Aberdeen
0 Saints 1 League Table HereAberdeen
0 Saints 1 League Table Here
Team :: Main,McQuillan,Il
Biscotti,Attila,McCluskey,Kernaghan,McMahon,Kane,Roddy,Georgio,O'Neil
Subs :: Whiteford,McAnespie,Jenkinson
Get the passports ready. If the boys keep to these sort of performances
(and results) between now and the end of the season then 4th place is a
certainty. Even with Cap'n Jim missing and no Dasovic, Scott, Connolly
Saints were more than a match for a strong Sheep side and more than
deserved their win - in fact if we'd had our shooting boots on it would
have been about 5-0 by half-time.
Pittodrie passed a 10am pitch inspection but with a constant downpour all day the pitch was very heavy. With Weir out McCluskey took over the no5 shirt with Andy Whiteford promoted to the subs bench alongside Keyring. Apart from that it was the same 4-4-2 attacking formation that dealt with Killie the week before.
Right from the start Saints got stuck into the Dons with for once the midfield and strikers putting in tackles before the ball reached their own half. Roddy and Georgio were causing all sorts of problems right from the start and with the wind at their backs the Sheep defence looked dodgy right from the start - especially 'Judas' Inglis who yet again proved just how good Sergei made him look when he was at Perth.
It was the quarter-hour mark before the Sheep had any sort of attack but Kernaghan and McCluskey teamed up well to clear any loose balls before Windyarse could reach them. Added to Il Biscotti and McQ putting in some confident tackles and the defence was rarely under threat. Saints scored with a great move after 19 minutes when good work by Il Biscotti and O'Neil on the left wing saw the ball squared to Kane. He sent a cross over to the far side where McMahon knocked the ball back into the box for an unmarked Georgio to send past Bandy in the Sheep goal.
With the large away support expecting a repeat of last week and Saints to defend for the rest of the game, Aberdeen struggled to get back into the match with a Windass shot the only real problem but finding Jesus Main back to world-class form. At the other end an O'Neil drive brought out a similar stop from Bandy but the Dons keeper seemed to be vulnerable to crosses relying on the intervention of ref Jim Herald several times after clashes with Roddy.
The ref was called to action again before the break to show Judas the yellow card for being a big puff. In fact the Saints reject was lucky to be on the park towards the end after several clashes with Legend.
Second-half was a much more end-to-end affair with the heavy ground taking its toll on the players fitness. Roddy and Del struggled to make any sort of impression and the midfield passing started to go astray with Kane the main culprit. Aberdeen brought on Dodds and Glass to little effect although Main was forced into a couple of sharp saves.
Saints kept the pressure on and McMahon, Roddy and Dino all had chances to increase our lead in the second period. With Roddy struggling with a calf knock after another clash with Judas El Luggino eventually replaced him with Jenko who in the 5 minutes or so he was on the park again proved that his heart wasn't in it by chickening a couple of good chances.
The delight on the players faces at the final whistle was obvious and with the home side departing to a series of boos it was left to Dino, Georgio and Legend to take the applause. MoM for me was Legend purely for winding Judas up and still getting stuck into the tackles towards the end.
Remember to vote on todays ref Jim Herald (Newton Mearns) - send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk