Temple Of Saints - Time for Change?

Bells League Division One 19/03/2005

Saints 0 Ross County 2 League Table Here

Team : Samson, Anderson, Forsyth, Hannah, Rutkiewicz, Maxwell, Bagan, Sheerin, Peaso, Sloan, Dyer
Subs : Cuthbert, Hay, Dobbie, Cowan, Keyring

After last weekend's scrappy win in Fife, today was always going to be a tougher proposition as Saints went looking for revenge for the four-goal humiliation at the start of the year. Just as importantly though, was the small matter of the three points that were up for grabs which would go a long way towards dragging us clear of the coming relegation dogfight, as well as help to restore some faith amongst the fans.

Well you can forget that - this was even worse than the Accies game. Every warning sign that was plain to see for every Saints fan last weekend were simply ignored. What we had was a team devoid of hunger, passion, fight and any skill whatsoever. I'm sorry to say this, but Connolly and Weir have had plenty of opportunities to instil the work ethic and turn things round. There is absolutely no sign that this is happening and given how their predecessors were given their marching orders when we weren't as poor on the park, they surely have to be on their last chance. Unfortunately given the track record of heeding the warning signs one can only surmise that it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better - if indeed it ever does.

Last week's fragile 3-5-2 formation was retained but Stephen Dobbie, having come through his reserve comeback unscathed, was rewarded with a place on the bench in place of Andy Jackson as Connolly went for experience - Cowan also came in for McManus. Elsewhere the Saints lineup saw David Hannah's groin / shoulder injury disappear in time for kick-off as Saints fielded an unchanged starting lineup.

The game started with Saints demonstrating that they'd learnt sweet feck all from last weekend. The 3-5-2 formation was deemed de rigeur again but yet again the main method of attacking was what is commonly known as the "punt" - the midfield were being bypassed and the wingers might just as well have stayed at home - even on the rare occasions that Sheerin and Hannah got the ball they were just as happy to punt it forward for Sloan and Pea o, both of whom were outnumbered and way shorter than their opponents. Needless to say, the first shot on goal came from County although it was set up by Saints as Sheerin found himself dispossessed in the 5th minute. The final low drive beat the home defence but Samson managed to get down to it.

Three minutes later the Dingwall side won another of several soft freekicks on the right. The ball floated into the box but Samson just managed to punch it clear - not exactly confidence-inspiring stuff. As for Saints, it was Sloan that had our first chance in the 12th minute with a shot which went miles over. It was a sign of things to come - no movement off the ball, no support for the front men and no sign of a game plan anywhere. County kept up the early pressure and forced Samson into another save in the 19th minute. Saints for their part were unable to string more than two passes together and by midway through the half the vocal criticisms from the East Stand were plain to hear.

The game was crying out for someone to grab it by the scruff of the neck and run with the ball. Anderson tried that a couple of times before being upended and in the 29th minute Bagan had a great run through the centre, beating several County players before hitting a low shot that the keeper failed to hold - of course there was no follow-up from a blue shirt. Three minutes later and a poor clearance from Stewart found Peaso but his shot went just over. It simply wasn't happening for Saints and even when we managed to get a cross over as Peaso did 6 minutes from time the only blues in the County box was on the Dingwall strip.

We managed a couple of chances before the break. Sloan had a cross that found Bagan on the other flank. His ball into the area was headed down and found Sheerin whose volley went well wide. Then Anderson pressed just before the interval and crossed into the area. The ball was punched clear to Flash and he forced a corner. The ball broke to Bagan but his effort was blocked.

Unfortunately the second-half was barely a minute old before we fell behind. County won a simple corner and played a straightforward inswinger into the area. Samson was nowhere and Canning headed the ball into the net from about six inches out. It was a stunned silence in the East Stand. A soft goal lost and yet again the keeper looked to be at fault.

Saints had a half-hearted attempt to hit back. Bagan saw an attempt go over from the edge of the box and a 30yd Peaso freekick went just wide. Hannah had a couple of headers go over but in the 55th minute we were dead and buried. Sheerin was caught on the ball (again!) and County broke up the park cutting open the 3-man defence. The ball was sent over to McGarry who blasted the ball home with an angled finish from 10yds. That was more than enough for some of the diehards and the exit doors opened early to let them escape. Not that those who stayed were quiet and the boos resounded loudly - and they were just as bad a minute later when Connolly tried to switch things round bringing on Dobbie for Sloan, despite the latter being one of the few who was trying on the park. Anderson had a header go wide as County sat back to defend their lead.

And in the 62nd minute Dobbie could have been a hero when he turned his marked brilliantly on the edge of the box but instead of taking the ball forward somehow decided to go for a long-range shot which he sclaffed totally. A few minutes later Rankin had a long-range effort of his own go wide before Connolly's next gamble saw Bagan (another of our more effective players) replaced by Chris Hay. The latter won a corner almost straight away but the best we could do from the corner was a Peaso drive at the back post that Stewart easily held. Peaso had another volley held with twenty minutes to go but Saints were out of ideas. As it was Ross County came close two minutes later when Burke fired in a drive from the edge of the box that Samson did well to tip round the post.

We were looking lost and praying for the final whistle as the fans grew more and more frustrated. Sheerin even reacted to one plea to get up the park by making a gesture to the East Stand - as he walked up the park!!!! Keyring replaced Dyer (who had another reasonable game) and we had a good penalty claim turned down 10 minutes from time after Peaso was bundled over but to be honest we didn't deserve it. With a minute to go there was a half-hearted chant of "Connolly Get Tae F*ck!" - but to be honest we were just as bored by the fayre on offer. And if you want to sum up the attitude of the players, in the last minute Ross County broke from defence. David "Mr Bloody Example" Hannah stood there trying to claim for a freekick as the bloody ball was walked past him - a complete and utter disgrace. The boos at the final whistle said it all.

Nobody deserves a MoM award this week - Bagan and Anderson tried as did Peaso but something is badly wrong at Saints just now and time has simply run out for it to be changed. Saturday nights will soon see Dr Who returning but right now the real Saturday nightmare is the crap on show at a Saints game - it's not good enough and frankly I'm pissed off waiting on it to be sorted.

Leaving the ground today the PA played "Every Loser Wins" - no they bloody well don't as we're about to find out.

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