WE’VE SIGNED A BETTER PLAYER
Wright hails hero O’Halloran after Well have three sent off
Tommy Wright piled praise on returning hero Michael O’Halloran after Saints moved top of the table – claiming he was better than ever.
The on-loan winger bagged a double with Steven MacLean and Murray Davidson also on target as the Perth side steamrolled eight-man Motherwell.
Andy Rose scored for the Steelmen who had keeper Trevor Carson, Carl McHugh and Charles Dunne all redcarded in a crazy 25-minute spell.
Gaffer Wright was delighted with Rangers player O’Halloran – despite him missing a penalty for his hat-trick.
He said: “I had no doubts Michael would settle quickly. His relationship with everyone at the club – myself, the players, the fans – meant that it was a no-brainer to bring him back.
“He is now an even better player. To score three quality goals already is an incredible start for him.
“He will be disappointed with missing the penalty because is a perfectionist and an ultimate professional.
“We now know that he won’t be taking them if the game’s sitting at 0- 0!”
It was the perfect tonic for the Saints who had lost 3- 0 at home to Partick in the Betfred Cup four days earlier.
Saints were first to threaten after two minutes when Brian Easton’s cross c au s ed pa n ic a nd Carson fumbled before gathering the ball.
Saints took the lead in nine minutes , MacLean flicking the ball over Carson from eight yards after Stefan Scougal l ’ s shot was deflected into his path.
Alex Fisher fired wide for Well but the home side doubled their lead in 18 minutes. O’Halloran drifted into the box and was given too much time to pick his spot, placing the ball into a corner from 12 yards. But Well were back in the game after 28 minutes. Steven Anderson failed to clear McHugh’s free- kick and Rose headed in at the back post. Dunne tested Perth No.1 Alan Mannus and Gael Bigirimana whistled a shot just wide before half time. The home keeper was in action again in 50 minutes, getting a strong palm to Rose’s he a de r f rom a McHugh free-kick. But there looked to be now way back for Well when keeper Carson was sent off in 63 minutes. He was judged to have handled outside the box under pressure from David Wotherspoon but it looked harsh.
Thie Steelmen brought on back-up keeper Russell Griffiths for Bigirimana but O’Halloran put the game beyond any doubt 10 minutes later with a fine solo goal.
He glided across the edge of the box from left to right before smashing the ball into the corner of the net.
A minute later, McHugh picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Easton and Well were down to nine men.
And with two minutes left, Dunne got a straight red for a foul in the box on sub Graham Cummins.
But Gri f f iths denied O’Halloran a hat-trick, diving to his left to push his penalty around the post. Davidson made it 4-1 with a 20-yard shot in time added-on.
On the red cards, Wright said: “If the ref made those three decisions in separate games, there wouldn’t be a big issue. The fact all three have come in one game will probably take away from our result.”