Saints 0 Gretna 1
Team : Cuthbert, Pamela, Goran, Stevenson, Rustybitz,
James, Henry, Fozzy, Jackson, Scotland, Sheerinho
Subs : Paston, Owen, Dobbie, Dyer, Scrabble
Ah, the romance of the cup when the underdogs get their chance to shine against the sides backed by multi-millionaires. And today we took on that role against the seemingly unstoppable Gretna who are marching up the leagues like a new Livi. You could practically see the writing on the wall then but you can be guaranteed that we'd never have predicted the meek and pathetic way this side capitulated. even the introduction of the gaffer onto the park failed to provide a spark to a Saints side that was second to everything and simply looked as if they didn't want to play for the blue. It's time for the manager to get things sorted out - if the players on the park aren't doing what he management want drop them and play the kids. And if the current "tactics" are what Coyle and Weir think will do for Saints then they have a real shock coming.
We didn't have our troubles to seek going into this one with an injury list as long as Charles Kennedy's bar bill seeing us robbed of Savo in addition to the usual suspects . Add to that the suspended Simon Mensing and, after much debate Darren Sheridan (although in the wacky world of Scottish football this is a different ban to the one he's serving in the league). Fozzy replaced Scrabble in the centre of midfield with Andy Jackson getting a start up front alongside Jason in place of Savo. Dobbie and Oweny returned to the bench with Dyer and Scrabble. For Gretna, ex-Saints keeper Alan Main was between the sticks giving us a chance to find out once and for all if he does give away soft goals to former employers - assuming of course we could manage a shot on target today (well they do say that the cup is where dreams come true!). Other ex-Saintees in their lineup included Steve Tosh and Jamie McQuilken.
The game was even enough to start with but it wasn't long before we were resorting to the long high balls that have served us oh so well over the festive period. Almost a bad for the reasonably large crowd was the casual attitude that was shown by too many of the Saints players - we all knew how good the 2nd Division side would be and there was no doubt that they'd be up for the game. But too often the Saints players weren't closing down their opponents or moving into space on the rare occasions we had some time on the ball - not that the quality of the passing was anything like good enough.
Our early chances were limited to a 6th minute Henry header (about his only contribution of the opening 45) from a Pamela cross - needless to say it didn't exactly cause Main to perform acrobatics in the away goal. And after another six minutes of dire Saints play we went behind to another piece of sloppy defending. A long clearance beat Rustybitz allowing Graham to get a cross into the back post where an unmarked Deuchar knocked it back to the incoming Tosh who, unchallenged fired the ball past the Cat. Just another one of those daft goals we've made a real habit of in recent months - except this time the team never looked like getting back into the game. Deuchar almost made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later but a good late challenge from Anderson stopped that run, while at the other end all we had to offer was a Kevin James cross which barely troubled Main. Gretna meanwhile were out to kill us off and after the defence again failed to clear their lines in the 20th minute a Gretna snapshot forced Cuthbert into a good save.
Saints were embarrassingly poor at this stage but praise for Gretna's play was in short supply - especially when the likes of Deuchar indulged (not for the last time in the game it has to be said) in the sort of multi-somersaulted theatrics worthy of Serie A after an innocuous challenge by Rustybitz. The Gretna hitman made a miraculous recovery though to stick a header wide a few minutes later as yet again their wide men found themselves with far too much space to exploit. Saints were all over the place with no one willing to play the ball to feet or to run at the opposition. The balls from the back were simple punts while the midfield kept on playing high balls to Jason, who was being marked out of the game, and Jacko, who, despite all his running seemed too lightweight. Still, we finally managed a shot on goal in the 25th minute. A decent move saw Henry pass to Scotland who slipped the ball into the box for Jackson but his shot went over the bar. At least it showed that not all the ball skills had been left in the dressing room, but of course normal service was resumed as soon as possible, with a loose clearance allowing Deuchar through but his shot was blocked by the Cat. Main was given some work to do as Saints chased the equaliser but too often we ended up playing simple crosses in which didn't cause a problem. Henry and Sheerin linked well on the half-hour to try and set up Jackson who had made a run into the box, but Main came out to block.
Gretna came back up the park and won a soft freekick which Nicholls sent wide. Andy saw a nice chip go just over the bar, but that was about it for Saints in the first half. Sure we won a couple of freekicks and corners but every single one was wasted with most balls targeted at James who was well-marked by Townsley. The half ended with Ryan picking up a warning from the referee after he stood near Deuchar and induced another bout of gymnastics from the Gretna striker.
Forget about the half-time team talk - as usual if there was one, it had bugger all effect. Another poor start against a side who were timewasting from the kick-off, saw us fail to string two passes together. Innes of Gretna picked up a booking for a foul on Stevenson although Sheerin ensured the freekick was wasted. Gretna had a couple of breaks with Pamela skinned for one and the other a blatant offside but luckily both shots ended going just wide of goal. Ten minutes into the half and Owen had seen enough bringing himself on in place of the yet-again unconvincing Henry. That sparked the game to life and within a minute Coyle was through only to be bundled off the ball. A minute later and Rustybitz went into the book for a foul on Deuchar. Next up Jackson set up Scotland but despite a great turn and break into the box again Jason was guilty of being greedy and failing to pass. Just after that he had a penalty claim turned down but Saints were looking a bit livelier.
Another good move just after the hour saw Owen and Sheerin on the left combine to set up Stanic but he was brought down on the edge of the box. Sheerin's freekick was held again (surprise, surprise). That was about his last contribution (although contribution is perhaps too strong a term here) with Scrabble replacing him for the last 23 minutes. Owen played a lovely through ball next for Scotland but his first touch was a poor one allowing Main to clear. Then Stevenson was brought down on the edge of the box but as usual the freekick went straight to the keeper. Fozzy was next to try his luck 12 minutes from time but again the ball went straight to the keeper with the whole side lacking the hunger and urgency that typified Gretna's performance.
Two minutes later Jacko was brought down right on the edge of the area after some good build-up play on the right. After taking an age for the freekick to be set up, Owen slipped it to Scotland but he delayed his shot and it was easily blocked by a defender. Dobbie replaced Jackson in a final throw of the dice but to be honest I'm not sure if he even got a touch of the ball . James went up front at the same time with Fozzy dropping back to help in defence. Our best chance came four minutes from time with Owen getting onto the end of a long freekick from defence. His flick found Jason unmarked in the box but somehow he managed to screw his shot well wide when it seemed easier to score. As usual these days the remainder of the closing stages saw us push forward and almost on occasion show a degree of urgency but the fight and skill just weren't there - the only applause at full time was reserved for Main for some reason.
Forget about a MoM with nobody looking that great. Jackson tried but was surrounded by too many sensitive egos who weren't willing to fight and while Owen sparked the team to life a bit when he came on it was too little too late. Too many times now we've put up with the excuses about injuries etc but that doesn't excuse the basic errors we're seeing on the park these days. Our season is probably over now so maybe it's time for Coyle to start clearing the decks and get the players in that will play the ball on the ground - assuming that's what he wants.
Maybe next year eh?
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