SPART’S NOT IN IT
Stubbs blasts his sloppy Buddies after their great escape ST MIRREN ......... 2 SPARTANS ......... 2
ALAN STUBBS branded his St Mirren side’s performance “unacceptable” as they were held at home by Lowland League men Spartans.
The Paisley men did pick up a bonus point after winning the shoot-out but it was still a night of frustration for the manager and his new-look Buddies.
And Stubbs refused to be drawn on transfer speculation that has seen him linked with moves for Celtic winger Mikey Johnston and ex-Hoops striker Anthony Stokes.
He said: “The way we approached the game in the first half was not what I wanted and I have to be honest, it took the introduction of Stephen McGinn to really spark us into life. “For me that is not acceptable. “Does it highlight the need to add some extra quality in the final third? It does. We knew that before so the search goes on and we still have a few weeks
“It’s wrong to talk about Mikey
ST MIRREN WIN 5-3 ON PENS CRAIG RITCHIE
Johnston. He’s not our player and when we have something to say about a signing you will be the first to know.”
The home support were stunned into silence as a moment of controversy saw Spartans take an early lead.
Jason Stevens’s one-two with Jack Smith saw the linesman flag the midfielder offside – but Stevens, having not noticed the flag, fired into the bottom corner.
The Saints defence had all stopped for the flag but ref Alan Newlands overruled his assistant, deeming Smith’s through ball to have taken a deflection.
Spartans came out all guns blazing again in the second period and Scott Maxwell seized upon Danny Rogers’s clearance to pick his spot with a lob over the keeper.
Stubbs brought on skipper Stephen McGinn and striker Ross Stewart. They were rewarded in 57 minutes as McGinn smashed home at the far post.
Then when Ryan Flynn was sent sprawling by Michael Herd, Danny Mullen sent Blair Carswell the wrong way from the spot.
Saints held their nerve in the shoot-out, converting all five as Cammy Smith stroked home the winner after Blair Atkinson’s miss.
Spartans coach Derek Riddel stepped in for the absent Dougie Samuel after he suffered a heart attack last Monday.
He said: “The gaffer will be absolutely delighted. He knows how much effort the guys put in.”
Rogers 6, P McGinn 7, Coulson 6, Baird 6, Heaton 6, McShane 6 (McGinn 7, 57), Flynn 7, Kellermann 6 (Mullen 6, 45), King 6, Smith 6, Cooke 5 (Stewart 6, 56). Subs not used: Samson, Kpekawa, MacPherson, Erhahon.
Carswell 6, Cennerazzo 6, Brown 6, Tolmie 6, Corbett 6, Herd 6, Smith 7 (Girdwood 78, 3), McParland 6, Greenhill 6, Maxwell 8 (Bremner 62, 4,), Stevens 7 (Atkinson 70, 3). Subs not used: Costello, Stevenson, Atkinson, Dawson, Dishington.
Alan Newlands.
ST MIRREN – SPARTANS – Referee –