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Hearts 1 St Johnstone 1

14/08/2010 22:05:37 by SPLBanter filed in Match Reports.

Hearts  1  St Johnstone  1

Sam Parkin scored a goal on his debut to give 10 man St Johnstone a hard fought away point on the opening day of the season at Tynecastle.

Hearts, the better side for most of the match, looked to be going in to the break a goal up when Calum Elliot headed in Lee Wallace's near post cross on the stoke of half-time.

But Saints hit back less than a minute later trough Parkin’s excellent header from twelve yards.

Hearts new strike pair of Kevin Kyle and Stephen Elliot were given a standing ovation when they made their first appearances as 65th-minute substitutes but neither could find the net as the second half failed to reach the heights of the first.

The visitors held on at the end despite being reduced to ten men in the 74th minute when Steven Anderson was dismissed for a rash tackle on Suso Santana.

Post match Derek McInnes was critical of Anderson saying: "The sending-off changed everything, I need to see it again but it was a stupid challenge, I'm not going to defend it; it was a really stupid challenge from Steven Anderson. It's something he'll have to learn from because it put his team-mates right up against it and they answered it.

"He should be down about it. He's not a kid anymore, he needs to be better than that in getting involved in that tackle. The boy was not going anywhere. We've got a lot of trust and faith in him and he was playing well but he made the referee make a decision and he has to learn from it.''

Hearts gaffer Jim Jefferies was reasonably satisfied given his lengthy injury and suspension list, but felt the sending off didn’t help his side either.

He said: "I think we were the team that looked like we could win the game. And I've seen it a thousand times when someone gets sent off, they sit in. They knocked it up front looking to stem the flow.

"For me, with the number of players we've had out, there were lots of positives. I felt we were the most dominant side out there. That's credit to the boys that came in and did well.''



Hearts: Kello, Wallace, Barr, J. Thomson, C.Thomson, Zaliukas, Palazuelos, Suso Santana (Novikovas 79), Black, Templeton (Elliott 66), Elliot (Kyle 66)  

St Johnstone: Enckelman, MacKay (Rutkiewicz 54), Grainger (Taylor 21), Duberry, Anderson, Morris, Millar, Craig, Davidson, Parkin, Haber (Samuel 72)

Goals: Hearts: Elliot [45]; St Johnstone: Parkin [45]

Saints to give late tests to defensive trio

13/08/2010 15:43:17 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Saints face a potential defensive crisis for their SPL opener at Hearts on Saturday as Kevin Rutkiewicz [calf], Dave Mackay [back] and Michael Duberry [groin] will all undergo late fitness tests.

Long-term injured Martin Hardie, Peter MacDonald and Kevin Moon are out until September at least.

New recruit from Cardiff, Peter Enckelman could make his competitive debut between the sticks.

St Johnstone [from]: Enckelman, Smith, Mackay, Rutkiewicz, Anderson, Duberry, Grainger, Gartland, Taylor, Millar, Morris, Davidson, Craig, Samuel, Dobie, Jackson, Milne, Parker, Haber, Caddis, May.

St Johnstone 1 Aberdeen 1

26/04/2010 14:42:06 by SPLBanter filed in Match Reports.

St Johnstone 1  Aberdeen 1

Aberdeen secured their Scottish Premier League status for next season despite conceding a dramatic late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.

Injury-plagued Saints striker Andy Jackson came off the bench and saw his late effort hit a post an go in off goalkeeper Stuart Nelson two minutes from time just as the Dons had looked set for just their fourth away win of the campaign.

Steven MacLean had earlier netted for the second straight game for Aberdeen, for whom a point was enough to end any lingering fears of relegation.

St Johnstone: Smith, Irvine, Grainger, Rutkiewicz, MacKay, Morris, Millar, Davidson, Morais (Deuchar 56), Samuel (Craig 83), Sheridan (Jackson 71)

Aberdeen: Nelson, Foster, Grassi, Ifil, Kerr, Aluko (Fyvie 67), Young, Duff, Marshall (Paton 67), MacLean, Mackie

Goals: Aberdeen: MacLean (16); St Johnstone: Nelson o/g (90)

Defensive duo extend contracts

23/04/2010 16:25:48 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Saints have been boosted ahead of their trip to Aberdeen on Satrday with the news that Steven Anderson and Graham Gartland have have both put pen to paper on new deals at McDiarmid Park.

The defensive duo have both inked two-year contract extensions to keep them at the Perth outfit.

Anderson joined Saints from Dundee United in 2004, while Gartland arrived from Drogheda United in 2008.

Saints boss Derek McInnes was delighted to secure the futures of the pair on long-term deals.

"We are pleased to get Garts and Ando signed up," McInnes told the club's official website.

"We are looking to get one or two things sorted out over the next few weeks.

"I'd like to add a few more to the squad over the summer. The players have done very well this year but like every manager I want to improve every season."

Michael Duberry is suspended for Aberdeen's early afternoon visit to Perth.

However, Dave Mackay is back from a calf injury and Graham Gartland has recovered from a virus but striker Steven Milne is a doubt with a groin complaint.

St Johnstone: [from] Smith, Grainger, Gartland, Sheerin, Irvine, Mackay, Anderson, Morris, Craig, Davidson, Morais, Millar, Deuchar, Milne, Sheridan, Samuel, Rutkiewicz, Main, Swankie, Reynolds.

St Johnstone 2 St Mirren 2

19/04/2010 19:59:04 by SPLBanter filed in Match Reports.

St Johnstone 2  St Mirren 2

A late Paul Sheerin penalty controversially contested by The Buddies but correctly awarded for a handball on the line by Stephen O’Donnell, robbed St Mirren of a crucial three points at McDiarmid Park and left them just one point ahead of Falkirk at the foot with four games remaining.

