Battling Saints keep title challenge alive with victory

Feb 26 2008

THIRTY points up for grabs and still 10 off the pace.

But there’s a steely determination about this St Johnstone squad which suggests it would be utter folly for Hamilton and Dundee to write off a late challenge from McDiarmid Park.

And this weekend, with Saints in Dundee and Accies down in Dumfries, might yet prove pivotal.

Davie Irons knows what it’s like to see a handsome lead whittled away by a Perth team over the final quarter. He felt the heat and acquired more grey hairs as Owen Coyle’s team gained momentum last season.

And the one-time Saints defender, who jumped ship from Gretna for an alternative relegation battle on Clydeside, insists another championship challenge from Perth is still a distinct possibility.

In a repeat of the win over Hamilton, Saints bounced back from conceding the opening goal in sorely trying conditions. This time the balance was tilted in their favour before half-time, courtesy of two contrasting strikes from Stevie Milne.

Confidence might have been sapped by Peter Weatherson’s 17th minute goal, which generated an air of expectancy among locals welcoming Irons and Derek Collins to the Cappielow dug-out.

The troublesome striker’s looping header evaded Alan Main after he rose above Goran Stanic to connect with a cross flung over by left winger Jim McAlister.

It was a setback for the visiting team, having looked by far the most dangerous side in the early stages.

Milne almost embarrassed Morton’s young keeper in the third minute when he charged down a weak clearance only to see it roll wide of the empty target. Then Andy Jackson almost cashed in a Paul Sheerin free-kick.

Momentarily rattled, Kevin Rutkiewicz and Rocco Quinn were cautioned but in the 29th minute Milne bundled home his first. Crafted by a surging Gary Irvine run when a late tackle was wisely ignored by referee John McKendrick, Liam Craig popped up on the right to lash in a low cross. Milne’s first touch rapped the upright but he was alert to squeeze in the rebound.

If that was mundane, his second was sublime. Five minutes from half-time and masterly playmaker Sheerin picked out Stanic. The full-back’s touch forward was laid-off by Jackson and in the blink of an eye the net was bulging. From 25 yards, Milne gave keeper Robinson no warning and the connection was perfection.

With Sheerin orchestrating the second-half show, Quinn and Craig powering forward and Irvine supporting on the flank, Morton were on the ropes.

Robinson tipped Quinn’s 18-yard volley over, bared Craig’s route to goal and substitute Kevin James was frustrated by a goalline clearance when he rose to meet Quinn’s corner.

But not before an offside verdict was required to silence home fans celebrating a 71st minute Harding header.

Robust sub Daniel McBreen was denied by a last ditch Greacen tackle and prodded a shot past Robinson and the post.

But with a bone-chilling gale still whipping Cappielow, Morton threw caution to the wind in pursuit of a point to enhance their survival strategy.

Main, whose handling was confident throughout, parried a McLaughlin strike and found his opposite number in the penalty box for stoppage time corners.

He was beaten by a curling Russell shot but the crossbar and a belated offside flag came to the rescue.

It ensured Saints kept pace with Hamilton and Dundee, on a day when their rivals must have fancied their chances of opening the gap further.

Morton: Robinson, Smith (McGregor 70), McLaughlin, Harding, Greacen, McGuffie (Stevenson 76), Finlayson, Jenkins, Weatherson, Wake (Russell 54) and McAlister. Subs not used: McAnespie and McGurn.

St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Stanic, McManus, Rutkiewicz (James 68), Craig, Quinn (Moon 86), MacDonald (McBreen 70), Jackson, Milne and Sheerin. Subs not used: Cuthbert and Weatherston.

Referee: J. McKendrick.