AGONY FOR CRAIG
Goalkeeper’s error costs McGhee’s men as Saints go marching home with the points
Ask any goalkeeper and they will tell you their mistakes are magnified as they usually end in the opposition scoring.
That was certainly the case at Fir Park on Saturday as Steven MacLean’s fourth goal of the season earned St Johnstone their first Premiership win of the campaign at the expense of Motherwell.
The experienced striker punished a mistake by Motherwell goalkeeper Craig Samson when he spilled Chris Kane’s shot to score the winner.
The Perth Saints made four changes following their midweek Betfred Cup win over Hearts and they bossed the opening half-hour with Chris Millar making them tick in the middle.
For their part, Motherwell were still smarting from a disappointing cup exit at the hands of Celtic and took time to settle.
Danny Swanson and MacLean came close from long range and Chris Kane earned himself a chance after chasing a long ball but the angle proved too tight. Chris Millar then had a shot tipped over by Samson after more persistent play from Kane.
Motherwell had offered little other than one sharp passing move and some decent touches from Marvin Johnson – but they improved around the half-hour mark.
Lionel Ainsworth had some late firsthalf chances but could not wrap his foot around Johnson’s low cross after great skill from the winger, and was then foiled by Joe Shaughnessy’s excellent block after a slick move.
Motherwell fans must have been delighted to hear referee Euan Anderson’s half- time whistle. But the Steelmen
came out all guns blazing helped by a tactical switch at the break by boss Mark McGhee.
A flexible 4-4-2 was played rather than 4- 3- 3 with Marvin Johnson and Chris Cadden switching flanks.
And the change made an almost immediate impact when Cadden netted from close range after coming in from the left wing to meet Richard Tait’s deflected cutback after Sc o t t McDonald had played the right back in behind.
Saints almost replied immediately but ‘ Well keeper Samson stopped MacLean’s header following Millar’s lofted ball in.
However, the visitors were soon level as Swanson created his sixth goal of the season from nowhere, cutting inside two Motherwell defenders from the right and stabbing the ball underneath Samson from eight yards. Cadden came close to claiming a second goal for Mark McGhee’s men with a 25-yard strike which was tipped over by Saints goalkeeper Alan Mannus. Minut es l at e r, the Northern Irish international produced an even better save to prevent Johnson nudging ‘Well back in front as he turned away the winger’s right- foot curler which looked destined for the top corner. Cadden was replaced by Jacob Blyth, whose early Motherwell career has been hampered by injury, and the former Leicester striker’s header soon found Johnson.
The winger checked on to his right foot and curled a shot that Alan Mannus tipped over.
But St Johnstone sealed their second comeback victory in four days with just 15 minutes to go when MacLean nodded home after Samson had palmed out Chris Kane’s strike from almost 25 yards.
Motherwell’s only late chance saw substitute Dom Thomas volley over from a tight angle.
McDonald did put the ball in the net but it was done illegally as he produced a volleyball type smash to beat Mannus and referee Euan Anderson duly disallowed the goal and booked the Motherwell striker.