Saints
1 Hibs 1 League Table HereSaints
1 Hibs 1 League Table Here
Team :: Main,McQuillan,Il
Biscotti,Attila,Weir,Kernaghan,McMahon,Kane,Roddy,Connolly,McAnespie
Subs :: McCluskey,O'Halloran,Andersson
Compared with the debacle of Fa***rk last week this was a million times better but overall the game summed up Saints attitude this season. With El Luggino finally making good on his promises to drop players and injuries to Dasovic and Phizzy it was a much-changed home side that took the park. In came new signing Paddy Connolly and slightly-less-new signings Gerry McMahon and Fyndnet Andersson on the bench whilst Legend started in the no9 jersey for the first time in ages and youth was given a chance with teenager Keiran McAnespie starting his first full Premier match.
The opening exchanges were fast and furious as Hibs tried to make their mark on the game with former Saints target Barry the Junkie looking sharp enough to have been on drugs.....allegedly. For Saints it seemed like the rude awakening of 7 days ago had finally knocked some sense into them and combined with a need to impress by the new guys we were treated to some fast flowing football. Connolly looked very sharp for a player who only signed this morning and who had to adapt to the pace of the Premier League. On the wings McMahon was very fast and skilful, and whilst it took him a while to find his feet Keyring did more on the left wing in the first 20 minutes than Taffy Jenkinson has done all season.
Neither side had any real chances on goal in the opening spell although Roddy missed a good chance and Kane and McMahon saw shots go wide. At the other end Main had little to do. Saints plans were shot to pieces though as Il Biscotti was stretchered off after a clash with a Hibee, with the half-time rumour of a suspected broken leg being the favourite bet. He was replaced by McCluskey who moved to right-back with John McQuillan switching wings.
With the match becoming scrappier and the desperation showing in the Hibs players it was no surprise that there was more foul play. This time it was Rougier who was the culprit with a late challenge on Main which left the Saints keeper on the deck receiving treatment for a shoulder injury (shades of last Saturday). Strangely enough referee Jim McCluskey was unwilling to take any action against the Hibs forward which meant the Saints fans booed him for the rest of the day.
The second-half was again fairly even although Saints especially seemed to be running out of ideas. McMahon and Connolly both looked to tire and McAnespie faded from the game. Surprisingly Legend was also hardly present and overall he was probably the weakest of our forwards.
We did break the deadlock in spectacular style just past the hour mark when John McQuillan showed how good a left winger he could be with a run up the length of the park. With a 1-2 played off Keyring he slotted the ball past a helpless Gunn to give us the lead. Attila also managed to get booked during the ensuing celebrations for running behind the goal and informing the Hibs support what the score was.
With the game looking as though it would be settled by the one goal Saints started to defend deeply. Connolly and McMahon were replaced by Fyndnet and Chief to inject some freshness. We started to struggle though especially Kane who looked crap for the whole game. There was another booking as Attila broke free and was hacked down much to the joy of the Hibs support.
The result seemed to be going Saints way when it all went wrong in the final minute of normal time. McQuillan was the culprit as he failed to clear his line properly and in an attempt to make the clearance good brought down a Hibs forward on the edge of the box. Clear penalty so up stepped Mugger Rougier to slot the ball past Main.
MoM for me was Attila for pissing off the Hibs players so much. Credit also to McAnespie who on todays performance should be well ahead of Taffy in the pecking order for the left wing position next week. Arse of the day has to be Kane - plain crap and along with Attila and Jenko a player sure to be given the heave come the inevitable summer clearout.
Remember to vote on todays ref Jim McCluskey (Stewarton) - send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk