Saint Michael has his pals on cloud nine
KILMARNOCK 1 Tishbola (61) ST JOHNSTONE 2 Wotherspoon (85), O’Halloran (90)
Callum Davidson heaped praise on Michael O’Halloran for repaying his team-mates in the best possible way.
The striker hit a late, late goal to give his boss the first victory of his managerial career.
O’Halloran had been sent off against Dundee United on the opening day and missed the midweek defeat by Rangers.
He hasn’t had many minutes of football but was alert enough to capitalise on a sloppy Stuart Findlay pass back in the fourth minute of added time.
Davidson said: “I’m so pleased for Michael, particularly after what happened at Tannadice on the opening day of the season.
“He felt he let the boys down, but he more than made up for that with his performance and his goal.
“He has only played 40 minutes of football this season and to keep going at that pace in that heat was impressive.
“You could see what it meant to all the players with their
reaction to his goal. Michael is a very popular and valuable member of this team.”
Amazingly, O’Halloran also got the winner in a win at Rugby Park in August 2017.
The final score was the same and David Wotherspoon got Saints’ first goal – as he did yesterday.
Findlay’s poor pass cost Kilmarnock a point, but they were struggling from the moment Ross Millen was shown a straight red card.
He lunged at Scott Tanser in the 63rd minute and was immediately sent packing by Andrew Dallas.
Sometimes going down to 10 men can inspire a side. On this occasion, it seemed to confuse the home team.
They sat back, couldn’t seem to hold the ball and invited St Johnstone to attack.
There was a doubt, however, if the Perth men could hit the net. They spurned one or two chances – the best being one gifted to them early on.
Danny Rogers looked relieved that the position of goalkeeper at Kilmarnock might not be jinxed this season.
The Irishman got his chance to play after Jake Eastwood lasted only a rather traumatic 45 minutes of the first game of the season.
Rogers let a straightforward cross from deep slip through his fingers and break free.
The ball fell for Callum
Hendry but the striker turned and sent his effort wide.
Kilmarnock went ahead thanks to a defensive lapse by Shaun Rooney.
He had his eye on a long punt by Kirk Broadfoot but didn’t spot Mitch Pinnock sneaking in on his blindside.
The midfielder sent the ball inside to Aaron Tishbola and he fired past Parish.
It was only two minutes after that goal when Millen was sent for an early bath.
The equaliser came when Liam Craig delivered a cut-back into the box and Wotherspoon fired home.
And then Findlay just didn’t look when he played the ball back towards his own goal and O’Halloran took full advantage to score the winning goal.
You could only imagine the joy and despair there would have been if supporters were allowed in the ground.
Davidson looked a satisfied man at full-time.
He said: “We have had a tough start to the season with three away games.
“But, I think if you had given me four points from them before a ball was kicked, I would have taken them.
“There have been a lot of positives to take from all of the games and I’m satisfied with the direction we are heading.
“It is great to get our first win and it is now important we build on this.”