Saints succumb in The Lions’ den

Mar 17 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

EIGHT games, 720 minutes and any number of sleepless nights now lie between Saints fans and the SPL.

For the first time since the end of a traumatic August the Perth side endured the bitter taste of defeat, as game number 23 was settled by a stunning strike by a gallus striker destined to trim Livingston’s overdraft when he’s plucked from Almondvale.

The result, on an afternoon when players had to pit their wit and wiles against a wicked cross wind, ensured the upper echelons of the First Division have taken on a cramped appearance, with St Johnstone’s advantage trimmed down to a solitary point, with that game against labouring Dunfermline still tucked up their sleeve.

It’s going to be tense but Saints are still in pole position.

The record had to go at some stage but the previous seven contests between this pair had all favoured Saints. The Lions have been far from toothless but at the back 14 goals had been shipped in their last four games.

So a third blank in four games was unexpected for Perth league leaders after a stylish midweek victory over Clyde, which prompted manager Derek McInnes to stick with the same starting line-up.

Neither side managed to harness the elements in a disjointed first-half but Livi made the all-important breakthrough in the 33rd minute.

Crucially, that gave them something to protect as Saints pressed them back after the interval.

And with pace, movement and vision provided by Griffiths, the division’s most prolific striker, the Perth defence was surprisingly vulnerable to the counter attack.

The goal which put paid to an historic club record didn’t impress McInnes, as his hesitant rearguard failed to cope with a throw in.

Stuart McCaffrey was caught out badly and while he subsequently collected a caution for an illegal attempt to half Griffiths, the confident striker exploited the space he had worked to leap and lash a spectacular 16-yard shot into the faraway top corner.

With one dazzling swipe of a fluorescent lime boot the peroxide blond youngster silenced his detractors from Perth. He’s no shrinking violet and it required a fine Alan Main near-post save to keep him at bay in the 66th minute as Griffiths stole in behind the defence to pounce on One’s flick from McKenzie’s upfield punt.

And the keeper again proved age will be no barrier to performing in the SPL if Saints make it first over the finishing line, with a flop low to his left turning aside a netbound One shot as the gigantic substitute tanked his way through the heart of the Saints defence.

A composed keeper also produced trademark, heart in the mouth, fancy footwork on several occasions to baffle strikers bearing down on him.

Both Rutkiewicz and McCaffrey were walking a tightrope after first-half cautions, adding to their discomfort.

McInnes opted for an interval change and within minutes Derek Holmes headed a Chris Millar cross over the target. That was acceptable but he was guilty of a horrible miss towards the end, when Liam Craig’s cross carved out an opportunity to salvage a point. But instead of finding the net and being hailed a hero, Holmes powered his stretching header inches over the crossbar.

Even with wind assistance, players were unwilling to take a gamble from distance. Bizarrely, Gavin Swankie opted for a floated free-kick instead of a strike and in the final seconds Craig had a pop only to sweep his effort inches past, with keeper McKenzie, for once, a worried man.

Only a prodded effort from Kevin Moon, who was again influential, and a direct header from Peter MacDonald threatened to mar fifth anniversary celebrations of Livingston’s CIS cup final triumph.

Meanwhile at McDiarmid, it’s time for stout hearts and sound minds, on and off the field.

Livingston: McKenzie, McDonald, Malone, Griffin, Davidson, Innes, McParland, Hamill, Griffiths, de Vita (Halliday 66) and Winters (One 55). Subs not used: Miller, Torrance and McDowall.

St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Byrne (Craig 55), Moon, Rutkiewicz, McCaffrey, Swankie, Millar, Milne, Barrett (Holmes 46) and Sheerin (MacDonald 77). Subs not used: Gartland and McLean.

Referee: Stephen Finnie.