Familiar script in front of goal
Saints need to find shooting boots quickly
To have 28 attempts at goal and not find the back of the net with one of them is quite something - quite worrying, in fact.
Three of them were on target. Zero of them forced Hamilton goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay into a save worthy of applause.
Being nice on the eye is all fine and well if you are backing it up with the required results. But that has not been the case.
While Wednesday’s stalemate ended a run of four straight league losses, St Johnstone are without a Premiership win in eight games.
The lack of a clinical edge in the attacking third has been a big part of the problem. Four goals in 11 home league matches reveals as much.
This is a Perth side that does know where the back of the net is. They netted five away at Hamilton only a couple of months ago.
But there was a feeling midweek that 228 attempts at goal would not have yielded a breakthrough, let alone 28.
Again, it was not for the want of trying.
“It’s been a recurring theme throughout our season,” said midfielder David Wotherspoon.
“Performances have been good but we’re not finding the cutting edge at the top end of the pitch.
“We created chances - had some really good chances to score - but couldn’t find the back of the net.
“Sometimes it takes one bit of luck, a deflection, anything, to get us going again. We know we can score because we’ve done it before.
“It’s just about trying to find that form again.
“We know that we are playing well and need to keep believing we will get the results we deserve.
“We’ll keep going, keep the heads up and stick together then they’ll come.”
Manager Callum Davidson had gone with a similar lineup to the one that narrowly lost at Pittodrie on Saturday past, the only change from the start seeing Callum Booth replacing injured Scott Tanser.
The period between Christmas and New Year is known for its lethargy and it was certainly a sluggish opening to the game from those dressed in blue and white.
And if not for a sublime second minute save from Zander Clark, Accies would have boasted an early lead.
The defending was all at sea to allow Nathan Thomas to drive into the box. Thankfully his poked effort was stopped by the outstretched leg of the home No.1.
Saints soon awoke from their untimely snooze and began to dictate the play. Surges forward from Shaun Rooney and Callum Booth were promising until the final piece of play lacked imagination.
On the half hour mark Stevie
May was inches away from getting his head on a teasing Wotherspoon delivery to the back stick. It was, outwith the visitors’ early chance, the best opportunity of the first half.
It seemed a moment of magic was going to be required.
Davidson made his first change on 74 minutes when Craig Conway replaced May before, not long after, Murray Davidson and Michael O’Halloran got the nod.
The latter had a clear sight of goal with time running short but followed the earlier script by smashing his shot into the side-netting. On the final whistle, a loud expletive from goalkeeper Clark echoed around the stadium.
And Wotherspoon was equally frustrated post-match. He is keen to help chip in with more goals.
“I’m not finding the goal scoring form that I was in earlier in the season,” he said.
“I’m trying to get back to that. I’ve had chances to score and I’m disappointed that I haven’t been lately. But I’ll keep grafting.”