Saints 0 Dunfermline 2 League Table Here
Team ::
Main,McQuillan,Preston,Kane,Kernaghan,Griffin,Scott,O'Neil,Grant,Georgio,Tosh
Subs :: McCluskey,O'Halloran,Jenko
Todays match programme editorial carried a rebuke aimed at the fans who have been slagging off Saints during matches. All I can say is that by the end of this disgraceful performance there were a lot of angry fans. In a nutshell Saints managed to carry on from the last 30 minutes of last weeks game and produce an incredibly inept performance. And given the experience on the pitch its no use Luggy using the injury crisis as an excuse - too many players are not doing what they're paid to.
It could have been so different as Saints started well enough and for the opening 5 minutes kept the ball on the ground and pressured the Pars defence with Tosh looking especially effective on the right wing and Georgio one of the busiest players as he harrassed the Fifers. Even the constant rain didnt seem to slow Saints up much.
Of course we were riding our luck and after 10 mins Den Bieman won a loose ball off O'Neill and sent Shaw running up the right where Preston was conspicuous by his absence. Over went the high cross and the Airdrie reject thug Smith got his thick skull in the way to knock it home. This seemed to spur Saints on as Roddy came close with a near post shot forcing Westwater (almost an anagram of Timewaster) into a good save and then Saints best chance as Tosh managed to blast a rebound shot against the bar from all of 4 yards out.
Saints pressed on but suffered from a total lack of discipline and with the defence left open on several occassions Main was forced to make some good saves.
The second half followed the same story with the Saints midfield either non-existent or just crap and up front it was the old tale of Georgio doing the fetching and carrying and Roddy being exceptionally useless. I think its time questions were raised about his ability - he is not scoring enough and it has to be said that in a game like today when his height should have given him an advantage in the attack he was plain shite.
Tosh faded and was replaced on the hour mark by the Welsh wizard Jenko who managed a few good runs but which came to little effect as they either failed to find a Saintee or else found one of the crappier players on offer (step forward Scott and Kane). Chief O'Halloran was brought on for O'Neil as the latter collected a booking for a late challenge but it was the Pars sub Bingham who was more effective as he volleyed home their second after 85 mins following some ineffectual defending by McQuillan and Preston.
MoM award went to Kernaghan although both him and Danny were probably our best players on the day. The only consolation is that we know it can only get better. Despite what Luggy says the signing of Carlstrand is now looking more and more desperate. As for the midfield I'm dying to hear why Farquhar was left out whilst Kane got a game - the ex-Don was probably our worst player on the park and even Attila with a dodgy back might have had more of an impact.
Still we're only away to the league leaders next week.
Remember to vote on todays ref John Underhill (Edinburgh) - send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk