Saints in real spin as Gary dazzles
DEREK McINNES singled out the galloping Scott Wright, given a central role in the No10 position for the day, as the outstanding performer in an electrifying Aberdeen display.
Try telling that, however, to the hollowed-out shell that was Hayden Coulson in the wake of a harrowing 90 minutes for the young St Mirren left-back.
Coulson, a 20-year-old on loan from Middlesbrough, was given the job of attempting to shackle Gary MackaySteven and endured what will surely be remembered — no matter what the beautiful game may send his way — as one of the longest days of his career.
Within a matter of seconds, Mackay-Steven had set up Stevie May with a chance.
Within 20 minutes, the winger had scored one and created another for Graeme Shinnie.
After a foul-up in the Saints defence had allowed May to make it 3-0 before the break — and prompt a half-time ovation from the home fans — Mackay-Steven wrapped it up from the spot after Coulson had pulled him down in the penalty box.
It was painful to watch on a brutal afternoon for Saints, an education, of sorts, for all of their players as they come to terms with the difficulties of handling Premiership sides with a team that is still coming together.
Coulson’s manager Alan Stubbs, in between expressing disappointment at the way so many of his players seemed to give up the ghost on their way out of the Betfred Cup, could only offer words of consolation.
‘Hayden had a tough afternoon, but he’ll learn from it. Sometimes, you have to experience days like that to become a better player,’ said the former Celtic and Everton defender. ‘I’ve been there and it’s not all roses in the garden.
‘He came up against a good player and the one thing you can’t do with Gary Mackay-Steven is let him build confidence.’
That the Dons star is in a good place right now is clear. Indeed, McInnes believes he could be an outside bet for a recall to the Scotland squad for the upcoming games against Belgium and Albania — five years after his only cap.
‘Why not? Bang the drum, aye,’ said the manager. ‘He can certainly be at home in that environment as he is very confident at the minute.
‘Gary has four goals already (this season). He is a calm finisher and when he is doing his flicks and tricks and playing in that confident mode, he is difficult to deal with. I thought it was an exceptional performance. The movement, speed and intelligence of everyone at the top end of the pitch was pleasing.
‘For me, Scott Wright was the pick. He allowed others to be as good as they can be by causing all sorts of problems with his movement.
‘If I am hypercritical, Scott should be running away with the matchball as he got himself into positions to score.’
Even with Niall McGinn injured in the warm-up and making way for young Frank Ross, this had the look of a siege from the off.
Saints goalkeeper Craig Samson denied May within seconds, but that was merely the first salvo of a quite relentless bombardment.
Samson was forced to produce another fine save minutes later, clawing a downward header from Mackay-Steven over the bar.
However, it was evident that the opening goal was just round the corner. The only surprise was that it took 16 minutes to arrive.
The impressive Lewis Ferguson held off Paul McGinn to make it to the bye-line and deliver a tantalising cross towards the far post.
Mackay-Steven met it on the volley and his effort took a bounce, and perhaps the slightest of deflections, before evading Samson and rippling the roof of the net.
He was also a key figure in the second goal four minutes later, beating Coulson with some quickfooted trickery and slinging a ball into the heart of the danger area.
Shinnie rose higher than anyone and there was no doubt where his header, all aggression and intent, was heading — straight into Samson’s top left-hand corner.
Were it not bad enough for the travelling support that Aberdeen had the scent of blood in their nostrils, Saints’ defence then set about slitting their own throats.
Samson was short with a pass out to Cole Kpekawa. Wright stole in ahead of the defender and rounded the keeper before squaring for May to convert high into an empty net.
There seemed a real danger of the game reaching cricket score territory.
Visiting forward Nicolai BrockMadsen’s header did force a save from Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis during the opening 45, but it was like shouting into a hurricane.
In truth, Saints were lucky to go in 3-0 down at the interval, with Samson pulling off good saves from Mackay-Steven and Shinnie before referee Steven McLean called a halt to the torture.
It would only be a brief period of respite. Straight after the restart, Wright charged straight through the middle of St Mirren’s defence before being denied by Samson and seeing May’s sclaffed effort from the rebound cleared off the line.
No matter. Goal number four arrived after 57 minutes, MackaySteven scoring from the penalty spot after being brought down in the area by the haunted Coulson.
‘With at least three — maybe four — of our goals, we contributed to our downfall,’ said Stubbs. ‘Players need to take more responsibility.
‘Paul McGinn stuck at it and showed the right attitude without being great and Craig Samson, despite making a mistake at the goal, made saves — but I am struggling to pick out anyone else.’