Saints 1 QoS 3 League Table Here
Team : McGregor, Baxter, Fraser, Hannah, Rutkiewicz,
Maxwell, Marshall, Sheerin, Hay, Moore, Malone
Subs : Cuthbert, Stevenson, Jackson, Foxy, Webb
So plenty of promises this week about how the players and management were going to make amends for the last two shambolic performances. And of course as if that wasn't enough we had John Connolly's old club as visitors adding an extra spice to the occasion along with the return of Hobbit-stuntman Brian McLaughlin. But, at the end of the day it was a repeat of Tuesday with another series of schoolboy errors giving the opposition plenty of chances to take us to the cleaners. And if the honeymoon is well and truly over for Connolly, much more of this and the irreconcilable differences will be next on the agenda. I don't care whether the players or tactics are at fault, when the supporters boo the team off the park 2 weeks into the season, something has to be done.
Stef McConalogue was ruled out through injury again. Bernard and Flash had been doubtful and didn't make the side. Also missing after Tuesday night was Lee Hardy, with Eddie getting the left midfield job while Ryan dropped to the bench in preference to Hay who partnered Moorie. Andy Jackson got a first team appearance on the bench. And of course Maxie (the player we all missed on Tuesday) was back in defence alongside. So another perfect combination of pitch and conditions to give Saints a chance to show us what 110% of effort from the players would give us.
Well, we didn't have too long to wait to find out. After Moore got the game properly underway with a freekick against him for overuse of the elbows (30 seconds into the game this week stat- fans), the third minute saw Saints worst nightmares come true. A simple build-up by the Doonhamers went unchallenged. No tackles were even attempted on McLaughlin and he played a neat pass behind the static Saints defence for the no 10, Wood, to run onto and put past RobRoy. In the good old days, you'd have expected Saints to just knuckle down and fight their way back into the game. But while we had plenty of possession the boys seemed more intent on keeping the ball rather than passing it or, when they did, ensuring it didn't go anywhere near a teammate. A couple of quick freekicks threatened the away goal with all the danger of success as Jim Duffy has of winning a Saints Player of the Year award.
Queens on the other hand were a lot more dangerous with McLaughin managing another break into the box before being ruled offside. The high ball continued as a useless tactic for Saints until the quarter hour mark when we suddenly began to show a bit of fight (literally in Moore's case!). Marshall had a couple of decent runs and in the 20th minute Moore set up Hay but it was another classic "shit shot" from him. Three minutes later the shock of some decent passing play in the build-up was too much for Eddie and his shot was held. Queens for a change didn't bother with the timewasting that was so typical of their play and instead broke up the park and fired in a long-range shot which RobRoy got his fingertips to to deflect it off the crossbar. Back at the other end, Baxter had a good solo run which broke down due to a lack of support then Fraser forced a corner which ended in a Moore header just wide of the post.
Just as we were getting back into the game slightly, the Grange Hill style of defending struck once more. This time it was the 33rd minute and Rustybits the guilty party. Attempting a simple square ball in defence he sclaffed the pass into the path of Queen of the South's midfield. A break up the park and it was 4 on 3 so naturally the ball was played wide to McNiven on the left who got into the box and sent a low shot past the flailing McGregor.
Saints tried to hit back and two minutes after the goal, Eddie was brought down right on the edge of the box. Maxwell tried a decent freekick round the wall but it went well over the goal as well. A minute later and Marshall hit a 30-yarder just wide of goal. But it wasn't enough and by half-time the chorus of boos was as loud as at the Alloa game as the players trudged off the park.
The start of the second-half saw Saints look a bit livelier. Fraser was getting forward a bit more and he forced an early corner though the only thing to come from it was a blocked shot from Rustybits. Malone picked up a booking five minutes into the half after tussling with Wood although the Queens player escaped with just a warning. Eddie didn't let it affect his game and was taking chances or trying to set up Saints attacks - the latter found wanting thanks to the lack of pace and effort from the likes of Hay.
Fraser sent in a good 53rd minute cross which Hannah headed straight at the keeper. Then Hay had a shot easily held. McLaughlin should have scored when he beat the entire Saints defence on the hour mark but his shot went over the bar. It was enough for Connolly to ring the changes with Ryan on for Baxter, who had been one of our better players. Eddie moved to right-back with Sheerin apparently switching to the left midfield. Ryan was in the thick of the action straight away and within a minute he'd tried a shot just wide of target. Then couple of minutes later the long-range shooting tactics almost paid off with a cracking 25-yarder that the Queens keeper had to look sharp to tip wide. Next up was Sheerin with a good run into the box before firing in a rising shot that was also tipped over.
But again it was soon sucker punch time and in the 74th minute we went 3-0 behind. A simple break by Queen of the South saw the defence fail to cut out the pass into the box and an unmarked McNiven slotted the ball under McGregor with the easiest of finishes. Cue plenty of finger-pointing in the Saints defence, boos from the East Stand and more than a few of the faithful giving up and leaving.
Connolly made his 2nd substitution with Hannah replaced by Foxy. Still he made his mark on the game and 4 minutes after coming on latched onto a loose pass in midfield and fully 30-yards out sent in a screaming shot into the top of the Queens goal to pull one back. Of course Queen of the South broke straight back up the park and somehow contrived to miss an open goal to make it 4-1 - a score they more than deserved given our play. Hay was finally pulled and Andy Jackson given his competitive debut but other than another Foxy 25-yarder which was inches wide and a Stevenson shot easily held there was nothing else the players could do.
MoM was strange - for some reason the sponsors selected Ryan "Only been on for 30 mins" Stevenson. I'd have gone for Baxter if he'd lasted the 90 but in the end Stephen Fraser gets the nod although none of the youngsters really let us down - instead it was again the so-called experienced players that were found wanting - Hay, Sheerin, Rustybits, Hannah and Maxwell. Maybe we should just play the kids every week - it would certainly be less embarrassing.
One final thought - and accuse me of blasphemy if you want - but maybe Connolly isn't the Messiah after all?
This Match Report is copyright Temple Of Saints - not to be reused without permission. Contact webmaster@grange.demon.co.uk.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
| Clyde | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Hamilton | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| St Mirren | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Ross County | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Queen of the South | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Partick Thistle | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Airdrie | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Falkirk | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Raith | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Saints | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Remember to vote on todays ref Steven Duff send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk or just select a rating and press the button below ::