Concern for key men as Saints go eight unbeaten
St Johnstone were last night left sweating over the fitness of key midfielder Murray Davidson after he was taken to hospital in the wake of the 1-1 draw with Motherwell.
The former Livingston player landed awkwardly f o l l ow i n g an aerial challenge with Robbie Crawford after half an hour at Mcdiarmid Park.
He required four minutes of treatment from medical staff before being taken off on a stretcher in obvious pain.
An ambulance arrived for the 32-year-old following the full- time whistle, by which time Saints had also lost Craig Conway to a facial injury.
Manager Callum Davidson said: “Murray fell awkwardly and he’s going to get checked out to make sure he’s OK.
“It was more he fell on the shoulder so we want to take precautions to get him assessed.
“Craig has broken his nose as well.
“So, it’s one of those, when you get one injury you get another. Hopefully they’re OK.”
Saints were forced to come from behind after Mark O’hara’s early opener for Motherwell but a penalty from Stevie May – his third in two matches – ensured they rescued a point.
H ow e v e r, despite satisfaction at an eighth game without defeat, Davidson believes victory was there for the taking.
Saints looked the more likely to find a winner after the break but could not find a way past a re s o l u t e Mo t h e r we l l defence anchored by Scotland pair Stephen O’donnell and Declan Gallagher.
Jason Kerr’s header was almost squeezed home by May and Chris Ka n e re q u i re d m o re composure with a late chance.
Davidson admitted he could not fault his players’ effort but confessed they lacked a cutting edge.
He added: “I thought we started brightly, got into good areas and pressed extremely well from the middle of the pitch.
“But we opportunities them under pressure.
“Then we conceded off a counter- attack and from then on we were trying to win the game and pushing bodies forward.
“We got the penalty and, for me, we probably just didn’t have enough balls into the final third.
“At the start of the season, we probably would have lost the game 1-0. The positive signs are there for me.
“The effort was there from the players, they were the ones trying to win the game.
“On the flip side, we just need to do a little bit better when we get to that final third and show more composure. We got into good areas without really testing the goalkeeper.” had to put more