GLENN GLEE
Middleton’s late winner seals place for Saints in the top six
Glenn Middleton couldn’t have timed his first St Johnstone goal any better.
The 21-year-old came off the bench to net a dramatic 86th-minute winner.
Added to Kyle Munro’s goal for Hami lton, it propelled Callum Davidson’s side into a top six place.
Nicking the spot f rom St Mirren on goal difference would have felt particularly sweet for a Perth side who had not been in the top half of the table since September.
And Middleton, on loan from Rangers since January, was thrilled with the part he played.
The winger missed out on a place in the Betfred Cup Final squad because he was cup-tied but revealed that his late winner made up for it.
He said: “It was massive and meant quite a lot for me. It has been tough for me over the last season but if you keep doing the right things day in, day out then you take advantage when moments like that come.
“It is huge for all the boys here. I only came in during the January window but they have been working hard to get there all season. It’s good to make that step up into top six.
“Obviously I was gutted [to miss out on the final]. It was one of those where it gives you the hunger to be involved in moments like that in the future because I got to see just how much it meant to the lads here to win it.
“I only heard the Accies score at the end when some of the lads started running towards me but it was a good feeling. We are just looking forward now to those top-half games.”
The narrow scoreline wasn’t reflective of a one-sided match. St Johnstone ought to have been out of sight by the break.
The home side had ample openings but lacked composure in the final third with Ross County keeper Ross Laidlaw busy without ever being genuinely troubled.
He was first called into action when he had to tip away an Ali
McCann effort from the edge of the box after David Wotherspoon had set him up.
Guy Melamed had also sent an inviting ball to the feet of Chris Kane which should have produced an opener. The Israeli ’s deft pass split the County defence but Laidlaw pushed away the fairly tame effort from Kane.
Staggies boss John Hughes threw on Michael Gardyne and Iain Vigurs just after the hour as he looked to try and break St Johnstone’s hold on the game.
It was a decision that almost paid off. Gardyne’s running led to Keith Watson hooking a ball into the path of Coll Donaldson but his wild effort couldn’t trouble Zander Clark as it sailed harmlessly over the bar.
It was the only real moment of note for Ross County in St Johsntone’s box.
Davidson rang the changes too with Middleton and Stevie May on as they pushed to get the elusive goal.
With just four minutes left Middleton collected from May’s cutback, turned and netted from close range.
For Davidson, in his f irst season in the dugout, it has been a memorable few months.
Having taken St Johnstone off the foot of the table and into the top six on the back of a League Cup win, it has been a spectacular turnaround.
He said: “If you’d told me that after taking over from a club legend we would win a cup and end up in the top six, I would have jumped on you for it.
“It is all credit to the players. We played on the front foot and dominated most of the game.
“I was delighted for Glenn because he has had to be patient and he works extremely hard. He’ll get more game time after a performance like that.”