Worst to first
Bad day turns out best for Cal
Cal lum Davidson insisted St Johnstone had grabbed their first league win after their worst performance of the season.
The Saints boss was delighted to see Stevie May come off the bench to net the only goal of the game late on.
Davidson hailed hitman May for coming back to haunt his old club and kick- start Saints’ league campaign, on the back of three draws.
He said: “It was great. If you ask me it was probably our worst performance in the league but what we did do was keep at it.
“Stevie was very good. When you go back to our old club you can be horrendous or very good.
“Thankful ly it was the latter for us. He was probably disappointed he didn’t start the match but he came on with a fantastic attitude.
“I am just delighted his effort hit the net and he was able to celebrate in the corner.”
Davidson admitted a share of the spoils may have been a fairer result but he was pleased with the way his team upped their game in the second half.
The Saints boss said: “Neither team produced enough. There were few opportunities but I have been through the other end of it.
“I am just delighted to come out with a positive result.
“Defensively we were really good. We had a good shape and energy to stop Aberdeen.
“I was a little bit disappointed with what we did with the ball, especially in the first half. We tried to rush things and there were too many first-time passes and not enough control.
“We didn’t have enough going forward but second half we were better and grew into the game.
“We had a lot of chances and in the end I am delighted we have come away with a victory.”
Saints’ last win in the Granite City was back in February 2020 and came courtesy of Ali
McCann’s winner but it was another bad day at the office for Aberdeen.
No wins in seven for boss Stephen Glass makes ugly reading and his team look off it.
Some of his new signings are struggling to find their feet and there look to be question marks over whether 4-3-3 suits what he has at his disposal.
The Dons had an early opening when Lewis Ferguson’s diagonal ball went right across the face of goal with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas inches away from connecting.
Christian Ramirez headed a
Calvin Ramsay corner wide and Austin Samuel had a shot that Zander Clark easily gathered.
Saints produced even less apart from a dangerous cross from Callum Booth cross.
But after the break they came into it. The ball fell to Glenn Middleton and he fired in a low shot that the grounded Joe Lewis had to push wide.
The visitors then had the ball in the net when sub Al i Crawford’s cross was headed goal wards by Chris Kane but Middleton had strayed offside before he netted.
Both sides made changes and it was Davidson who came up trumps as Callum Booth won the ball from Jonny Hayes and found Stevie May.
He cut inside Ramsay and drilled a low shot through the legs of Declan Gallagher that beat Joe Lewis at his near post in the 84th minute.
Saints had to see out the finals minutes with 10 men after Murray Davidson had to go off with back spasms with all their subs used.
MacKenzie crossed for Hayes late on but he powered his header off target and with that chance went any hopes of an Aberdeen point.