Tommy left fuming after Saints hand Killie victory
THIS was supposed to be a day of celebration for St Johnstone, but instead they commemorated their 132nd anniversary with a performance manager Tommy Wright bemoaned as ‘brutal’, ‘comical’ and the worst 45 minutes of football he has witnessed — ever.
Saints gave out goodie bags to young supporters before kick-off and continued the theme with the part they played in the opening goal as Rory McKenzie was gifted possession 40 yards out and gave thanks by spiralling a stunning lob in the empty net.
The 11th-minute strike gave Kilmarnock something to hold on to, a facet of the game that eluded them last weekend when they conceded two goals in the last seven minutes to slip to defeat against Aberdeen.
However, there was to be no late collapse here as they enjoyed the cushion of a second goal from Conor Sammon with 19 minutes remaining to leave Wright ‘numb’ and unable to give an explanation for his side’s miserable display.
‘I said to them it was probably the worst 45 minutes I’ve seen,’ said Wright. ‘It was brutal.
‘I can’t believe the first half. The number of mistakes, nontackles, not winning second balls, misplaced passes, players caught in possession.
‘You have to give Kilmarnock credit, but I’m looking at my team and we didn’t do the basics well.
‘The first goal is a comedy of errors. Take nothing away from the finish, but it summed up our first half. It was comical, brutal, and I’m sure it left a lot of fans numb, because it certainly did myself and (assistant) Callum (Davidson). Someone said you knew after a minute how your team will play, but we knew after about 15 seconds.’
By contrast, it was an afternoon that gave Kilmarnock much to be pleased about and interim manager Lee McCulloch pressed his case for a more permanent appointment by leading the side to just their second win in their last dozen outings.
Kris Boyd stung the palms of Zander Clark with a free-kick, and Gary Dicker fired over before they made the breakthrough.
Clark erred in clearing a Steven Anderson pass back and the ball landed kindly for McKenzie 40 yards out. The Killie midfielder deserves all the plaudits going for the awareness and skill he displayed in finding the net with a brilliantly executed lob.
The goal gave Killie great belief and their energetic performance continued apace as they always looked the more likely to score next.
Sammon and Sean Longstaff had efforts beaten away by Clark and Saints’ only reply of note was a Steven MacLean header from a David Wotherspoon cross that landed on the roof of the net.
Wright’s half-time blast ensured Saints came out for the second period with more fire in their bellies.
However, with chances still rare, Sammon’s strike, his first since returning to the club on loan from Hearts, sealed the three points.
‘I don’t know what will happen, I was just thinking about today,’ said McCulloch when asked about his caretaker role.
‘I don’t know if it’s getting the management bug but I have loved it.
‘It’s an honest group of players and I’ve enjoyed working with them. There’s been long days but I’m really enjoying it.
‘It doesn’t harm the chances when the boys play like that, but I don’t really see it as having chances, I just want to see the boys playing well.’
Led by the excellent front pairing of Sammon and Boyd, Kilmarnock could be satisfied with their performance as they drew on the disappointment of last weekend’s ‘kick in the teeth’ against Aberdeen. None caught the eye in a determined showing more than McKenzie and his brilliant opener.
‘It was great technique,’ said McCulloch. “He has a great attitude and he’s doing extra in training every day, watching his diet and working on his game. It shows how his confidence is growing.
‘It was brilliant to see it going in. I wasn’t going to get animated until I saw that net rippling, but it was a great feeling.’