half. Even that didn't stop Kane giving away a needless free kick 20 yards out in the 7th minute which saw Winters force Miller into an excellent save. Bisconti was next up to have a go but his shot went over the bar. Meanwhile our exciting attacking line-up saw Rachid practically playing right-back and a demonstration of passing from the midfield and defence which no doubt will feature on Roger Mitchells Blooper Tape of 2002.
I'd love to say the management team were encouraging an attacking style but for all the Billy Boys shouting it seems that the players were going selectively deaf or else just aren't doing what they're told any more. Part of it could be down to a total lack of leadership on the park - Kane was allegedly captain but unlike his opposite number in Derek Whyte, there was no sign that he even knew what to do to take charge. The lack of organisation didn't show until later on in the half.
By the 20th minute though we were making the odd foray up the park. A Murray free kick from the right broke nicely to Hartley and his shot was well saved. Straight away though the Dons broke up the park and only a McCluskey tackle prevented a score. Four minutes later Whyte was the first name in the book for a last man foul on Paddy as he broke up the park. We were making the odd chance though. The 28th minute saw us almost take the lead when a series of corners ended in a Hartley ball in which McCluskey headed against the crossbar. Needless to say there wasn't a big rush of blue shirts to get the rebound and in the end we settled for a MacDonald shot going well wide.
At the other end Miller was beaten a couple of times but both Forsyth and McCluskey made good clearances although the former had to be almost on the line to keep the game goalless. We didn't even look like taking the lead when we won a free-kick 30 yards out after Dadi had fouled Kane. Hartley took it and it was blocked - getting a bit predictable with these Paul.
Our best chance to take the lead came just before the break when Paddy broke from defence and sent a great long ball forward to Rachid who unfortunately decided to header it instead of taking time to control and shoot. One header wide and the away fans laughed.
With the first half ending fairly evenly we all hoped that Saints might get he kick up the arse they needed at the break. No such luck and if anything we looked even slower.
The Dons were contained in the early stages though with only a Bisconti effort going over the bar to show for it. But in the 50th minute McAllister was allowed to go on a run from halfway inside his own half. Without even the hint of a Saints challenge, he waltzed up to the edge of the box and squared the ball left to Winters who was totally unmarked. Luckily the ex-Arab was being a cocky wee shite and his chip was too casual and went over the bar.
They were smiling 5 minutes later though when sub Thornley came on. Forsyth took a free kick in our own half. It went straight to an Aberdeen player. I mean straight as in he couldn't have passed it better. One ball out wide left to Thornley, a mazy run past Murray and Hartley and a narrow-angled chip past Miller and we were 1-0 down. Even then it took 7 minutes before we even looked like getting back into the game. Hartley went on a good run up the right to the byeline only for his low drive across the box to be blocked. Worse was to come when a minute later he did the same thing. The ball made it into the box this time but there was bugger all in the way of blue shirts at the back post.
Craig Russell came on for the last 25 minutes in place of Rachid and he almost managed to pull us level with a header from a Dods chip only to be ruled offside. Then he had a good run up the right wing but when he got into the box elected to shoot instead of squaring it to Hartley and Paddy.
And with 15 minutes left (after both Young and McCluskey had gone into the book) Russell was left in plenty of space in the middle of the park where he let rip with a rocket of a shot from 25 yards which at least forced Esson into palming the ball away. Not that our strikers were in any danger of following it up of course. That was about it from us - we kept on trying to walk the ball into the box only to get crowded out and struggle to get back as the Dons broke up the park. Dasovic had a decent shot over the bar but it was Miller who kept us in the game at the other end with a couple of great saves. He was beaten the 3rd time but at least that was ruled out as offside.
Stark put on McBride and Falconer for Kane and Paddy as the game drew to a close but Falconer wasn't even in the game and McBride did nothing other than to pick up a yellow card for a blatant dive in the box after going on a decent run. Then as you'd expect from Saints we went to sleep in injury time. Dadi ran across the box and sent the ball out to Darren Young who managed to sclaff his shot past Miller. But by then even Saints didn't look like they cared.
Final whistle saw those of us that were left witness a lot of booing from the home stands at what was a pretty shocking performance. Hopefully the management and board might realise that we aren't going to stand for it much longer. And if they doubt that a look in the car park at the amount of empty numbered parking places (i.e. where season ticket holders usually park) might just give them a clue. Forget about a Man of the Match. McCluskey and Hartley tried but aren't even close to average. The rest were just poor (with the exception of Alan Miller who did have a reasonable game). Stark must surely realise by now that there are too many passengers in the side - we need a commander on the park and someone to score a goal.
And soon before we forget how to celebrate a Saints goal at McDiarmid.
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