Goodwin goes from ill to nil
But St Mirren boss is just thrilled to be back in the dugout after Covid scare
ST MIRREN boss Jim Goodwin insists he’ll take the stress of standing on the touchline over watching from home any day of the week.
The Irishman was forced to take in the Buddies’ 6-0 battering by Celtic last weekend from his sickbed after contracting Covid.
He was back in the dugout for this one and kicked every ball as Saints toiled to a goalless draw with St Johnstone.
It was a hard watch for Goodwin at times, with Conor McCarthy having a header ruled out for offside in the first half that the Saints boss felt was the wrong call.
And his blood pressure would have been through the roof when Glenn Middleton struck the bar in the final minute and then Ethan Erhahon was sent off right at the death.
The Buddies are still to win in the league this season but Goodwin is happy to be back in among it rather than watching from his sofa.
He said: “Last weekend was torture for me. I was watching the game on a stream that was nearly two minutes behind the play. A legal one, I have to add!
“So this is much more preferable to that. It’s a disappointing one because, based on the opening 45 minutes, it’s a game we should have won.”
McCarthy thought he had given his team an early lead after glancing in Scott Tanser’s free kick only for the offside flag to curtail the celebrations.
At the other end, David Wotherspoon had a curling effort saved before Stevie May came within inches of getting his toe on Jamie McCart’s brilliant ball in.
It was end-to-end stuff in the opening stages. And a brilliant burst forward from McGrath saw him unselfishly tee up a chance for Curtis Main.
When the big striker’s shot was saved by Zander Clark the ball fell back to McGrath whose effort was blocked by Hayden Muller. At the other end, Jak Alnwick had to look alive to push away Callum Hendry’s diving header. The Buddies hit back with a Joe Shaughnessy header that went just wide from Richard Tait’s cross. Tanser then came close to bagging a goal against his old side with a dipping volley that only just missed the target. Wotherspoon had a fizzing low drive needed Alnwick to be at his best to tip it around the post. Clark then showed why he’s been called up by Steve Clarke with a stunning save in the final minute of the first half from Tait. St Mirren kept plugging away after the break for the opener and a Main back heel from Tanser’s cut back only narrowly missed the target. McCarthy missed a sitter before Alnwick had to deny Middleton who also hit the bar. And Erhahon saw red for a second booking in the closing seconds.