Saints 0 Celtic 2 (bugger once more)
Team ::
Main,McQuillan,Davison,Attila,Weir,McCluskey,Scott,Kane,Grant,Georgio,Preston
Subs :: Griffin,O'Halloran,McAnespie
Well I'd love to be able to say that Saints were tired after midweek or that we had a crap ref again but the fact was that we lost concentration and lost to the better team on the day - ie one that can take chances. From todays performance, Roddy is looking to be well off-form and Saints badly need a goalscorer. Still its nice to see some things dont change - BBC pick us out for highlights and we get beat.
Saints started brightly enough with plenty of pressure seeing us get 3 corners in the first 10 minutes and with the defence mopping up the Celtic clearances, it looked for a while like it would be our day. Even bookings for Attila and Phizzy in the first half (Dino for a clash with Blinker and Phizzy for pushing Larsson off the ball when he was through - neither too harsh) couldn't take the gloss off a good start.
We even had the ball in the net early on when a good move on the left saw Callum Davison (sponsors MoM) hit an excellent cross over which was headed home - but chalked off for offside - one to check on TV later. Georgio also forced Gould into an excellent save towards the end of the half when he lashed in a volley. Added to that the possession which we seemed to be enjoying in midfield as Kane and Phizzy ran riot and Biscuits excellent work on the right (!) wing and it all made for a fun time.
Of course God then decided to be a Wegie bastard, and when Celtic broke up field the defence failed to clear properly and Donnelly sent a cross over from the right for Larsson to head home. All this with about 2 minutes of the first half left. Still there was some joy in watching the Celtic illiterates in the West Stand get kicked out by Taysides finest (well its their own fault if they cant read 'HOME FANS ONLY').
Second half started optimistically for Saints but there was an air of defeat around them and although they started to push forward in numbers (but leaving themselves exposed on the break), players like Dino and Phizzy faded from the game entirely. Added to that the fact that Roddy looked totally fucked and Georgio was getting nothing from Mackay (or the ref). On the hour mark they conceded the second when the defence stood off Dive-Dive Jackson (elbows-flying and diving everywhere) and allowed him just enough room to send a 20-yarder into the top corner.
Luggy put on the subs for Preston, Dino and McCluskey but they made little impression. McAnespie tried but seemed out his depth. 'Chief' was shit and Danny, although looking better in the air than McCluskey, was too little too late. Saints were lucky to keep the score to 2-0 as Celtic pushed forward and hit the bar.
Still there was some hope - the defence in general played well and Main must surely be in line for a Scotland call-up. O'Boyle looks sharp and Preston was useful on the right. Scott had a good first-half and Kane looks like a natural replacement for Dino who IMHO is too inconsistent for the Premier.
Oh yes and the ref was pretty fair - given that we were playing Wegies.