Temple Of Saints - Dire

Scottish Premier League - 21/11/99

Saints 1 Aberdeen 1 League Table Here

Team : Main,McQ,Bollan,Weir,Danny,Kane,Chief,Del,Nathan Jones,McMahon
Subs : Cuthbert,Miguel,Pope,Thomas,Lauchlan

So the depression continues. Sure we scored a goal and managed not to lose in front of the cameras but Christ a draw with the Sheep? Sexy football managed to avoid McD again tonight as we settled for a boringly dire match in front of the nation. Even after losing so many games on the trot, yet again it was the same faces letting the side down. The Saints programme had an article criticising the mailing list for "a hysterical over-reaction to the recent poor results". God knows what the next week holds.

Goalden Graeme made his debut up front along with Nathan and Gerry in a 4-3-3 formation with Georgio dropping out of the squad and Kevin Cuthbert making his first team debut on the bench as reserve keeper.

The first 20 minutes were fairly forgettable as Saints got some pressure in but failed to turn it into chances in front of goal, whilst the Sheep were constantly caught out by the Saints offside trap although it has to be said that Bollan was far too slow to react on several occasions. Midfield was as industrious as ever without any penetration. Up front Gerry stuck on the right wing struggled to beat a defender whilst Nathan was off-form. Debut boy Graeme Jones looked OK although he seemed caught out by the pace of the game. Still at over 6ft and built like a proverbial brick shithouse he was able to hold the ball up and shield it to create some attacks. Well he would have if the midfield could be arsed getting forward.

Still we had a couple of corners and Bollan came close from 24yds with a free-kick whilst Jonesy almost got the opener when he just missed a beautiful Nathan cross ball after some great work on the wing by Nat King Goals. Miss of the half went to the Sheep though when their new signing missed an open goal after lobbing Main. You almost got the feeling luck was on our side.

Second-half started with the same teams with the now traditional hope in the East Stand that Sandy would have kicked the players arses at half-time. Unfortunately the game went on in the same manner, although Nathan was unlucky to see a volley go wide. The Sheep looked a better side as the game went on and Winters broke the Saints offside trap (with Weir and Bollan missing). Through on the keeper and Main pulled off a great save (although he seemed to pull something else at the time and spent the rest of the match limping with Danny taking the goal kicks).

With 20 minutes left Miguel came onto the park, with the only surprise being McMahon staying on and Nathan the player that was replaced. Very strange considering how often we get something out of a game when both Nathan and Miguel play. Still Miguel made his mark immediately by being clobbered all over the place by Meyer and his fellow mutton molesters.

72 minutes and the Sheep took the lead. An innocuous break down the left saw Weir go out of position to cover for McQ (and not for the first time in the game either !!!!). The Sheep got the ball over and Dow controlled it well before shooting past Main.

Cue for the discipline to vanish from Saints with only Danny, Goalden Graeme and Miguel looking as though they'd be willing to put any effort in. And it was thanks to the latter that we equalised 3 minutes later - Miguel was fouled out on the right (he decided to be the right as well as the left winger). Bollan took the kick into the box and Goalden outjumped the Sheep to head home. Not a classic but by Christ was it good !!!!

Still after that the game opened up. Chief came close with a header from a beautiful Miguel cross and the Sheep defence cleared off the line from a Miguel cutback. You may notice the common thread in these statements. At the other end the Sheep still managed a couple of chances with Saints full backs struggling. St. Sandy put on the Messiah for Goalden Graeme with 5 minutes to go but it didn't change things.

MoM for me was Goalden purely because he saved us from the total humiliation of losing to the Sheep on Sky. But to be honest apart from Danny and Miguel there wasn't much in the way of hope from the Saints side. Chief bustled as usual (and looks better than Kane now). But at the risk of repeating myself - drop McQuillan now. Far too often we're losing goals and giving the opposition chances thanks to a missing right back having to be covered by one of the central defenders.

Oh yes and one other thing for Sandy to note. Fly to Copenhagen tomorrow and sign Tommy Lovenkrands. We need some pace on the wing badly.

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