WIN’S FOR YOU SKIP
Super Saints dedicate success to retired hero Mackay
It was the ultimate tribute to their spirit and camaraderie.
Not the fact St Johnstone’s players held up one of Dave Mackay’s No.2 shirts to dedicate yesterday’s match-winner to their retired skipper.
More that they had the belief in themselves to summon up a goal after a first half that should have seen Hearts out of sight.
Graham Cummins’s 57th-minute strike moved Saints into third spot, above Rangers and level on points with the Jambos.
And Cummins admitted it was only fitting they recognised the role Mackay had played as the glue that had held them together for years.
The Irishman said: “As soon as I scored it just clicked into my head that I had to get the shirt.
“But once I had it I didn’t know what to do with it, to be honest – it was a bit weird, kind of like a funeral! “Still, it’s a great gesture. “The celebration was the kitman’s idea and, after the dedication and the service Dave has given to the club, he deserves everything he can get.
“I’ve travelled with Dave for a year and he’s a great lad. He winds me up but it was sad to see him go.”
Mackay sat watching in the stand and had a quiet word on his way out from Scotland boss Gordon Strachan.
But nothing would have pleased him more than seeing his side dig deep for a win they never looked like getting.
However, for much of the opening spell they were on the back foot.
The Jambos looked comfortable going forward, especially with Sam Nicholson on the right and Jamie Walker floating from left to centre.
Their invention and final balls were causing no end of grief for Tommy Wright’s back four.
Twice in the first 15 minutes Scotland Under-21 star Nicholson had them on toast. His first delivery was fluffed by Bjorn Johnsen, his second met flush by Faycal Rherras but brilliantly saved low to his left by Zander Clark.
And from his corner, Saints needed a piece of insane bravery from Richard Foster to deny Tony Watt as he put his head into the path of a netbound volley.
Wright was stomping around in a serious froth – and his mood didn’t improve when Clark was tested again, this time after Joe Shaughnessy had gifted Walker a clean look from 12 yards.
And even when Saints did get up the
park, his players were embarrassing him as Cummins went down easily after a challenge from Igor Rossi.
It was the last thing the gaffer needed after his thinly-veiled dig at Hearts last week for their diving.
And there was more in the second half as Chris Kane was accused of donning the Speedos and goggles.
Between times Clark was keeping Saints’ hopes on life support.
He brilliantly tipped Tony Watt’s 25-yard free-kick out before another stunning reflex stop from Rossi.
And they proved vital as Saints stole the lead. To be fair, it was a well-worked operation that broke Hearts down.
Stevie MacLean’s neat inside-right ball found Foster on the front foot and his cross picked out Liam Craig.
The midfielder took his time, shuffling the ball on to his left foot, but it gave Cummins a chance to sneak in and turn the shot past Jack Hamilton. Saints cou ldld e v en havhav e stretched their lead after Hamilton duffed a kick- out straight to Craig and made a meal of the save.
The afternoon went from bad to worse for Robbie Neilson who was sent to the stand supposedly for sarcastically clapping ref Beaton.
The closest Hearts came to a point was a Callum Paterson header that crashed off the bar with five minutes left.
St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright said: “Somebody mentioned earlier on to us about spirit ... we’ve got it in that big bottle and we’re not going to let the lid go off because it can take you a long way.”