St Johnstone boss McInnes labels Duberry bookings unfair

Mar 30 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SAINTS boss Derek McInnes has said pressure from the SPL’s more vociferous supporters is leading referees to unnecessarily book defender Michael Duberry.

The former Chelsea stopper has picked-up five cautions in the league since moving north of the border.

And manager McInnes – pictured left –feels the 34-year-old’s imposing stature led to referee Crawford Allan taking his name during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Hamilton.

He said: “I think a lot of it’s down to the crowd reacting whenever he goes near the ball.

“He won the ball on Saturday, it clearly moved in the direction he played it.

“And, because there was a theatrical reaction, for me it was a poor decision.

“Three of four of his bookings have been as a result of poor decisions, he’s been very, very unlucky.

“His size goes against him. You wouldn’t say he’s a dirty player.

“His timing, for a lot of the challenges he’s been booked for, has been spot-on and he’s been harshly dealt with,” he said.

Saints are now seventh in the SPL table, five points behind top six rivals Hearts with a game in hand.

And the Perth boss issued a rallying cry to ensure his charges are up for the fight against Walter Smith’s Rangers in Perth tonight.

He said: “We need to be playing cup-style football week-in, week-out.

“Rangers are relentless in their pursuit of the title at the minute.

“When you’re playing a team who are striving for the finishing line it makes them very dangerous opponents.

“We’re fully aware of what we’re about to face, they’re a team with a strong, winning, mentality.

“But, if we play as I know we can, our players can give them problems.

“I’m looking for a performance full of energy, passion and drive.

“The players know that there’s still work to be done, regardless of how well we’ve played until this point.

“When we played them at the start of the season there was an excitement and a freshness about the game, and we want to have that again.

“We can’t get blase about the fact it’s Rangers turning-up here.”

The manager added: “We were disappointed with our performance against Hamilton, we didn’t play anywhere near the level we’re capable of.

“Having so many games in quick succession has put a bit of a strain on our squad and I don’t think we’ve been playing at our best of late.

“But we know that, when we’re good, it’s because we put on a performance full of energy and passion.

“I know what the players can do if they play to their potential.”

Defender Steven Anderson is facing a race against time to be fit for tonight’s game at McDiarmid Park after suffering a slight hamstring strain.

Longer-term absentees Peter MacDonald, Stevie Milne, Stuart McCaffrey, Graham Gartland, Martin Hardie and Kevin Moon will miss the game.

But on a more positive note, striker Andy Jackson and club captain Kevin Rutkiewicz are set to return to training this week after shaking-off knocks.

Tonight’s game will be broadcast “as-live” on the digital channel BBC Alba.

The delayed screening gets underway at 10pm.