Temple Of Saints - Time for a change

Scottish Premier League - 20/04/2002

Saints 0 Killie 3 League Table Here

Team: Cuthbert, Dods, Tommy, Murray, Weir, Panther, McClune, Parker, Jones, Paddy, JR
Subs Devlin, Peaso, Lynch, Marco, Pope

So that's it - we finally managed to get the lowest ever SPL crowd with only 2285 mugs daft enough to go to McD today. Still no matter - the odds of us not breaking that record in 3 weeks for the last home game of the season are about as great as seeing Paddy Connolly take a shot on goal (never mind get the ball into the net). And as for the management - well it's time to stop the crappy platitudes to the fans about how things are going to get better. They've had more than enough chances to change things round but when we can't score in the totally meaningless friendlies that these end of season games have become then it's time to get out now before it really matters.

Teamwise Stark made more changes with Lynch finally dropping out of the starting line-up to make way for Troy McClune and Pope being replaced by Parker whilst Marco managed to get a spot on the bench. We started brightly enough with the players trying to impersonate professional footballers. Paddy won a free kick in the first minute but JR hit it straight at Marshall. JR did the same with another effort 10 minutes later after Tommy had been fouled whilst Cuthbert had an easy save from a Mitchell shot. But to say the least the game was dire.

McLaren sent a free kick over the bar on the 20 minute mark but to say the least it was a dodgy decision with Ngonge playing for a late Oscar-winning performance after Dods stood within 2 yards of him. Saints tried to get back in but lacked any final ball to make the attacks count. Jones looked slower than Roddy ever did whilst Paddy contributed nothing other than losing the ball.

The ref gave us a hint of his wonderful skills with half an hour gone when McLaren was let off without even a warning after throwing the ball away in a tantrum after being penalised for a foul on Dods. Christ even Mumblin' Jim Jeffries had a word with McLaren afterwards. That was about it for the half- Panther (who at least put some effort in in midfield) managed to set up Paddy who then lost the ball. JR sent another free kick wide then Dargo dived at the other end (instead of fouling Saints players) but Cuthbert held the free kick. Jones had our only other chance with a header but it was as effective as a Stark talk on How to Motivate Your Players.

Second half started as badly - Panther went on another good run and set up Paddy who stood still and lost the ball again. And then 5 minutes into the half, Substitute Tommy Johnson took a free kick which went under the wall and was seen late by Cuthbert who could only watch it go into the net. Stark stood with his arms folded. We tried to get back into it with Tommy sending a good chip into the box which went out for corner. JR took it and Weir saw his header cleared. Then JR and Jones combined well with the latter managing a shot which was easily held.

But with 60 minutes gone a simple cross into the Saints box saw Johnson header the ball unchallenged past Cuthbert to make it 2-0 and start the trickle of home fans departing. Stark still stood with his arms folded. Saints looked a bit brighter for a few minutes after that without really threatening Killie. Tommy cross to Kiegan who set up JR for a shot that was held. Then Tommy tried to place a shot from the left which was saved.

And with 20 minutes to go JR broke through into the box. Marshall brought him down for a blatant penalty which even Orr had to award. But for some strange reason the keeper escaped without even a yellow card never mind the red which should have been given. And of course you just knew what was going to happen when Peaso (on for Kiegan) stepped up to take the penalty - yup a simple save.

That was it for us - dead, buried and totally out of it. Marco came on for Troy McClune (who looked better than Lynch) with 10 minutes to go and with 5 minutes left the final nail went into the Saints (and possibly Stark's coffin) with Boyd getting room to send a curving shot past Cuthbert to make it 3-0. Oh yeah and Stark still had his fucking arms folded. If the manager can't show any emotion at a time like this then what the hell is he doing in the job? You wonder if he even heard the "Sack the manager" chants from the die-hards that decided to sit out the last few minutes.

We had a half-hearted penalty claim in the last minute and Cuthbert made a good save from Boyd after the linesman kept his flag down despite the player being blatantly offside but by then it was all over.

MoM for me was Panther but to be honest only him, Cuthbert, Tommy and Weir showed any fight or passion today - the rest should be kicked out now. I for one have had more than enough of sitting about after a defeat waiting to see if things will improve next week / month / season. It's plain to see that with the current effort being put in at the club this is not going to happen.

Something's got to change.

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