St Johnstone began the brighter with Grainger and Filipe Morais both firing long-range efforts over, the former coming closest from a free-kick.

But St Mirren, whose cause was far greater, quickly responded when O'Donnell neatly turned Grainger in the penalty area before skewing wide.

A scrappy, tense affair soon developed, before Saints passed up a glorious opening on 22 minutes.

Kenny Deuchar won a header at the edge of the area and Duberry cushioned the ball into on-loan Celtic forward Cillian Sheridan's path, who could only shoot over from 12 yards.

St Mirren hit back with their best chance of the half four minutes later.

David Barron fed O'Donnell from the right, whose hooked ball saw Dorman strike first time from the penalty spot.

His effort looked net-bound but clipped the top of Graeme Smith's bar.

The Paisley side were to have better luck on 33 minutes when they broke the deadlock.

O'Donnell did well to dig out a cross from the right by-line and his centre across goal saw Carey beat Duberry to force home from close range.

McInnes was forced into a first change on 36 minutes as Liam Craig trooped off to be replaced by Davidson.

Four minutes from the interval only the heroics of Smith denied the visitors a second.

Robb's cross from the left was perfect for Dorman whose close-range downward header was stopped by the legs of Smith.

With their tails up, St Mirren claimed a delightful second goal only five minutes after the break.

The impressive Mehmet controlled a long ball upfield, turning brilliantly to play a sweeping ball into the path of the onrushing Dorman.

Smith raced from his goal to narrow the angle, but the Welshman calmly lifted the ball over him and into the empty net from 25 yards.

The hosts were struggling to get any foothold in the game as St Mirren - who soon saw Mehmet's penalty claim turned down by Richmond for a perceived foul by Smith - held the ascendancy.

St Mirren goalkeeper Paul Gallacher was finally brought into action on 75 minutes as he held Morais' angled drive at his near post. But, out of the blue, a grandstand finish was set up when Duberry scrambled home his first goal for McInnes' men.

In a penalty box melee, Samuel nodded against the post before Davidson hooked back across goal for Duberry to rise highest to nod in.

O'Donnell headed a yard over at the other end before Samuel pulled just wide as an otherwise tame contest sprang to life.

The visitors looked set to hold on, but an incredible finish saw St Johnstone claim a point.

After a Morais free-kick was not cleared, Davidson's shot was blocked on the line by O'Donnell's arm.

Richmond awarded a penalty but appeared unsure who was the offender and spent fully three minutes discussing with assistant James Bee who was set to be handed a red card.

But, bizarrely, amid furious protests from the visitors, Richmond only booked O'Donnell.

Fully four minutes into stoppage time, substitute Sheerin stepped up to net the spot-kick.

St Mirren protests continued after the final whistle as they vented their fury at Richmond.

St Johnstone: Smith, Irvine, Grainger (Sheerin 81), Anderson, Duberry, Morris, Millar, Craig (Davidson 36), Morais, Deuchar, Sheridan (Samuel 60)

St Mirren: Gallacher, Mair, Potter, Barron, Carey, Murray, Dorman, Thomson, O'Donnell, Robb, Mehmet

Goals: St Mirren: Carey (33), Dorman (50); St Johnstone: Duberry (79), Sheerin pen (90+4)

McInnes: no end of season complacency

16/04/2010 19:17:03 by SPLBanter filed in News.

The Perth Saints entertain their namesakes from Paisley on Saturday in what will be their first match post split, and whilst there well be a tinge of disappointment on missing out on a top six finish, on reflection it has been really decent first season back in the top flight.

However, despite Saints having all but secured SPL football for next season -barring a highly improbable combination of results- boss Derek McInnes is adamant he will not allow his players to let their hard work go to waste by letting the season fizzle out.  

"There isn’t much between the teams, or a couple in the top six. In terms of which team goes down, a lot will depend on confidence and luck." said McInnes

"We have had a win and two draws with St Mirren and expect another tough game.

"We have worked very, very hard to stay in this league. We have shown the consistency in performances and results to get us into this position. That is to the credit of the players.

"I have seen a lot of clubs in England who have got themselves into a safe, middle ground position where they are safe from relegation and not competing for Europe, see their season fizzle out with a slide. We won’t be that sort of team.

"I’m just glad we aren’t involved in the relegation fight. But there is no sense of arrogance here.

"The motivation will be the same as day one in the SPL when we played Motherwell. The players are responsible for their approach to any game and the management will approach this in the same way as we have always done.

"There will be no let-up. I’ve always said we have to be bang at it because the teams we are facing certainly will be.

"There has been a determination and energy about us all season and that has to continue.

"We aren’t good enough to take the foot off the gas and expect to win points. And there are 15 still to play for.

"Professional pride is the biggest thing of all in this situation and I expect my players to maintain their standards. There is an obligation to finish as high as possible and that means seventh. And it can’t be underestimated how important that is financially to the club.

"Every team we play now is going to be right up for it and we have to be the same.

"There won’t be any sense of complacency just because we are safe."

Defender Dave Mackay remains a doubt for Saturday's clash against the Buddies at McDiarmid Park Mackay was due to return to training on Friday from the calf injury which ruled him out of Sunday's win at Aberdeen.

Striker Peter MacDonald is also back in training following the knee injury which has sidelined him for more than two months, and full-back Danny Grainger returns from suspension, but Stuart McCaffrey [groin] is still out.

 St Johnstone [from]: Smith, Duberry, Grainger, MacKay, Anderson, Morris, Craig, Swankie, Davidson, Morais, Millar, Deuchar, Sheridan, Samuel, Rutkiewicz, Main, Irvine, Reynolds, Falkingham.