MULLEN’S GOT THE MAGIC TOUCH
Frontman’s fine strike ensures St Johnstone don’t stand a chance against the Buddies
ST MIRREN..............................................2 ST JOHNSTONE......................................0
There were smiles all round at St Mirren on Saturday as the Buddies’ early season promise finally blossomed into three points.
A spectacular first-half Jon Obika overhead kick and a clinical second half strike from Danny Mullen earned Jim Goodwin’s men a deserved 2-0 win over bottom of the table St Johnstone.
The home side didn’t have it all their own way and early on it looked like it might be a long day for the near 5,000 home support, but Obika’s wondergoal sparked the Paisley side into life and they never looked back.
Boss Goodwin made two changes to the side that had lost 2-0 at Motherwell before the international break. Tony Andreu came in for Ilkay Durmus as the Saints went for a three-pronged attack, with the Frenchman joining Obika and Mullen up top.
The move that got the home crowd talking, however, was the return to the starting lineup of club captain Stephen McGinn.
He was drafted in from the cold to replace the injured Ryan Flynn in midfield and grasped the opportunity with grit and determination.
St Mirren hadn’t won at home since the second day of the season and the visitors hadn’t had a victory away in the league this year, so something was always going to give in this Scottish Premiership clash.
At first, it looked like the visitors were up to the challenge.
Manager Tommy Wright believes it’s the best squad he has ever had at the club — on paper, and they started like the dominant side.
Fan favourite Murray Davidson had the first shot in anger as the ball broke to him outside the box. Unfortunately, for those in blue, his shot smashed wide of the target.
There were plenty of tackles flying in as both teams battled for ascendancy early on, but neither was creating any clear cut chances, which is hardly a surprise given the two teams’ league positions at the start of the tie.
There was a further let off for the home side on 15 minutes as Drey Wright drove dangerously into the area.
His cut back from the right was square into the box, but, fortunately for St Mirren, he could only pick out a man in black and white. A scramble followed and was eventually cleared.
Seconds later, Jason Holt’s curling effort landed on top of the net.
There was a minute’s applause for the late Steven Ingram during the 17th minute of the game. The 21-year-old, from Barrhead, passed away earlier this month and home fans paid tribute to one of their own.
Back on the pitch, the hosts briefly threatened for the first time. As Mullen won a free kick wide on the right. Kyle Magennis came across to swing in a ball, but it was commandingly punched clear by St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark.
At the other end, winger Matthew Kennedy couldn’t find the target with a great chance inside the box.
Tommy Wright would have been the happier manager after half an hour, but the tide was slowly turning.
Mullen was doing his best to cause a nuisance, but was finding it difficult against some robust defending.
His energy sparked the home side into life, however, and, after a good spell of possession, Sam Foley’s cross was headed behind by Tony Ralston.
St Mirren’s first corner was followed by a second, but neither of them produced the home side’s first real effort on goal.
Mullen was, again, the target as St Johnstone skipper Jason Kerr dived in and got himself booked on the halfway line. The visitors were suddenly rattled.
Goodwin’s men had fought their way back into the game and scored their goal of the season so far on 36 minutes.
Obika’s instinctive winning overhead kick came after a bit of head tennis in the box involving Sean McLoughlin and then Kirk Broadfoot, who popped the ball to the big striker. It was the Englishman’s first goal for the club and was well worth the wait.
Meanwhile, Vaclav Hladky had to be alert to palm away Ralston’s near post effort as the Perth side looked to bounce back.
At the break, it could have been said that the hosts’ play was a bit smash and grab, but nobody inside the Simple Digital Arena was caring.
Andreu stung the palms of Clark straight from the restart. A good move saw left back
Calum Waters overlap before finding him in the box, but the dependable keeper was up to the task once again.
On 54 minutes, Obika flicked a long ball into the path of Mullen, who managed to beat the goalie to the ball, but his clip from a tight angle hit the base of the post and was cleared.
The Saints had started the second half like they’d finished the first and were keen to kill off St Johnstone.
A further series of dangerous crosses from Magennis couldn’t provide the second goal.
Tommy Wright was first to blink in terms of substitutions, with Callum Hendry and Michael O’Halloran replacing Danny Swanson and Drey Wright on 59 minutes.
It didn’t work, however, as Mullen tucked away a superb Paul McGinn cross on the hour mark after a fine sweeping move by the hosts. It was just desserts for his efforts in a bruising encounter.
The goal was swiftly followed by a Magennis effort, which forced Clark into another good save.
A limping Mullen was replaced by Junior Morias up front.
Visiting Stevie May did his best to spark a revival with a neat turn and shot in the box, but it was way too comfortable for Hladky.
Morias almost took advantage of a Ralston slip when he cut in from the left and shot straight at Clark from just inside the box.
Foley then wasted a good chance in the 80th minute. He appeared to be in behind the defence with just the keeper to beat.
However, he tried to square the ball for Obika, but couldn’t find him. A bizarre moment which the midfielder will be wishing he’d just let fly with his weaker left peg.
A struggling St Johnstone were unable to muster much response.
Goodwin’s men dominated the second period and it probably should have been a bigger margin on the scoreboard.
It didn’t matter, though, as the two goals they netted were enough for their second win of the season and a jump to ninth in the table.