O’halloran proves too hot to handle for shaky Steelmen
Watt (61) ST JOHNSTONE 2 Hendry (68), Wotherspoon (76) Celtic’s attempts at securing 10-in-a-row may be in danger of crashing and burning but form team St Johnstone managed their own version at Fir Park.
They stretched their unbeaten run into double figures (seven wins, three draws) after coming from behind to take their place in today’s draw for the last eight of the Betfred Cup.
It took Callum Davidson’s men a long time to hit their stride but they thoroughly deserved the victory and the manager was delighted with the battling spirit shown by his players.
“We lost the goal against the run of play but the players showed their character after that,” he said.
“I don’t normally single players out but Michael O’halloran dragged us back into the game with his heart more than anything else. That was really pleasing.
“It could have been easy for them to fold after going behind because we’ve played well and lost 1-0 a few times this season but the run we’re on just now gives them the belief that they’re doing the right things.”
To say that the early exchanges here were tentative would be like describing the late Diego Armando Maradona as a footballer: true, but a massive understatement.
In the first half-hour David Wotherspoon fired wide from 20 yards for the visitors and Declan Gallagher replied for the home side by heading over from a Liam Polworth corner. Nothing much else happened.
In the 34th minute, Callum Lang’s through ball left Tony Watt with only Zander Clark to beat but the former Celtic striker shot weakly and straight at the goalkeeper from 15 yards.
At least it kept the stewards awake, as did the incessant crowd noise played over the tannoy – louder and more prolonged than in any game at Fir Park in the days when supporters were allowed inside the stadium.
Fortunately, we had a save and a little piece of magic to savour two minutes from the break when Stevie May’s cheeky backheel from Hendry’s pass teed up an opening for Ali Mccann but the in-demand midfielder’s shot from 12 yards was kept out by the outstretched leg of Aaron Chapman.
After the restart Jamie Mccart came close with a rising drive which only just cleared the crossbar after the hosts failed to clear their lines at a corner.
Then, just as those watching were resigning themselves to extra time and a penalty shoot-out, Motherwell struck.
Polworth’s free-kick from the touchline was nodded down by Ricki Lamie and Watt atoned for his earlier miss by reacting quicker than anyone else to prod the ball behind Clark from pointblank range for his fifth goal of the campaign.
They couldn’t build on that breakthrough, however, and Saints responded with a venomous angled drive from Hendry which Chapman was happy to turn behind at his near post.
He didn’t have to wait much longer for his goal, though. When Lamie made a hash of a passback, O’halloran pounced on the loose ball and, when Chapman deflected the winger’s cutback into his path, Hendry was left with a simple finish.
Eight minutes later Saints went in front with a carbon copy goal.
On this occasion O’halloran left Robbie Crawford for dead as he burst to the touchline and his driven cross was converted by David Wotherspoon.
Saints boss Davidson said later: “We want to get silverware. Every team wants to go all the way – and why not?”