MatchwinnerBarthadnoideaoffans’ nine-yearwaittoreachthelasteight
ADAM Barton admitted he had no idea that frustrated Firhill fans have had to wait nine years for a Scottish Cup quarter final after his goal secured their passage against St Johnstone.
The Jags midfielder, moved from his more familiar central defensive role due to a combination of injuries and suspension, delighted the travelling supporters with a sixth-minute strike which secured a fourth successive victory at McDiarmid Park.
It also avenged a 1-0 defeat from Saints in Glasgow 10 days earlier, but the former Coventry and Portsmouth player was more concerned with the morale boost it will provide the Jags for forthcoming fixtures.
“I didn’t know about our cup record but I’m delighted to get another goal for the club,” said Barton. “I didn’t think too much about it at the time. I just wanted to get the win under our belts. If you’re a midfielder who can play centre back everyone thinks you’re a defensive midfielder.
“But I can go forward. Playing alongside Abdul Osman, he’s so good in that sitting role it gives me licence to get forward.
“Hopefully I’ll get a few more opportunities to play in this position. I like getting into the box late and I’m glad I’ve taken my chance to get the win.”
Barton tucked away a fine 12-yard finish after Sean Welsh and Seven Lawless had caught out the home side on the counter attack. But he revealed that the FA Cup hadn’t been so kind to him down south.
“I never really had a big cup run in England,” he said. “There is more of a buzz in the Scottish Cup. In England I played against Arsenal twice and Spurs once and they just play reserve players.
“It’s good experience if you are lower-league players but it’s nothing like up here where every team plays its best team and they go out to win the tie – that makes it a lot better.”
JAGS boss Alan Archibald again got his tactics spot on in Perth, with a 3-4-3 formation frustrating a Saints side which only threatened to claim a replay with late efforts from subs Blair Alston and Chris Kane.
But lively winger David Amoo was denied by a remarkable save from home keeper Zander Clark on the stroke of half-time. And Liam Lindsay was also frustrated when a netbound header was palmed out and grounded Perth skipper er Steven Anderson blocked ked Amoo’s follow-up.
Saints had snatched a 1-0 0 win at Firhill 10 days earlier r and Barton admitted: “We knew what a tough team we were ere up against. We were working ng on things all week in training and knew if we defended well the main thing would be taking chances.
“We had three or four good chances and could have made it 2-0 before half time with David. But first and foremost we had to defend and I thought that’s what we did really well.
“St Johnstone always look a confident side even if they are not playing well and they still getg results. So to win this game was massive.”
Archibald was delighted with the response from personnel who carried out their instruct-ions to the letter. He said: “We had to reshuffle our shape with no full-backs available. We had a different shape and it was important we got a lead early on to give the players belief. “I was delighted to see the goal going in because their keeper has made some great saves against us over two games. “I am just glad to be in the quarter final and we will take whoever we g get and enjoy it.” Perth bossbos Tommy Wright admitted Sa Saints had handed away the in initiative with Barton’s early st strike. Wright sa said: “We lost the game in the first 20 minutes. WeW didn’t start well. We ga gave the ball away too much and the goal cam came from us giving it away cheaply. “Second half we were much better but still suspect on the count ter. It was a frustr trating afternoon.”