The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Two-goal hero Craig hails goalie as Saints leapfrog Hearts into fourth spot
Midfielder scores twice, while keeper pulls off stunning late save
MOTHERWELL 1 ST JOHNSTONE 2
Saints super-sub goalkeeper Alan Mannus produced a match-winning save deep into stoppage time to ensure a Liam Craig double strike would see the Perth men return to fourth-top in the Premiership, leapfrogging stuttering Hearts.
Craig said afterwards: “It was great to get the early goal and great to get the win as they put us under a lot of pressure, but we dealt with most of it.
“And if Alan (Mannus) doesn’t get save of the season for that save at the end, it is going to take a heck of a save to beat it.”
Saints were desperately trying to hold on for their fourth successive league win at Fir Park when Motherwell substitute Ryan Bowman’s header, two minutes into stoppage time, looked destined for the top corner. However, Mannus – an interval replacement for the injured Zander Clark – got a fingertip to turn the ball on to the bar.
Craig went on: “It was a great day for us, and that’s the top six all but secured and puts us in a great position in the league.
“We have a right good chance of finishing fourth and getting into Europe.
“We never know when we are beaten. We have a strong squad.”
Perth boss Tommy Wright gave a vote of confidence to the starting XI which won the Tayside derby against Dundee seven days earlier.
They repaid that by taking the lead after eight minutes. Graham Cummins was given far too much space and time on the right to whip over a superb cross and Craig, unmarked six yards out, sent a powerful header past Craig Samson in the Motherwell goal.
Craig said: “I’ve scored maybe four or five goals with headers and been hammered for the one I missed at Ibrox a couple of weeks ago.
“When I saw it coming I decided to head it as hard as I can and the way I’m facing. I tell Steven Anderson every day in training to do that.”
Motherwell, who had only one victory over the Saints in the last eight meetings since August 2014, almost conceded a second in 31 minutes after comic-cut defending by Carl McHugh let Cummins dispossess him and thread the ball wide to Steven MacLean.
However, his 15-yard effort from an acute angle was mopped up by Samson to save his defender’s blushes.
The Steelmen might have levelled in 35 minutes when veteran Scott McDonald set up Chris Cadden, but the midfielder drilled over from 10-yards out.
But it was nothing in comparison to McDonald’s missed opportunity in 41 minutes. Louis Moult’s initial shot was saved by Zander Clark.
McDonald rounded Clark and somehow scooped the ball over from six yards out.
Three minutes later McDonald atoned with his 10th goal of the season to draw Motherwell level and send them in at the interval with a spring in their step.
Moult was the creator down the left wing.
His driven cross was not properly cleared, and the ball fell to the Australian striker to ram it through a ruck of players from close range
Mannus came on after the break when Clark suffered a recurrence of a pelvic injury. He had been a doubt before the match.
The Nothern Ireland internationalist was quickly called into action when, in 55 minutes, he pulled off a fantastic reaction save to block a Zac Jules flick after a downward header by McHugh.
Saints got the winner in 66 minutes when the Motherwell defence failed to deal with a MacLean cross and Craig got his second of the afternoon, firing past Samson from an almost impossible angle on the left.
It took him to within two goals of becoming Saints’ modern-day highest goalscorer in the top flight.
Craig went on: “I knew it was close. It’s great to get these things. You need a club that fits you and I definitely have that at St Johnstone. I was disappointed before Saturday; I had only scored three this season.”
Craig should have netted his hat-trick in 77 minutes when another Cummins cross from the right fell perfectly for the midfielder, but his thunderous volley from 12-yards flew over.
Motherwell striker McDonald moaned: “We came away with nothing because we didn’t take our chances.
“We managed to make silly errors and we have to cut that out.
“St Johnstone have mugged us a few times in recent years.
“It wasn’t our day but there were enough positives we can take from the game and climb the table.
“We need to make sure we are solid for 90 minutes plus, and not switch off.
“If you fear the worst, the worst will happen.”
We have a right good chance of finishing fourth and getting into Europe. LIAM CRAIG