Kearney: We lacked leaders
Gaffer blames cup tie loss on injured Saints
Oran Kearney admitted his side was missing leadership during the defeat to Dundee United.
Skipper Stephen McGinn and centre- back Anton Ferdinand were both absent from the Scottish Cup clash through injury and the Buddies boss felt this was telling, particularly in the first half.
Saints were lucky to go into the break at just 2-0 down as United laid siege on the St Mirren goal.
Václav Hladký was regularly called into action before half-time as the Terrors looked to capitalise on defensive lapses in the Buddies rearguard.
Kearney felt his side showed naivety in the first 45 minutes and lacked the calming influence of McGinn and Ferdinand.
He said: “We were as strong as we could be today. Obviously we had a couple of injuries, but I think it’s the first time Anton and Stephen McGinn have both not been on the pitch for us, it’s always been at least one or the other.
“If I’m being honest, that was probably my fear going into today - both enforced and both nothing we can do about it at this point of time.
“I just think in the first half we lacked at least one of those pair in relation to that wee bit of calm, that bit of influence that helped settle everybody else.
“I felt we lacked that in the first half and as bad as it was, I’d have took 1-0 at half-time.
“It’s the goal before half-time and the manner of it was probably the real sucker punch.
“What Stephen and Anton have in presence and leadership and that calming influence is really, really important.
“In the first half we lacked that and we just looked a bit naive to be honest with you.”
Jack Baird, who played the full 90 minutes, agreed with his manager’s comments, but felt the team should have coped better with the absences of the two senior players.
The defender said: “Stephen and Anton are big influences.
“I’ve played with Stephen for ages and I know he’s a good player and he’s very demanding of you.
“Anton’s obviously played at a high level and he brings the same sort of feeling to it.
“We could have done with maybe having them, but then again, we should have had enough on the pitch and in the team to still go and get a result.”
We missed that bit of calm, that bit of influence
Oran Kearney