BULLY FOR US!
Goal hero Shaun insists Saints stars had to scrap
SHAUN ROONEY admits St Johnstone threw the tactic board out the window to and went down to brass tacks to secure a Betfred Cup win over Livingston.
The Saints goal hero insists it was all about getting down and dirty with the Lions in what proved to be a Hampden scrap which saw the Perth side prevail and get their hands on the trophy for the first time ever.
A first-half header separated the sides and Rooney revealed boss Callum Davidson’s master plan was all about coming on top if it came down to a square go at the national stadium.
He said: “When you play Livingston, you need to throw any thoughts of a game plan out of the window.
“We didn’t really have a game plan, it was all about the fight, a fight for everything. It was about working harder than them and to do whatever we can and that paid off the last time we’ve done that against them. Maybe that’s the way to play against them.
“It feels absolutely amazing, you couldn’t write it. I’m delighted with the whole team performance, every player to a man was excellent today.”
Rooney’s remarkable scoring run in this competition includes goals in the previous round against Dunfermline and then Hibs in the semi-final and he revealed his Hampden winner was about throwing some shapes to get free of Livi defender Jon Guthrie.
He said: “Jon was marking me tight but I gave him a bit of movement, a wee slip of the shoulder and I was away. That’s how it is in this world. It was a brilliant moment and I am absolutely delighted.
“It was a great header and I don’t know what their keeper was waving at.
“It was a bit of a nervous start, Livingston came out and played balls over the top and they were fighting for everything but we were equal to that. They had us penned in but once we scored they didn’t have as many chances.
“It was a bit like the semi-final against Hibs. The second half was an open game but I felt we did enough. Both teams gave everything they had.”
The Betfred has also provided a platform to get his career in Perth off and running after a few false starts including getting hauled off during a poor display against Kilmarnock.
It’s been a slow burner of a time for the 24-year-old to find his feet in the blue jersey.
And Rooney admits a period of uncertainty has ended as he’s managed to become a fixture in the side after arriving at the club last summer
He said: “I’ve played in every game of the Betfred, I came to the club under Tommy Wright and I didn’t know what the new gaffer wanted from me. He brought in Danny McNamara who was excellent and I had to bide my time.
“I got to play in the Betfred Cup games when he was away on international duty so I have to thank the manager for playing me in the quarter-final when
Danny was there and fit, ready to play.
“He picked me to play and I scored a goal, Danny was away by the semi-final against Hibs so I could relax.
“I tried as hard as I could to get into the starting line-up but that game against Kilmarnock killed me a bit.
“I had to bounce back back and I did that.”
The lack of atmosphere inside Hampden made for an surreal occasion but Rooney is adamant nothing could dampen the mood especially as he takes charge of the dressing room entertainment. He said: “The very fact there are no fans changes things as we needed to create our own atmosphere. That’s why I’m in the changing room with a microphone singing the tunes. “It’s hard to celebrate later, the moment is sort of gone. It’s a bit like Liverpool when they won the league. When everything went back to normal it’s as though they haven’t won it when they have and the fans need to remember that. “It’ll be exactly the same for
Rangers, even though I hate to say it!
“We just need to enjoy the night and enjoy the occasion. Nothing will take the shine off of this, we have worked hard throughout this tournament.”
Rooney also heaped praise on the impact of boss Callum Davidson and hopes his father will also break the Sabbath by having a drink in celebration over the victory.
He said: “The manager deserves a lot of credit but he could have put me in the side earlier. I just thank him for the opportunities he’s given me.
“I’m over the moon for myself and my family. My dad says he doesn’t drink on Sundays – but we will see if he has a drink today.”