McDiarmid revival falls victim to Weatherson

Dec 11 2007

IT'S too late for this Christmas but Steven Anderson can expect a starring role in the next collection of football bloopers.

The defender had the lead role in a third minute comedy of errors, dredging-up memories of the infamous Willie Donachie own goal at Hampden which left Perth-born keeper Jim Blyth floundering against Wales.

But keeper Alan Main and full-back Goran Stanic deserve mention in the supporting cast.

There might have been a more farcical og tucked away at McDiarmid but I'm struggling to find with a contender. Drop me an e-mail if you can assist. The upshot was the kind of setback no manager would want inflicted on his game plan and by half-time Derek McInnes had to use his wits to map out the comeback trail, shredding the back three strategy and opting to lead from the dug-out.

Even then, with Paul Sheerin's ninth spot-kick quickly followed by Stevie Milne's return to the goal standard, the exasperated player-boss had to contend with the dismissal of skipper Kevin Rutkiewicz for two cautions in the blink of an eye.

Nine times already this season Saints have had to content themselves with a share of the spoils – five at home borders on criminal – and this was an opportunity blown to eat into Accies' advantage, although, whisper it, Dundee are shaping-up as genuine title contenders.

It's clear that McInnes will require resources to work with in January, with a dearth of options in the middle of the park now that he intends to take a step back from playing, and Martin Hardie laid-up and facing an inevitable suspension further down the track. He has also indicated a desire to bring back Kenny Deuchar, or someone in the same mould.

Defensively, he does have options and like others before him he succumbed to the lure of a three-man unit. But only for 45 minutes.

The own goal was bad enough but before the break Morton were pounding through alarming gaps, with Iain Russell denied by a Main save then tugging a shot past the target.

The opener saw Anderson presented with unwanted possession by Stanic, with the alarmed full-back moving on Main's initial clearance at a rate of knots.

Anderson clipped the ball back towards the keeper from 20 yards but with the goalie caught off-guard out of position, the ball trundled into the net. It’s early for Christmas but Morton weren't complaining.

On the plus side, Milne and Peter MacDonald posed a threat and Andy Jackson made an immediate impact from the bench, although he should have buried a third goal to buy breathing space after a Milne effort was blocked by the keeper and laid on a plate for him.

McInnes deserves credit for his half-time tinkering and when makeshift midfielder Gary Irvine pinged a 40-yard pass down Milne's throat the comeback striker teased a spot-kick from Harding with an admirable touch. Sheerin did the usual, although McGurn did better than most by getting a touch to it. Rocco Quinn then brilliantly denied McLaughlin with a superbly timed tackle, although Morton wanted a penalty, and then Milne calmly slotted a right footer in off the far post from 15 yards.

But yet again McInnes had to rely on his wits, with Rutkiewicz jostling with McAllister to pick-up a caution, and 60 seconds later he was off. No one knew why. But again the plan had to be tweaked.

A lovely Jackson touch released Quinn but the midfielder fired his shot over and a minute later Weatherson connected with a hopeful punt to loop a header over Main, to ruin his 40th birthday weekend.

St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Stanic, Rutkiewicz, McManus, Anderson, McInnes (Jackson 46), Quinn, Milne (Stewart 87), MacDonald (Lawrie 66) and Sheerin. Subs not used: Weatherston and Cuthbert.

Morton: McGurn, Shields (Templeman 64), Walker (Gardyne 81), Harding, Gracen, McLaughlin (McAnespie 76), Millar, Finlayson, Weatherston, Russell and McAllister. Subs not used: Graham and Robinson.

Referee: Colin Brown.