Saints 0 Lice-Ridden Arabs 1 League Table Here
Team: Main, Murray, Flash, Dasovic, Weir, Kemble, Pope,
Wacko, Falconer, BigMac, Kane
Subs Cuthbert, McCluskey, Kiegan, Paddy, Tommy
Another match where we almost totally dominated yet still saw the three points depart towards Juteopolis after the 90 minutes. And of course we're still waiting for that first goal. St. Sandy made several changes to the line-up with a return to the more solid 4-4-2 formation as the over-30s took the park. Kiegan, Tommy, Paddy, JR and Dods all dropped out with the first three settling for a spot on the bench whilst Weir, Dasovic, Wacko, BigMac and debut boy "Free Wullie" Falconer took the field.
And from the start the side played with a new-found spirit with some neat passing actually finding the target and the experience of the side showing through as we pressed. Unfortunately with this being the Coagies the first shot went to them when Ugly-Boy Hamilton, so far offside that he was into the Killie game broke through only for Main to pull of an excellent save in the 2nd minute. He followed it up with a brave save at the feet of the Tubby Moaner a couple of minutes later.
This wasn't reflecting the amount of posession we were having though with the midfield looking miles better than last week and the front 2 both winning balls in the air and in BigMac willing to move about (Mr Parker take note). If there was a weak spot it was Kane on the right-wing who given his proximity to the world of zimmer frames will never have the pace to be a right winger and in allowing Murray to come forward too much left us exposed at the back a few times. As last week we were picking up plenty of corners as well but for a change we looked almost threatening at them with Pope the first up with a rocketing shot that was blocked by a tink.
We still had some lucky escapes though. After quarter an hour the Tubby Moaner took a belly flop and from the free-kick Ugly-Boy Hamilton dodged a Weir slip and shot just over the bar. The action was fast and furious. A free-kick from the right saw Kane play a great ball into the box which Benny just headed wide and then after the Arabs resorted to scrappy fouling which earned McCunnie the first yellow of the day, Cap'n Jim got into the act with a run forward which ended up with him barging into Gallacher.
The sucker punch came just before the break with another tinks Free kick though. The ball floated into the box and with the cruel tint of fate which dominates McD these days up popped our favourite reject Griffin to head the ball into the net.
It was heads down for the rest of the half. Flash picked up our first booking for a clash with Hannah which despite the tinks retaliation saw him go unpunished. And then just before the break BigMac showed a glimpse of his ability when in a Momoesque turn of skill he beat 4 defenders, dribbled the ball into the box and sent a curling shot goalwards only for Gallacher to pull off another bloody save.
The restart saw the game fairly even but it wasn't long before we were piling on the pressure again. Pope picked up the next booking after being involved in a 50-50 clash when he tried to regain possession after losing the ball. Clark showed the card for alleged shirt-pulling but it's strange how so many other offences by the tinks failed to be taken into consideration.
The chances were coming thick and fast. Kane came close with another header next as we dominated the game. Wacko was tiring though and despite an excellent game he was replaced on the hour mark by Tommy who went to the left-wing allowing the Pope to move to the centre. Next chance was a free kick on the right which saw a cross into the box end up in a free header for Free Wullie - and of course he missed it.
Kiegan came on next for Big Mac and was immediately in the action as Lauchlan picked up the next yellow for bringing him down as he broke towards goal. Kiegan and the Pope combined well with the move ending up in a Pope shot going just over. Paddy came on for Dasovic in a final throw of the dice. With 10 minutes left Tommy sent a great cross into the box. Pope and Kane both saw shots blocked before Kane slipped the ball back to Lazarus who sent a low drive just wide.
The same player saw Gallacher pull off another great save a couple of minutes later from his 25-yarder before with 5 minutes to go Saints had a penalty claim turned down when after running to the bye line, Kiegan turned into the box only to be hauled down - but Clark was having none of it. Even then we still had the frustration of watching Free Wullie miss another simple header in injury time.
MoM for me was probably Kane who fought for the full 90 minutes. Mentions too for the Pope, Murray, Kemble and Flash who looked good. Unfortunately Weir looked well off the pace and Falconer isn't the answer up front.
Still our lucks going to change at some point....
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| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
| Celtic | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| Rangers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Dundee | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Dunfermline | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Dundee United | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Hibs | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Livingston | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Hearts | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Kilmarnock | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Motherwell | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Aberdeen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Saints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
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