Temple Of Saints - Hope?

Scottish Premier League - 21/10/2001

Saints 0 TFOD 2 League Table Here

Team: Miller, Murray, Tommy, Dasovic, McCluskey, Dods, Kiegan, JR, Falconer, Paddy, Pope
Subs Cuthbert, McClune, MacDonald, Russell, Fotheringham

Not as bad as last week but when are we going to learn to take our chances - God knows we had more than enough to draw or even win the game, although no doubt Mr Dougal would have managed to prevent the latter. With the injury list rivalling anything Sandy ever had to deal with Starkers went for the surprise selections to try and outfox Wiggy. Step up the 4-man defence of Murray, McCluskey, Dods and fresh in at left-back Tommy. Midfield saw Kiegan on the right, JR on the left with Dasovic and Pope in the middle with the "veteran" strikeforce of Free Wullie and Paddy up front.

Conditions were absolutely atrocious with constant rain and plenty of surface water to encourage the TFOD divers. The bigots forced the play early on with Tommy skinned by De Bore a couple of times and Murray almost punished for a short backpass although Miller brought off a good save. Saints' first chance came in the 8th minute when a JR free-kick was cleared and Paddy was too slow in putting the ball back into the box.

We were piecing some good moves together and after quarter of an hour JR and Paddy combined at a throw-in on the left. JR was sent free and nutmegged Craporuso before sending a good low ball back across the goal only for Free Wullie to sclaff it over the bar. A minute later and Paddy was through on goal only for Bert "My Mums a better player" Konterman to haul him down. Last man offence? Yup but Dougal only books the Hun and with JR's free kick blocked the attack broke down.

Saints were making some good chances although the midfield was slow to support and there was always the danger of a break. But we had the best chance to take the lead in the 21st minute when a JR free-kick on the right was headed clear and came back out to him. He headed the ball back in, Dods flicked it on and with all the time in the world an unmarked Free Wullie managed to head the ball wide.

At the other end Fernando the Drunk had a shot deflected just wide on one of the few occasions he remained upright. Then a Shito AmintheKhazi cross was punched clear by Miller who looked a lot sharper than last week. Even when they did get through TFOD we crap - 10 minutes before the interval, De Bore got the better of Tommy, broke to the byeline only to Kemble the ball (i.e. miss it and end up on his arse).

We had a couple of chances before the break with the best one being a Kiegan 20-yarder which forced Klos into a good save. But most of the action was saved for the ref with Chopper and Flo both being booked for late challenges.

2nd half saw the bigots send McCann on for Reyna for a much needed wash but it was Saints that got the first chance when a Tommy and JR combination on the left saw a good cross come into the box only for Paddy and Free Wullie to both miss it which in the end summed up our day.

A minute later the game turned. Tommy sent JR up the wing and he cut into the box only to be bundled over. No penalty or free kick for what was a stonewaller. Immediately afterwards TFOD broke up the left and Ball sent a long range shot goalwards. It came off the bar but was travelling too fast for Miller to get to and Shito headed the ball into the empty net.

Saints tried to get back into the game but the ref was giving us nothing despite JR, Paddy and Kiegan being fouled several times. The defence was coming under some pressure though and Miller made a good save from Flo. JR moved back to right back as Saints went to a 3-5-2 formation with Parker and Falconer up front on the hour mark. It almost paid off with a Pope ball to Kiegan see him run up the right and send a good cross in only for Paddy and Falconer to miss it (again !!!). Then in the 66th minute a good move from Tommy and Parker on the left saw Tommy cross to Paddy who headed the ball down only for Klos to save.

Five minutes later we went further behind. Paddy was caught in possession (not for the first time) and TFOD broke into the box. The defence covered the initial attack well but the ball eventually broke to Flo who sent a low shot into the net to make it 2-0. A minute later Miller pulled off another good save from Flo to prevent the 3rd.

MacDonald came on for Falconer as we tried to get back into the game but conditions meant the match became scrappier. Ball was booked for a foul on Parker and then JR and McCann both picked up bookings after squaring up to one another after a nasty challenge by the Scumdonian on JR. Congrats to the ref for showing such fairness and it's so good to see he didn't bother to take action on Barry the Ned who tried to get stuck in as well. We had a couple of chances - JR saw a low free-kick saved with Pistol Pete missing the rebound. Then with 9 minutes to go Shito managed to lose his balls on the edge of the Saints box as he got in the way of a Murray clearance. The last chance came after Fotheringham replaced Pope. A free kick on the left saw the ball break from the box to Dasovic only for his shot to go wide and over.

MoM for me was JR - he put in heaps of effort and plenty of skill. Overall we played fairly well - Murray, McCluskey and Dods were good in defence and Tommy was OK given it's not his usual position. Dasovic had a good game in midfield and Pope came into it in the 2nd half. Paddy put in plenty of running up front. Falconer was probably our weakest player - he just doesn't have the pace or ability (you can't even rely on him to win the headers now). And finally Miller showed he could be a good keeper for us.

Pity about the result though - next week is suddenly looking a much bigger game....

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