Saints alive – at last!
Callum Davidson’s joy is unconfined after Stevie May’s shot (inset) gave St Johnstone their first Premiership win of the season against Aberdeen. But it was a result which heaped more pressure on his opposite number, Stephen Glass.
Stevie May picked the perfect time to end a nine-month goal drought and secure St Johnstone’s first league win of the season.
It was also the first time in 11 games in all competitions this season that the Perth club have won in 90 minutes.
Their only previous victory came against Arbroath on penalties in the League Cup they will continue to defend as holders at Dens Park on Wednesday.
Of course it was made all the sweeter for May that it came against former club Aberdeen, where he failed to impress after a £400,000 move from Preston North End.
It certainly stemmed from one of the few moments of quality in what even a delighted Saints boss Callum Davidson admits was a poor spectacle.
Callum Booth dispossessed Jonny Hayes and found May, who went round Calvin Ramsey then nutmegged fellow substitute Declan Gallagher with a 20-yard shot.
Joe Lewis looked surprised as the effort rolled its way into the right-hand corner of his net leaving Davidson delighted with his striker’s attitude.
He said: “Stevie coming on against his old club could either be horrendous or very good, and thankfully he was the latter.
“He’s probably disappointed he’s not starting games but he comes on with a fantastic attitude and I’m delighted his shot hit the bottom of the net.
“I’m just delighted to get the three points as we’ve been on the wrong side this season.
“But if you were to ask me what’s been our worst performance in the league then I would have to say that one today, but we kept at it.
“We grew into the game in the second half and I was just delighted that we could come away with a hard-fought victory.”
It was certainly a feisty 90 minutes and referee Bobby Madden did well to keep it down to just four yellow cards in what was mainly a niggly game.
Michael O’Halloran got the first for connecting with Ross McCrorie’s face with team-mate James Brown seeing yellow for clattering Christian Ramirez.
Jay Emannuel-Thomas joined the Perth pair in Bobby Madden’s
notebook for a foul on Murray Davidson, who also got booked after the interval.
Highly rated teenager Calvin Ramsey did his best with deft touches down the right as well as dangerous set-piece deliveries.
On-loan Wolves winger Austin Samuels did likewise down the other flank in a fascinating duel with Shaun Rooney and at least forced Zander Clark into a save after 36 minutes.
The second half wasn’t much better for long spells with too many petty fouls from both sides.
Jack McKenzie set up a rare opportunity for Aberdeen in 53 minutes with a wonderful cross from the left that Christian Ramirez failed to take while Glenn Middleton rightly had a goal disallowed for offside at the other end.
Then, when it looked destined for a draw, May struck to make it seven games without a win for his former club under their new management regime.
That has to be a worry for Stephen Glass as they never looked like equalising even though they had a man advantage for the last eight minutes.
Murray Davidson was forced off with a back injury after Saints has used all their substitutes and now looks certain to miss the League Cup quarter-final against Dundee in midweek although Chris Kane should be fit.