DUMPINGGERS WASNOSHOCK
EK ace Craig plays part in Saints’cup win
Craig Bryson helped St Johnstone pull off a Scottish Cup shock for the ages on Sunday, but insists dumping Rangers out of the competition was no surprise to him.
The midfielder, who grew up in Westwood, says the Perth side go into all of their games full of belief that they can win, and Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday was no different.
James Tavernier scored for Rangers with four minutes of extra-time left, but goalkeeper Zander Clark raced up for a lastgasp corner, set up Chris Kane for the equaliser and then saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which Saints won 4-2.
Bryson admits when that Rangers goal went in, most would have felt that was it, but not him or his teammates.
He said: “I don’t think many people gave us a chance, going into the game, but we believed that we could go there and actually get the result.
“It was quite incredible because when Rangers scored I think everybody just thought that was game over.
“We got the corner in the last minute, and you just expect the keeper to go up, but I don’t think anybody expects them to kind of score or be involved. Usually at that time it just fizzles out to nothing, but luckily for us it was a great cross, Zander’s got his big head right on it, and luckily it fell to big Kano and he’s tapped it home.
“I think from then, we’re on a high and Rangers are a wee bit deflated, and I don’t know if that gave us the edge going into the penalty shoot-out a wee bit.
“We’re only into the semi-final, nothing was won, we’re only through to the next round, but probably nobody expected us to.
“Before the game we knew how tough it was going to be.
“You need a wee bit of luck on your side, and Zander has made a few good saves in the game, then come up with an assist right at the end.”
Bryson already has a League Cup winners medal to his name this season and he admits anybody who tipped St Johnstone to win the Betfred and Scottish Cup double would have been ‘led away’.
It could become a step closer to reality if Saints see off St Mirren in next week’s semi-final.
Bryson says Rangers’ exit makes the competition more difficult, rather than easier, with everybody now having an equal chance of lifting the famous old trophy. But he’s not looking any
furtherahead than thesemi-finals.
The 34-year-old, who started outat Westwood Rovers, added:“I still think it’s going to be very tough and it’s going to be very competitive now.
“I know everybody saysit, but we do actuallyhave a lot of confidence.
“If somebody said atthe start of the season that St Johnstone woulddothe cup double I think theywouldprobably get led away, to be honest withyou.
“You’reobviously in thecup, you’re in it to win it, and that’san old cliché in sport, butit’soneof those;we’re going back tothe Betfred Cup, and even in the group stages we were playing the strongest teampossible whenwe were away to KeltyHearts and at hometo Brechin and stuff likethat.
“We were still trying to win the game, still playing a very strong team, and it has beenno different.
“We played a very strong team against Clydeand managed to beat them, and you see what we’ve just done to Rangers.
“We’vetaken the leagueand both cups very seriously this season, and I think we’re getting ourrewards forthat.”
Zander Clark insists he scored the equaliser to send St Johnstoneintothe penalty shoot-out – but Bryson says his teammates are having noneof it.
Helaughed:“Zanderthinks he’s scored it, but I’m noteven sure it was going on target!
“Forthe fairy tale it wouldhave been excellentif it hadgone down as Zander’s goal, and I sawhim onTwitter asking the dubious goals panel to have a look at it, but I think he will be disappointed.”