JIM’S WOOD AWAKENING Paisley gaffer’s near miss agony
ST MIRREN .... 0 ST JOHNSTONE .... 0
GORDON PARKS AT THE SIMPLE DIGITAL ARENA
ST MIRREN suffered a double whammy in their basement battle after firing a blank against 10-man St Johnstone.
The Buddies struck the woodwork twice and blew a golden opportunity to grab some breathing space in the survival fight, with Hamilton’s shock win at Rangers putting the lid on a night of frustration for Jim Goodwin’s men.
Ross Wallace got his first start for the Buddies. Tommy Wright brought in Chris Kane, Anthony Ralston, Callum Booth and Liam Craig for the Perth Saints.
The away side seized the early initiative. David Wotherspoon got the first glimpse of goal in the 12th minute with a free-kick from the edge of the box but his curling effort was just too high.
That momentum changed four minutes later thanks to a moment of real invention from Jon Obika.
The English striker found room to curl a 20-yarder past Zander Clark only to see his effort rebound off a post. Ilkay Durmus couldn’t reach the follow-up as the ball rolled across the line.
It was fast and furious with more than a few meaty challenges as the two sides slugged it out in a midfield battle for supremacy.
The Paisley Saints threatened through a 36th-minute header from Sam Foley. He met a deep cross from Lee Hodson but the effort flew over the top.
It was the home side who were now looking more likely to break the deadlock. But the stalemate continued to the break in a half full of huff and puff but lacking in both style or a killer punch.
Hope sprang eternal for something far better in the second half and the signs were encouraging as the opportunities started to arrive.
Anthony Ralston got on the end of a slick move as Drew Wright found the on-loan Celtic full-back free at the edge of the area. But the strike was straight at home keeper Vaclav Hladky who blocked and Calum Waters cleared.
The Buddies then raced up the other end. Alex Jakubiak wriggled into the box and should have done far better than drill a low shot tamely into Clark’s hands. But at least the keepers were being worked.
Conor McCarthy was then inches away from finding the top corner with a front-post header from a Durmus corner as the home side started to gain the upper hand.
Pressure was being piled on the Perth side but Obika couldn’t divert a cross from Hodson on target on the hour mark.
St Mirren were again cursing the woodwork in the 71st minute. Jamie McGrath’s rattled in a shot from distance that was pushed on to a post by Clark before being swept clear.
It required a superb Hodson interception to deny Michael O’Halloran a tap-in at the back post with 78 minutes on the clock before Jason Kerr nodded a header against the bar from the resultant corner.
The Perth side were then reduced to 10 men. Liam Craig walked for a second booking after two mistimed challenges with 10 minutes remaining.
Sub Seifedin Chabbi came closest to grabbing all the points for the Buddies. But his header from yet another Hodson cross sailed just off target.