Cheating Dole Gits 2 Saints 1 League Table Here
Team ::
Main,McQuillan,Biscotti,Dasovic,Weir,Kernaghan,Xausa,O'Neill,Kane,Georgio,Jenko
Subs :: McCluskey,Attila,Roddy
For the first time this season Saints lost 3 league matches in a row but a lot of what happened on the pitch tonight had to be put down to the worst referee of the season - Graeme Allison from Dumfries. In addition to giving Saints a soft penalty whilst turning down 3 stonewall claims, booking 6 Saints players and red-carding Father Dougal, he somehow managed to miss the timewasting and fouling from one of the dirtiest Motherwell teams I've seen.
Alan Main passed a late fitness test and Luggy introduced new signing Davide Xausa to partner Georgio up front in a 4-4-2 formation. With Dino back (and entertaining the fans behind the goal during the warm-up and at half-time), meaning that Wright and Tosh dropped out the side.
Unfortunately things didnt get off to that good a start. With 'Well containing Saints attacks easily and too many loose balls going astray in the midfield, Saints struggled to make any sort of early impression. It was still a surprise when Motherwell took the lead. Coyne picked up a ball at the back post and instead of heading it across the goal like we all expected the ball found its way past the struggling Main and into the net.
It got worse 5 minutes later when a seemingly harmless low drive in from the left was shot home by Coyne to make it 2-0. At this point the Saints defence was absolute shit and it would have been worse if 'Well took their chances. Saints were crap in midfield and although Xausa looks promising up front he lacked the support from midfield and any sort of understanding with Georgio although hopefully that will come in time. The second-half saw Saints pull one back from the spot thanks to a Georgio penalty after a soft foul in the box. But it was more noticable for the number of bookings and stoppages than for any football although Saints did have most of the play and pressure. Luggy sent on Legend and Dino for Xausa and Dasovic but to little effect. Dino did seem sharp and had a couple of good runs at goal. Legend is I'm afraid becoming more of a liability and despite picking up a stupid booking after a clash with Woods over a 50-50 ball, he was lucky to stay on the park after his arguing with the ref.
It wasnt so lucky for Kernaghan who misses Saturday's visit of the Arabs thanks to a red card for a second bookable offence towards the end of the match with the first booking picked up for throwing the ball away, an offence the 'Well players seemed to escape all night. Other Saints players who were booked included McQuillan, Del, Preston and Jenko most for nothing offences.
Overall though a crap performance from the team - if Luggy wants to resurrect the sharpness in the team the extra training sessions must be brought back with added emphasis on the set pieces. As for MoM nobody stood out this time. Dasovic and Biscotti had fairly good games and Xausa looks promising but as for Kane, O'Neil and Jenko - it looks like chairman Geoff can consider a cut in their wages for any new contract.
Remember to vote on todays ref Graeme Allison (Dumfries) - send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk