Saints 0 Accies 0 League Table Here
Team : Halliwell, Lawrie, Stanic, Mensing, McManus,
James, Hardie, Sheridan, Savo, Scotland, Sheerinho
Subs : Cuthbert, Jackson, Anderson, Peaso, Young
After the midweek dramatics, it was a return to the real action today with Saints playing host to Billy Reid's Hamilton side. Accies had recovered from their opening day gubbing at the hands of Mileson's Millionaires to beat the Scum last weekend - although based on the season so far that's perhaps not much to boast about. Unfortunately despite keeping another clean sheet we failed to convert any of our numerous chances so had to settle for a draw. Added to that we finished a man short after Jason saw red for sticking an elbow out after being on the end of umpteen fouls. No arguments with that but the referee let a lot of other fouls go which merited a card. For all that though, there were too many players in the sacred blue who have neither the ability, hunger or fight to be worthy of the shirt - Owen needs to freshen up the side or else stick the proverbial foot up some arses.
With this being a slightly more important match than the Challenge Cup Owen switched back to a more familiar starting lineup with Jason, Lawrie and Stanic all returning. Stevenson was suspended so Hardie got the number 7 shirt while Savo partnered Jason up front. Andy Jackson returned to the side on the bench following his spell on international duty.
The game got underway with Saints enjoying the early pressure, although the starting midfield saw Sheerinho on the right and Hardie out on the left side. For all of the neat moves early on, it was Accies who carved out the first real chance with a cross from the right-wing Being headed behind. They came closer three minutes later when Lawrie wad caught in possession (not for the first time this season). Gilhaney eventually got to the box but his shot was blocked. From the Saints play, Jason was our most dangerous player and in the 12th minute should have had a penalty when a long ball found him. He turned in the box but was brought down by a dodgy peroxide-haired defender. But with Craig Mackay in charge there was little chance of Saints being awarded a decision (especially given his performance at Dens last season).
Hardie had a volley go well wide as we kept up the pressure, but Accies were causing plenty of problems on the break with Gilhaney taking the piss out of Lawrie who by far was our worst player today with James and McManus spending too much of the time being dragged out of position to cover for him. On the other flank, Stanic wasn't exactly on top form either with little linkup play with Hardie. McManus became the first player to be booked after 15 minutes for a soft foul on Gilhaney. We kept up the pressure although the referee's inability to play the advantage rule didn't help. Jason found himself in the box in the 17th minute and managed to turn his marker, but the keeper made a good block. A minute later, it was Sheerinho who saw a shot deflected for a corner, which the keeper punched clear. Accies picked up their first yellow for a foul on Mensing as he broke through t e middle. The freekick into the area was flicked back by Savo for Hardie but his shot was well wide. Marvyn Wilson picked up the second booking in the 24th minute after Jason beat the offside trap and ran through on goal only to have his shirt pulled. The resulting freekick saw Saints attempt a training ground move that almost came off. Darren Sheridan hit a low drive round the wall which had Savo in it, and found Jason with his back to goal and he played a short ball to Savo who had broken out of the wall and he fired a low shot that was blocked in the box. A good move that really deserved a goal.
Still we were making enough chances that it seemed only a matter of time before we broke the deadlock. Jason tried his luck next with a 20-yard effort but again the ball was just wide of the target. Accies began to get back into the game after the half-hour mark but not before they picked up another booking for a bad foul on Savo. A seemingly harmless cross from the right caused problems in the box as Lawrie left it for Halliwell who hesitated before the Saints defender punted the ball clear. Then Sheridan lost the ball and conceded a freekick on the edge of the box as he tried to retrieve it. Tunbridge's effort was well struck but went over. Too often though it seemed like Saints would lose the ball and suddenly be totally exposed and even if we did win it back, there was too little movement in midfield and defence in trying to turn possession into an attack.
We ended the half as it begun though with more Saints pressure. A freekick three minutes from the break saw Mensing and Sheerin combine on the right before sending the ball in for Jason but his shot was blocked. Then on the stroke of half-time (with Accies reduced to 10 men as Offiong limped off) Mensing was fouled again. A simple freekick into the box saw James head the ball down Lawrie's shot was going wide but Hardie was there at the post to tap the ball home - only to see his goal chalked off for offside.
