Europe in sight as Saints down Dons
ST JOHNSTONE manager Tommy Wright reckons victory at Pittodrie leaves them needing just one more win to clinch a return to European football.
Late goals from Danny Swanson and substitute Craig Thomson were enough to move them six points ahead of nearest rivals Hearts.
They are also the same margin adrift of Rangers and Wright has warned Pedro Caixinho’s strugglers that they could still catch them.
After all, few would have predicted this win against an Aberdeen side who had only previously been beaten by the Old Firm at home this season.
A delighted Wright said: “Hearts dropping points give us a boost but it isn’t over yet. I felt two wins would be enough so if we can get one win we should be there but it’s not done yet.
“We aren’t going to relax yet, though, and neither can Rangers or Hearts.
“We know the prize is Europe so our aim is to go to Celtic next week and try and get something there and get the job done as quick as possible.”
It was the introduction of 22-year-old strikerThomson for David-Wotherspoon 18 minutes from the end that turned the game Saints’ way.
Someone on loan at Stranraer earlier in the season made himself right at home in the Premiership with a matchwinning cameo.
First, he forced Joe Lewis into a save that became a free kick six yards out after the keeper’s parry was returned to him by Ryan Jack.
Referee Alan Muir’s decision to deem it a deliberate passback looked harsh and worse was to follow as Swanson lashed in Liam Craig’s lay- off from an acute angle.
That was after a dreadfully dull 80 minutes of bruising action and three minutes later it was all over.
Swanson may be heading to Hibs in the summer but his determination to leave St Johnstone on a high saw him burst clear from his own half.
He played the perfect pass into the path of Thomson who hit a stunning shot across Lewis into the far corner for his first senior goal for the Saints.
It all added up to a bad day for the Dons to lose for only the third time at home this season.
After all, the result at Ibrox meant an Aberdeen win would have effectively stitched up a third successive runners-up spot.
Instead they turned in arguably their worst home display since St Johnstone drew on their last visit back in mid-December.
Only Celtic had returned home without conceding a goal since then but the Perth club defended for their lives and Aberdeen struggled to create clear chances.
It was a frustrating missed chance as far as manager Derek McInnes was concerned but he was unhappy at the referee’s decision to award the free kick for the opener.
And he was equally annoyed at the state of Pittodrie pitch.
He said: “I don’t think it is a blatant passback.
“It is not a pass, he is nudged in the back and touches the ball but I cannot say that it was a passback.
“We are the second best team in Scotland but we have the worst pitch.
“Players were slipping and the ball was bouncing about everywhere. It didn’t help either side.”