St. Midden 2 Saints 1 League Table Here
Team : McGregor, Trialist (Anderson ), Tait, Hannah,
Weir, Webb, Ryan, Sheerin, Hay, Moore, Malone
Subs : Cuthbert, Rutkiewicz, Foxy, McManus, Hardy
It has to be said that we didn't go into this one with what the pundits might refer to as unbridled optimism. Indeed most of us, well me anyway, reckoned that the chances of leaving Love St. with three points were on a par with Paisley winning a Scottish Tourist Board award for their local "Kulchir". But I don't think anyone could have expected the sort of inept amateurish display that we ended up with - but more about the referee later. As for the players, after last weeks debacle, there was some light at the end of the tunnel but THREE red cards (two of which were deserved) and some poor defending let us down again although it has to be said that Connolly doesn't escape criticism either.
It was the usual battle-ravaged squad that turned up for Saints. No doubt their ears were still ringing from John Connolly's stinging and very public criticism last weekend - well either from that or from overuse of the mobile after pleading with their agent to get them out of Perth "cos that nasty man shouts at us for being crap"! The entire back four was changed with a trialist at right back and Tait at left with Weir and Webb in the middle. Ryan took over on the right wing from Marshall. Up front we were unchanged. For the local numpties, ex-heroes Mixu the Fatter and Mavis the Crappier were in the line-up.
And apologies for the lack of detailed coverage of the opening five minutes and Paisley Panda's no doubt scintillating warmup act but courtesy of massive traffic jam on the M8 and the delightful antics of the busloads of stormtroopers on their way to sing the sash at the Death Star, yours truly was late getting to the luxury that is Love St. Still almost as soon as I'd rested my vaccinated arse in the away stand, we took the lead. Ryan cut in from the right and played the ball into the box for Moore. He played a one-two with Hay before firing in a shot which Hinchcliffe failed to hold and Moore was there to get the rebound. Three minutes later and Chris Hay turned provider for Moore who had a good dribble before sending a low shot just wide.
The game was pretty even with the Fat Finn mixing it with Webb and showing that he hasn't taken long in returning to his old habits with plenty of dives and pathetic attempts to get freekicks. Eddie had a good run in 16 minutes before passing to Hay whose angled drive was tipped clear by the keeper. Even so, we were struggling to create any clearcut chances with the midfield not pushing forward enough in support and nothing at all happening down the wings - despite the St. Midden back four looking more than a tad suspect. Moore was flattened again in the 25th minute with the referee again taking no action. A minute after that Mixu's blatant dive in the box also went unpunished.
Saints in general were looking comfortable in defence but RobRoy was suspect at some of the crosses he had to deal with. The game started to get a bit livelier on the physical side on the half-hour mark. Eddie and one of the Paisley unwashed clashed on the touchline in a real handbags-at-dawn affair. Nothing in it but up came the referee and showed each a yellow card. Given he was so strictly applying the rules it's peculiar that Millen's five minutes of whingeing also went unpunished. A minute later and it got worse. With Saints in possession, an unwashed one dropped. Fair enough play was stopped and he received treatment. The game was restarted with a drop ball and instead of returning it to us, St Midden played on - sporting behaviour went out the window then.
Next up Webb was adjudged to have fouled the Finnish Fouler. That was bad enough but the unwashed got two attempts to take the freekick - thankfully the wall did it's job and they settled for a corner. And the referee managed to miss McGowne's blatant elbow in Moore's ribs as they jostled in the box - at least he spotted the foul on RobRoy though. At the other end, Chris was on the end of some good play. His shot was spilt by Hinchcliffe But yet again there wasn't a blue shirt to follow up.
The half finished scrappily with Webb yellowed for a nothing offence and Moore picking up a booking for not getting his elbow out of the way of Broadfoot's face as they went for a 50-50 ball. Somehow the Mickey Mouse watch the referee was wearing was running slow with around five minutes injury time played. It gave us time to see good Moore run end in a shot which went just over the bar. Then a Ryan Stevenson break was ended by a cynical foul from an unwashed one who was at least booked unlike McGowne who again escaped punishment after ending the half by flattening Moore.
