Now Kerr has his eyes on the prize
Win boosts Saints before Hampden semi
PERHAPS the kindest explanation for the poor quality on show in this match was that both teams had one eye on their Betfred Cup semi-finals at Hampden this weekend.
But there was one brutal, inescapable truth. The Saints from Perth and Paisley will have to greatly improve on Saturday’s performances if they are to have any chance of overcoming Hibs and Livingston respectively.
Yet having finally got an elusive win on the board after ten games without one, St Johnstone skipper Jason Kerr feels Callum Davidson’s side are now in the right frame of mind to topple the men from Easter Road.
And should they reach a final for the first time since winning the Scottish Cup in 2014, Kerr feels there’s no reason why they can’t go all the way and lift the trophy.
‘It was scrappy but it’s a win,’ said Kerr after Chris Kane’s 46thminute goal earned the hosts a first triumph since early November. ‘The gaffer had said before the game that we would take a 1-0 like that and that’s what we’ve done.
‘We knew how much a win meant, both in terms of the league and going into our semi-final.
‘We’d had a lot of draws when we were the better team. Hopefully we can go on a wee run now.
‘This win will give us a lot of confidence going into the semi. It’s a winnable game. We know we’re good enough to go and beat Hibs.
‘It will be my first semi-final and I can’t wait. Hopefully it will lead to my first final.
‘I feel we’ve got a squad that is good enough to win this trophy.’
St Johnstone pulled level on points with the Buddies, whose cause wasn’t helped when referee Steven MacLean sent off midfielder Cammy MacPherson in the 55th minute for a second foul on striker Guy Melamed.
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin felt the red card was unjustified and was equally irritated that the officials had failed to spot the ball clipping Melamed’s outstretched arm in the build-up to Kane’s winner.
Perth captain Kerr could empathise with MacPherson, having left his team-mates one man down in a 3-2 defeat in Paisley last month.
With a combination of suspension and a positive Covid test having kept Kerr sidelined since that match, he said: ‘The last game I played against St Mirren I got sent off, so this definitely feels a lot better.
‘I’ve been sent off before but that one was the worst feeling. It happened just before half-time and it felt like it was my fault that we lost because we were in control and a goal up at the time. It took a couple of weeks to get over and be positive again.’
Kerr was relieved his brush with coronavirus didn’t affect others at the club.
‘I don’t actually know where I got it, so it shows just how careful everybody needs to be — wash your hands and wear your mask,’ he said. ‘It’s proof that it can get anyone.
‘The more positive results that come back, the greater the chance of football shutting down again and we really don’t want that.
‘I phoned the club as soon as I got symptoms, so I didn’t come in. Then my test came back positive. It was obviously good that it didn’t spread through the squad and we could keep on playing and get a few results.
‘I lost my smell and my taste. It was a bit different to a cold but the worst bit was having to sit in my house for ten days doing nothing. I’ve been watching every game and cheering on the boys but it’s torture when you’re in the house watching it on your own.’
St Mirren skipper Joe Shaughnessy was in no doubt the Buddies were denied a free-kick against Melamed in the build-up to Kane’s rebound winner.
‘It didn’t look like anyone was going to score and I felt it was heading for a 0-0,’ said the former St Johnstone player.
‘They put in some dangerous crosses but we were dealing with everything. Then something like the handball happens and the officials need to get them right.’
Shaughnessy’s focus is now firmly on the Betfred Cup semi challenge against Livingston.
‘Livingston are favourites as they are the form team,’ he said. ‘They are full of confidence. But I am sure it will be a close game.
‘After our win over Rangers in the quarter-final you really have to go and make it count. There is no point winning that game and then bowing out in the semis.
‘We want to go all the way. All four teams will think the same.’
The Paisley side look set to be without midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes who has a thigh strain, while German signing Collin Quaner’s debut from the bench was cut short by a knee injury.
ST JOHNSTONE (3-5-2): Clark 6; Kerr 7, Gordon 7, McCart 7; Rooney 7, McCann 7, Bryson 6 (Craig 88), Wotherspoon 6 (Davidson 68), Tanser 6; Kane 7 (Hendry 82), Melamed 6 (May 68). Subs not used: O’Halloran, Booth, Conway, Parish. Booked: Tanser, Davidson. ST MIRREN (4-3-3): Alnwick 5; Fraser 6, McCarthy 7, Shaughnessy 7, Tait 6; McGrath 6, MacPherson 4, Doyle 6; Connolly 6 (Erhahon 60), Brophy 5 (Quaner 68, MacAllister 87), Erwin 6 (Obika 87). Subs not used: Flynn, Durmas, Foley, Dennis, Lyness. Sent off: MacPherson. Man of the match: Chris Kane. Referee: Steven MacLean.