Cheers as Buddies boss tells fans they’re great, and have a drink
st mirren 2
Obika (37), Mullen (61) st johnstone 0
St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin dedicated his side’s second win of the season to their long-suffering supporters and hoped they would have a wee drink to celebrate.
Goals from Jon Obika and Danny Mullen helped the Buddies see off St Johnstone to move up to ninth in the table.
And with another clean sheet tucked away, Goodwin declared himself satisfied with a good afternoon’s work.
He said: “I felt a huge sense of satisfaction and relief at the same time and I’m delighted for the supporters as well.
“They’ve been great since I came in and they haven’t had a great deal to cheer about of late. But they haven’t allowed their frustration to get on the park and affect the players.
“I’m pleased that they can go home tonight with a clean sheet and a couple of goals and hopefully be able to enjoy a wee glass of wine or a beer.”
St Johnstone were the better side for much of the first 45. Murray Davidson was first to threaten with a stinging drive that whistled just past the post.
Anthony Ralston then saw his shot blocked before Matty Kennedy missed a great chance to put his side in front. The ball broke kindly for the winger 12 yards from goal but he screwed his effort wide.
Kennedy then appealed for a penalty after claiming Paul McGinn had stood on his toe, before Mullen was similarly denied when ref Nick Walsh took no action after the striker was caught in the head by a high boot.
Saints then went in front with their first real attack after 37 minutes.
Kirk Broadfoot did well to get
a header into the danger area for Obika to pull off a stunning overhead kick. It was the first goal the Paisley side had scored for 325 minutes.
The Buddies started the second half on the front foot and only a strong hand from Zander Clark prevented Tony Andreu adding to their lead.
Goodwin’s men had the bit between their teeth and Mullen was unlucky to see his clipped shot beat Clark only to bounce off the far post.
But a second goal was coming and Mullen got it.
Broadfoot set Paul McGinn free down the right. And when his cross came in Mullen was on hand to smash it home from ten yards.
St Johnstone looked spent and only a smart save from Clark kept out Kyle Magennis’ sweet strike as the hosts looked to pile on the pressure.
The visitors had no fight left in them much to manager Tommy Wright’s frustration.
The Perth side are still waiting for their first win of the season and Wright warned his players they would need to perform a lot better than they’re showing so far.
He said: “Until St Mirren got their goal we were by far the better team.
“But I’ve been saying that after five or six of the games that we’ve played already this season. It’s not something we seem to be learning from.
“We didn’t compete in the second half or get a response.”
ST MIRREN:
(4-1-2-3) Hladky 6; P. McGinn 7, Broadfoot 7, McLoughlin 6, Waters 6; S. McGinn 7; Foley 7, Magennis 6; Andreu 6 (Durmus 85, 5), Obika 7, Mullen 7 (Morias 66, 5) Unused - Lyness, MacKenzie, Djorkaeff, MacPherson, Breadner
ST JOHNSTONE:
(4-2-3-1) Clark 7; Ralston 6, Duffy 5, Kerr 6, Tanser 6; Davidson 6, Holt 5 (McCann 76, 5); Wright 5 (O’Halloran 59, 5), Swanson 6 (Hendry 59, 5), Kennedy 6; May 5. Unused – Parish, Vihmann, Booth, Wotherspoon