While Saints had kept their composure for the first 45, it was the Junkies who came out of the tunnel a lot more fired up. And two minutes into the half, they drew level. A simple unchallenged build-up ended with the ball played to O'Neill in the box. He had an age to turn, unhindered by a blue shirt challenging him, and send the ball past RobRoy. Cue for Saints to lose their shape completely with Hannah arguably the worst Saints player on the park (and the laziest with such a chicken attitude to challenging an opponent he should be sponsored by KFC). St. Midden were pressing and it took a Webb block to prevent a 49th minute break. Our best chance was from a Ryan run down the right but he was again too greedy trying to do it all himself instead of playing an early ball into an unmarked Hay in the box.
The Saints fans were getting more and more frustrated although Connolly seemed to be happy enough going by the lack of movement, shouting or motivation coming from the away dugout. We did carve out a couple of half-chances before the referee got in on the act. Eddie Malone fired in a low cross from the left which McGowne sliced leaving Hinchcliffe backpedalling to tip the ball over. Then some good build-up play in the 63rd minute ended in a Sheerin shot which was easily held. Three minutes after that though, Saints were reduced to ten men with Sean Webb picking up a harsh second booking for a challenge on Gillies. Hannah dropped back to defence. We tried to press despite the disadvantage and Moore almost regained the lead in the 68th minute with a spectacular 25-yard drive which went just wide of the goal but we were giving the ball away far, far too easily.
Chris Hay had a cross go just over the bar in the 72nd minute and just after that was replaced by Rutkiewicz - a bit harsh but showed that Connolly was settling for the draw. But it could have been Saints in front after that when Moore got to the edge of the box before being pulled down by Broadfoot - needless to say the referee was in full anti-Saints mode by now and waived the claims away. St Midden broke up the park and Weir picked up a booking for his challenge. Not that it stopped the cheats from Paisley moving the ball enough for the free kick they were practically on the goalline - still the ball went well over. The Finnished one headered over the bar next and then Rustybits was forced into a panicky clearance to Moore who was fouled again.
Seven minutes to go and with Saints trying to hold out for the draw we lost another player. Tait was trying to bring the ball forward and was fouled. No free kick was given and Eddie saw the mist and went in with a late challenge. No question about the booking but we should have had the foul before hand. Foxy came on for Ryan (who took ages walking off the park) a minute later but with five minutes to go a simple long ball into the box Baird was there to head the ball over RobRoy to make it 2-1. Then to round things off Moore had a late challenge penalised two minutes from time - 2nd yellow for him and he walked although given the amount of niggly challenges he had to put up with today his loss of discipline was perhaps understandable.
One final mention at full-time for Weir. Moore gets my MoM for his attitude today (apart from the closing stages), but Weir showed a cool head for the 90 minutes. And at full-time he was the only one to come over to applaud the away fans before heading over to the tunnel to prevent Connolly assaulting the referee - never mind refusing to shake hands with McPherson.
The fight is still there for Saints and perhaps next week will be a chance to get some kids in who might show a bit of hunger. But the lack of support / encouragement from Connolly was worrying and I've got a niggling feeling the referee (and yes he was shite) will be used to paper over the cracks which desperately need filling. If we're looking for good points from today, Webb's early form was fine and the trialist had a good game as did Malone (until the red card) and Moore (ditto). And if nothing else we've owe the Paisley shites big time.
So that'll be the pressure on for next week then?
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 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| St Mirren | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Hamilton | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Partick Thistle | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Ross County | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Airdrie | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Falkirk | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Queen of the South | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Raith | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Saints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Remember to vote on todays ref Charlie Richmond send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk or just select a rating and press the button below ::