Paisley pattern: Tait believes old Buddies have been key to strong start
THERE is a feeling at St Mirren that Jim Goodwin is building something special in the heart of Renfrewshire. That is certainly the way new signing Richard Tait is seeing it and the defender is already smitten with his new team following his switch from Motherwell in the summer.
It helps the 30-yearold has not taken long to endear himself to the team, a remarkable clearance in Saturday’s hard-fought 1-1 draw against Ross County yet more evidence he is prepared to put his body on the line for Goodwin.
St Mirren, who have only lost one game this season, already look like a team who have been together for years and Tait is sure their cohesion is down to the welcome offered by the likes of Sam Foley and Jon Obika.
“One hundred per cent and I think that was credit to the boys who were here,” he said when asked about how quickly the team have gelled. “They’ve helped the new boys settle in with the types of characters they are and the people they are.
“They make you feel very welcome and I feel like I’ve been here for a long time. That’s credit to them for making me feel welcome.”
Asked about the clearance off the line, he said: “I just read it I guess and just got there. I tried to get a leg up there.
I’m just glad it didn’t go in the back of the net. If it had, it would have been a sickener because at that time we were on top. I’m just glad I kept it out.”
Tait’s remarkable clearance had been the most threatening chance by the vastly-improved Ross County in the second half following a tweak by Stuart Kettlewell at the break.
Saints dominated the first 45 minutes thanks to some intoxicating running from Kyle McAllister on the right and Goodwin’s repeated barks to his team to press the visitors in possession.
This “heavy metal football” certainly paid off when Obika opened the scoring with a delicious swivel on the edge of the box and finish beyond Ross Laidlaw.
Were it not for some fine goalkeeping, the Buddies could so easily have been out of sight and Junior Morias was perhaps the most unfortunate not to break his duck.
The hosts’ profligacy was all County needed to establish a foothold in the game, the introduction of Carl Tremarco paying off as it gave Iain Vigurs and Greg Draper more freedom to push forward.
Michael Gardyne nearly levelled, but was denied by
Jak Alnwick and the game, which had threatened to boil over, finally reached melting point when chaos ensued on the hour mark. A robust challenge from Saints defender Joe Shaughnessy initially went unpunished by referee Mike Roncone, making his Premiership debut, before fourth official Willie Collum rightly intervened.
Off went the Irishman and less than 10 minutes later the Staggies finally forced home a deserved equaliser when Gardyne’s volley found the back of the net via the unfortunate Nathan Sheron.
“Listen the referee has to make a decision,” Tait said. “He’s there to control the game and if that’s the way he feels, when decisions like that are made, you just have to accept it and get on with it.
“They’re a team like us. There’s a fourth official there
for a reason. They and the assistants make a decision and if that’s the decision then we have to accept it.”
County striker Ross
Stewart, on the receiving end of Shaughnessy’s Paisley welcome, had gone closest for the visitors with two headers before the scrappy equaliser.
“The ref’s made a decision,” the former Alloa Athletic player said of the foul. “Thankfully I’ve got up and managed to play on.
“He has caught me just above the knee and when you are catching players that high up – and my leg was planted – then on another day it could have been [a broken leg]. So, I count myself a bit fortunate.
“Thankfully I’m fine and finished the rest of the game. I’ll just move on.
“The first half wasn’t good enough. The manager made that clear at half time. He wanted a reaction and he got it. They never really got out of their half in the second half.”