Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Wright seeks a striker as Saints crash out of cup
ST JOHNSTONE manager Tommy Wright will continue his search for a new striker – possibly Stevie May (see page 36) – after a frustrating 2-1 home defeat by Ross County.
Saints could not build on Scott Tanser’s eighth-minute penalty and found themselves trailing after a dominant first half thanks to Billy McKay’s double, the first a rebound from a saved penalty.
Saints had a glorious chance to level when Chris Kane was sent clean through but the striker shot straight at Ross Laidlaw, prompting Wright to boot a bag on the touchline in anguish.
The result leaves County top of Betfred Cup Group B on nine points with Saints on zero and with no chance of reaching the second round.
Wright said: “It was as good as we have played at home for a while, on the front foot, everything we did was positive, creating chances. There is no question we should have been 3-0 up. The penalty is soft. Jason (Kerr) is probably a bit naive, he has got him going where he wants, but there is slight contact. We paid the penalty but we didn’t defend the first ball and the build-up to the second goal is similar with centre-halves going into areas they shouldn’t to try and win balls.
“It’s unbelievable we came in at 2-1 when they never laid a glove one us but, fair play to them, they weathered the storm, had that little bit of luck that we didn’t take our chances, and we think we had a big shout for a penalty on (Danny) Swanson. Certainly, if their one was a penalty, the one on Swanson was a penalty.
“They did better at the start of the second half but we have the best chance of the second half when Kane is through and we don’t put that away.”