Hendry relief as Saints go marching on

PIECE by piece, it’s all coming together for St Johnstone. Seeing Callum Hendry’s name back on the scoresheet was yet another reason for smiles within a team increasingly bearing all the happy hallmarks of astute coaching. This success was the latest exhibition of how progress is being made under Callum Davidson’s guidance. Deservedly attaining a place in the Betfred Cup quarter-finals — despite falling a goal behind — made it ten games unbeaten over 90 minutes and suggested the old reserves of spirit in Perth are very much intact. Davidson is quietly going about the construction of a positive debut season in charge. To keep on building, however, he needs his main men firing. Which brings us back to Hendry. Top scorer last term with nine goals, the 23-year-old had only a penalty against Brechin last month to show for his efforts this time around. No one could dispute what it meant for him to claim the vital 68th-minute equaliser at Fir Park. The relief that shone from Hendry’s face had a higher wattage than floodlights overhead. He was back in business. Having delivered reward for the unstinting faith shown in him by Davidson and his staff, the forward is now eager to help Saints strive for a place at Hampden — and pursue a double-figures goal target. ‘Absolutely,’ said Hendry. ‘I see what the fans say and stuff about me lacking confidence. ‘It’s not that. It just wasn’t dropping for me. It happens to footballers. I don’t overthink it. The goals will come and this is the start of it. ‘It was a massive relief for me, as it would be for any striker going through a drought. I’m trying not to change anything. I’m training as hard as I did last season because I was delighted with how that ended. ‘The gaffer has pulled me aside a lot and filled me with confidence. I’ve also been working with Macca (coach Steven MacLean). All the strikers do a bit of shooting with him after training and Macca was the same, telling me it would come. ‘I’m just delighted it happened after starting the game.’ Hendry’s previous goal this season had been a gift. Quite literally. David Wotherspoon was on a hat-trick in the 7-0 Betfred Cup group stage hammering of Brechin, but generously chose to pass the spot-kick opportunity to a striking colleague in greater need. ‘This goal is different to the one against Brechin,’ admitted Hendry. ‘It’s against a Premiership opponent, I’ve started and it’s from open play. ‘This one meant a lot more. But maybe it stemmed from being given that penalty. That’s the kind of team we have here.’ On Saturday, both Hendry and match-winner Wotherspoon had to credit Michael O’Halloran for their goals. Starting at right wing-back, the former Rangers man first utilised his electrifying pace to capitalise on an error from Ricki Lamie. O’Halloran surged forward and cut the ball back. It broke off the outstretched foot of Motherwell goalkeeper Aaron Chapman and Hendry finished. ‘He’s fast, isn’t he?’ the striker grinned when asked about his colleague. ‘I was trying to catch up and get in the box so he could put a cross in. On his day, he is frightening. Any defender would struggle to keep up with him. He’s such a big asset.’ O’Halloran repeated the trick for the decisive intervention with 14 minutes remaining. A quick free-kick from Liam Craig allowed him another chance to turn on the jets before he drilled in a cross that Wotherspoon knocked home. Little wonder Davidson (below) hailed O’Halloran’s ‘heart’ in his post-match assessment. In truth, Saints looked the hungrier team throughout — a point conceded by dejected Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson. He lamented the ‘ridiculous’ defending that had aided O’Halloran and felt his side had been fortunate to initially claim the lead. It arrived through Tony Watt, who had earlier spurned a glaring first-half opportunity with a weak shot straight at Zander Clark. He had the chance to make amends when Liam Polworth’s free-kick was nodded down by Lamie. Watt reacted to slide a shot into the net. It wasn’t enough. Not against opponents who haven’t tasted defeat since Celtic struck two late goals at McDiarmid Park on October 4. While the Parkhead side are Saints’ next Premiership opponents on Sunday, Hendry was understandably keen to enjoy the feeling of progression in another competition. Saints haven’t had too many great days in knockout tournaments since winning the Scottish Cup in 2014 but their current form augurs well. ‘Cup runs are massive, especially for a club like Saints,’ admitted Hendry. ‘The gaffer said after the game he wants us in a final. We want to win some silverware for the fans again.’ MOTHERWELL (4-3-3): Chapman 6; O’Donnell 6, Mugabi 6, Gallagher 7, Lamie 5 (Grimshaw 78); O’Hara 6, Crawford 6, Polworth 6 (White 78); Lang 6, Watt 6, Cole 5 (Seedorf 46). Subs not used: Archer, McGinlay, Hastie, Devine, Cornelius, Long. Booked: Gallagher. ST JOHNSTONE (3-5-2): Clark 6; Rooney 7, Gordon 6, McCart 6; O’Halloran 8, McCann 7, Craig 7, Wotherspoon 7, Booth 6; Hendry 6 (Kane 78), May 6. Subs not used: Parish, Tanser, Bryson, Melamed, Ferguson, McFarlane. Booked: O’Halloran, Gordon. Man of the match: Michael O’Halloran. Referee: Alan Muir.