Temple Of Saints - Talk about flattery
Tennents Scottish Cup 4th Round - 23/02/03
TFOE 3 Saints 0
Team : Cuthbert, Baxter, J-Ro, McClune, Dods, Maxwell,
Noble, Parker, JR, Paddy, Tommy
Subs : Miotto, Ferry, Forsyth, Hay, Panther
First
up ignore the scoreline as much as you can. Despite no doubt being
continually reminded in the media reports for the next few days that this
was a "weakened" bigot side (no floppy-jar Larsson, diving
Sutton, scabby Douglas etc) Saints did not deserve to lose by 3 goals
today. And when you realise that two of the three came from the penalty
spot then you might understand why I'm proud of the team today - well most
of them anyway. With Reilly, Murray and M-Ro all missing, the kids were
called up. McClune came into the centre of midfield and Dods and Maxwell
made up the defensive pairing. Tommy and Keigan were the wide men
supporting Noble and Paddy up front. From the start the hordes of TFOE
fans (wearing so much green you couldn't even see them but they had to be
there cos they're the best fans in the world aren't they?) were silenced
by first of all a large and noisy Saints support and the performance on
the park. If you ever want to experience a surreal football atmosphere in
a massive stadium just pop along whenever TFOE are playing a diddy team
and the ferries aren't running.
Anyway on the park and the Saints defence was called into action in the
3rd minute when a TFOE break up the park saw the ball played to Sylla - he
ballsed it up nicely so there wasn't any real danger and the Cat saved
easily enough. And for the first 10 minutes or so he wasn't really called
into action. In fact we were the first to threaten in the 7th minute.
Noble was bundled over by Mjallby 25 yards out. Tommy played a short free
kick to JR who sent a cracking low drive which was tipped wide by Broto
for a corner. Five minutes later Paddy went on a great run up the left
wing. He got to the box and cut back in before trying to chip the keeper
who put the ball out for a corner. Of course Dallas realised that we were
looking dangerous so the corner kick ended in a token foul on Broto.
Noble
and Parker linked well for the next attack but the defence cleared and
TFOE broke up the park. The ball ended up being passed to Hartson
(hereafter known as FWG as in Fat Welsh Git). But with FWG in loads of
room his shot was a weak one and the Cat easily scooped it up. Saints had
another good free-kick saved by Broto at the other end after Noble was
held. But from the counterattack the ball was slipped into the box and the
FWG used his so-called attempt on goal to try and flatten the Cat leaving
the keeper needing some treatment. The game was pretty much end-to-end now
but even when we got a decent ball into the box the lack of support from
midfield meant it was easily dealt with. On the other hand the Saints
defence was playing well and closing down the bigots as needed. And the
desperation in FWG's play shone through in 24 minutes when from a TFOE
free-kick the ball was played out to him and he floundered in the box. No
penalty said Shuggy D but then again no yellow card either. Meanwhile JR
sent set up Paddy on our next attack only for the header to go out.
The half-hour mark saw Noble limp off with what looked to be a back
injury (no idea when it was caused). He was replaced by Panther in
midfield and Paddy and Kiegan became the strike pairing. The shift seemed
to disrupt Saints though and TFOE came into the game and within a minute a
ball into the box saw J-Ro hold FWG's shirt. Cue Softest Decision of the
Year Award time from Shuggy D and a finger pointing to the spot. FWG took
the kick and sent the Cat the wrong way to make it 1-0. I believe sounds
of sweetie papers rustling were heard amongst the home fans at this point
- but it might have been the tumbleweed. The game died down a bit after
that, with the lack of atmosphere from the stands not helping matters.
Saints
let their heads go down a bit and TFOE started to make some chances - one
beat the offside trap and took a Cat save to prevent a goal. At the other
end the half ended with a great Baxter cross seeing the Panther challenge
Broto who dropped the ball but gave the defence time to clear it.
The second-half was less than a minute old when Saints allowed Mjallby
too much room and his low drive from the edge of the box brought out a
great save from the Cat. Still we got back into it and a couple of free
kicks from the edge of the box ended in a Maxwell header going just over
the bar. And in 51 minutes we should have drawn level. Paddy released
Tommy (who was our worst player on the day) down the left. He got to the
byeline and sent a great cross into the box. JR rushed in to meet it but
his effort was deflected clear but only to Parker on the edge of the 6yd
box. He unfortunately took too long to get his shot in and allowed Laursen
to get in and make the tackle. TFOE were trying to kill the game off
though. Both Sylla and Mjallby had shots go wide or saved and on the hour
Cuthbert made a cracking block with his legs from an FWG effort which
seemed destined for the net.
Saints
were still making chances as well though and JR and Paddy were linking
well through the middle to set up runs. In 65 minutes a Tommy-
Parker-Paddy move worked the ball up the park only for Paddy to be fouled
25 yards out. JR sent a great free kick over the wall which Broto dived to
hold. The Cat made the next great save with a brilliant tip over the bar
in 72 minutes from a 25 yard free kick after JR had clattered into
Fernandez. Two minutes later and TFOE forced a corner when FWG shot wide.
From it the ball was cleared but came back in courtesy of FWG and Smith
somehow fluked a header past the Cat although the Saints defence wasn't
exactly rushing in to challenge. That made it 2-0 which was enough for
some of the home fans who started leaving - "Best fans in the world"
my arse.
Saints broke up the park from the restart and Parker had a good run end
in a corner. But as you might have guessed we got sod all from it. Saints
were out of ideas now and the legs were tiring. Hay came on for McClune as
Stark went for broke but with 6 minutes left a break into the box saw a
Saints player (J-Ro?) bring down Maloney from behind. They don't call him
Dallas the Benevolent so you can guess where he pointed his finger. Up
stepped FWG and repeated his first half kick with the Cat going the wrong
way again to make it 3-0. We had the last few chances though with a JR
effort going over the bar and with 3 minutes to go a long ball from
midfield was flicked on by Paddy to Hay but his shot was too weak and
easily held.
MoM for me was close - JR was at the heart of a lot of our moves and
Baxter was outstanding at right back. But it's got to go to the Cat who
played out of his skin and was unlucky to see three go past him. But to be
honest we didn't have any real poor performances with the possible
exception of Tommy who looks lost on the left wing on his own.
As for the bigots - it's been a year since we played them but they're
still the same bunch of overrated arrogant gits they've always been. Maybe
that just shows how much the 1st Division's been a breath of fresh air.
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