Offiong failed to return after the break and Wake replaced him up front, but he saw little of the ball as Saints started the second-half well. Two minutes in and a great through ball from Jason found Hardie breaking through the middle but his shot went just wide when it seemed easier to score. The corner was headed over by James (again!). Three minutes later and the action switched back to the other end as a long Accies ball wasn't cleared by Saints allowing Gilhaney into the box and it took two brave punches by Halliwell to clear the danger. For Saints the shots kept coming. Savo hit a decent cross in the box but there was no one there (mind you WTF was our striker doing on the right wing?). Then Sheerinho played a great ball through the left channel for Jason who got into the box but tried to place his shot allowing just enough time for a defender to come back and block his attempt. Needless to say the corner kick was targeted for Kevin James and needless to say the ball went over the bar.
Ten minutes into the half Sheridan was replaced by Delboy Young who moved to the right wing. Three minutes later and Sheerin played a brilliant one-two with Jason but sclaffed his shot completely when it seemed easier to score. Jason saw a freekick from the edge of the area fail to even beat the wall and then in 65 minutes was the worst miss yet. A quickly-taken throw-in on the right saw Delboy go on a good run to the byeline (as Lawrie stood back taking notes). He sent in a good cross which Sheerinho rose up to challenge along with the Accies keeper. The ball broke free to Hardie inside the 6-yard box and somehow he managed to sky the ball over the bar. Paddy Connolly would have laughed but we bloody didn't. Next up was Mensing who tried his luck from 25 yards out only to see the ball go just over the bar.
Accies were starting to timewaste now as they seemed happy to settle for a draw. So cue the delays at goal kicks, throw-ins etc. Saints were starting to get frustrated and it wasn't helped in the 70th minute. A freekick into the Accies area was headed down by Mad Mental Martin only to bounce off a defender and get cleared. With Saints screaming for handball, the West Coasters broke up the park somehow leaving McManus down injured just inside their half. Now I know its a controversial rule these days but given we'd put the ball out of play when Offiong went down in the first half it didn't help the sportsmanship of the game as Accies failed to return the favour with several crosses sent into the area before Savo smashed the ball into the stand. McManus eventually received treatment which saw him limping off to be replaced by Pamela, but at the same time Stanic and Mensing reacted angrily to the Accies players with the former receiving a warning from the referee. That fired up the players a bit with Hardie over encouraging the home fans as play resumed.
Peaso replaced Savo for the last 10 minutes or so as we chased a winner. Jason saw one shot go wide before his part in the game ended. Saints had broken out of their area and were being continually fouled - first Delboy and then Jason. Jason didn't take too kindly to being fouled again and although the referee missed it, the Main Stand linesman had seen an elbow go out. Straight red and the Saints striker went up the tunnel. Ironically our best chance came from the freekick as the ball broke to Sheerinho at the back post and his shot came back off the post. Unfortunately that also killed off our chances as despite plenty of backing from the fans and the likes of Hardie, Young and James doing their best, too many of the Saints players sat back and seemed happy to keep another clean sheet. As it was we were living dangerously as shown in the final minute when Gilhaney again skinned Lawrie and sent a good cross into the box which although James headed clear was fired back in again until eventually Halliwell held onto it.
That sort of negative defensive play by Saints probably contributed as much to the boos at full- time. We certainly made plenty of chances on the day but failed to convert them and again we seemed to run out of ideas and steam. MoM for me was Hardie who despite the bad misses was at least involved in the action. Pass marks too to James, Sheerinho and Mensing. Too many of the others hid during the game though with Sheridan and Lawrie both poor and Stanic having his worst first half in a long time. What's also concerning me though is the attitude on the park - there's no sense of urgency about our play. Even before we were reduced to 10 men, too often we had the ball and there was no movement off it or attempt to run with the ball.
Things need to improve if we're to challenge this season.
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| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
| Gretna | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 9 |
| Livingston | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| Partick Thistle | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| Saints | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Hamilton | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Ross County | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Clyde | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Queen of the South | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Airdrie | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| Scumdee | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
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