MacLean strikes to keep run going Another pre-season win for Saints
Trialist Romain Habran takes the praise of manager Tommy Wright after he is replaced St Johnstone ...... 1 Hartlepool ......... 0 Saints headed into Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Hartlepool United looking to build on fine results against Sunderland and Rangers in previous warm-up matches.
Captain Steven Anderson returned from injury to bolster the starting eleven, with Brian Easton also back and earning a seat on the bench.
Trialist Romain Habran retained his starting place, with boss Tommy Wright set to make a decision on the PSG ‘B’ attacker in the coming days.
The home side came out of the box quickly and opened the scoring on 12 minutes through veteran hitman Steven MacLean.
The striker nodded a pinpoint Habran cross from the left home from eight yards.
David Wotherspoon was then denied from just inside the box by the palms of Hartlepool keeper Scott Loach.
An ambitious Habran bicycle kick from the edge of the area was also mopped up by the former Watford stopper.
In a half of few clear-cut opportunities, MacLean and Liam Gordon both came close in the closing stages – the former with a 20-yard drive and the latter with an effort from a corner.
Saints brought on Liam Craig, Chris Kane and Brian Easton for Wotherspoon, MacLean and Scott Tanser at the interval and looked to build on their possession and increase their lead.
The McDiarmid men started the second half brightly and Richard Foster’s low drive was deflected back into play on 54 minutes having looked destined for the bottom corner.
Trialist Habran was replaced by Blair Alston just before the hour mark as Hartlepool were working their way back into the game.
Deverdics forced a great onehanded save from Alan Mannus from a set piece.
Then Kane was unlucky to find the side netting from a tight angle, having been played through by the impressive Stefan Scougall, but the striker failed to test the goalkeeper.
The striker and teammate Craig both came close in a last-gasp stramash but the travelling defence somehow kept both efforts out.
After the match, manager Wright described the match as a good workout. He said: “I’m pleased – we controlled most of the game and we were good in possession.
“I’m pleased with how we’re controlling games because we are passing the ball really well at the minute.
“Ando got 90 minutes and Easton got 45, as well as there being no fresh injury concerns, so it was a good day.”
New signing Scougall caught the manager’s eye in particular.
Wright said: “That was his first 90 minutes. We’ve had to be careful with him and I thought he looked really sharp today. He had a longer break so we’ve had to ease him in.
“He carried the ball really well as well as working hard off the ball. I’m pleased with his progress.”
Trialist Habran shone during the first half and received a good reception when he left the field.
Wright added: “The squad does need a bit of freshening up and we are still hoping to make signings.
“The main thing for us is to get people in to improve the squad. If we don’t think they will improve the squad and just give us depth rather than quality, then there are enough young players at the club to do that.”
St Johnstone:
Mannus, Foster, Anderson. Gordon, Tanser (Easton, 46), Wotherspoon
(Craig, 46), Davidson, Paton, Scougall, MacLean (Kane, 46), Trialist (Alston, 58).
Unused subs: M Hurst, Shaughnessy, Millar, Kerr.
Goals: MacLean (12)
Hartlepool:
Loach (Trialist, 60), Magnay (Richardson, 71), Adams (Trialist, 71),
Harrison, Donaldson (Travers, 71), Munns (60, Mondal), Cassidy (Amond, 46),
Woods (Featherstone, 63), Deverdics, Laing (Trialist, 60), Newton (Hawkins, 71). Unused subs: Catterick. Attendance: 1,117 (54 away) Referee: Euan Anderson Steven Anderson was back in action Steven MacLean, who scored Saints’goal, turns Blair Adams Murray Davidson wins a challenge against Jack Munns/ Pics: Graeme Hart/PPA