SAINTS GO MARCHING ON TO MAKE BOSS WRIGHT HAPPY AGAIN
Hat-trick hero justifies Wright’s Saints cull
AN irate Tommy Wright had promised his misfiring St Johnstone players the gloves were off after a dismal home defeat to Partick Thistle.
But after making eight changes to his starting line-up last night, the irascible Northern Irishman cut a happier figure as he watched his revamped and ruthless Saints batter little Albion Rovers into submission.
The mass cull that followed Saturday’s 3-1 Premiership loss meant just three of the starting XI survived for this tie against the League One strugglers — Joe Shaughnessy, Liam Craig and Denny Johnstone.
But it was hat-trick hero Chris Kane, recently recalled from a loan spell at Queen of the South in the Championship, who ensured there was no prospect of an ignominious Scottish Cup KO for the 2014 winners.
Kane’s was the first treble for Saints since Steven MacLean netted three times in a 4-1 league win over Hamilton Accies at McDiarmid Park in September 2015.
And a first Saints goal from young Kyle McClean completed the rout as a last-16 trip to Tynecastle was secured to face Craig Levein’s on-form Hearts.
‘I enjoyed it tonight, mainly because the players went out and did a job and made it a comfortable night for us,’ said Wright with a smile.
‘When you get the start we did, scoring through Chris Kane after three minutes, it settles everything down.
‘Overall, I am pleased to come here on a difficult pitch and win 4-0.
‘Our attitude was right from the first whistle.
‘I thought Chris Kane’s finishing was superb. He’s come back from Queen of the South full of confidence and I’m pleased he got a hat-trick.
‘We won’t fear Hearts in the next round. They don’t like playing us and the fact that it’s away from home suits us at the minute. We will be the underdogs, but we certainly won’t go to Tynecastle with any fear,’ added Wright.
The St Johnstone manager now hopes to tie up the loan signings of Fulham’s Wales international midfielder George Williams and Aberdeen winger Scott Wright today.
However, he fears missing out on Kilmarnock’s Rory McKenzie.
Wright said: ‘We’ve probably got three deals agreed in principle and I would imagine we will have at least two of them done by teatime on Tuesday.
‘We are after George Williams at Fulham.
‘There’s always been an interest in Scott Wright at Aberdeen and we are also looking at a midfielder who has been playing abroad. That one might prove difficult but hopefully not.
‘I would also like Rory McKenzie, but Kilmarnock seem to want him to stay.’
After two postponements, Wright was just delighted to see this tie finally going ahead in Coatbridge after the pitch passed its 2pm inspection.
After that dismal Jags thumping, he brought in Alan Mannus, Blair Alston, Murray Davidson, Jason Kerr, Paul Paton and Liam Gordon, in addition to McClean and Kane.
Dropping out were Zander Clark, Keith Watson, Steven Anderson, Aaron Comrie, David Wotherspoon, Chris Millar, Stefan Scougall and veteran striker MacLean. Stung into action by Wright’s withering criticism on Saturday, Saints were ahead within 180 seconds.
A long throw by Shaughnessy was headed on and the ball dropped perfectly for striker Kane to crash home a wonderful high finish past Kieran Wright.
Any nerves among the away fans had quickly dissipated at Cliftonhill, that wonderfully ramshackle Scottish ground.
Connor Shields did his best to strike back for Rovers, but his effort failed to trouble Saints keeper Mannus.
Portuguese attacker Joao Vitoria also looked dangerous with his pace on the break.
Without a win in five matches, though, Rovers then switched tack and attempted to take their visitors on in a physical battle.
There was a flashpoint after Shields made a clumsy tackle on Liam Craig. The Rovers midfielder was shown a yellow card after referee Mat Northcroft had calmed the situation down.
Ross Davidson followed him into the book for clattering his namesake Murray Davidson, with Davidson and Shaughnessy of Saints also finding their way into the book in an occasionally bad-tempered first half.
Before the break, Kane thought he had grabbed a second but his fierce shot flew narrowly over the bar.
The striker’s time would come, but not before he had set up McClean for the second six minutes after the break.
Signed last summer after being released by Nottingham Forest, the goal capped a night to remember for the teenage midfielder.
It was effectively game over when Craig swung over a great ball from the left for Kane to head his second of the night.
But the 23-year-old was not finished yet and he burst through on goal before drilling low beyond Wright to complete the scoring and his hat-trick. ‘I didn’t think it was a 4-0 game, so I am disappointed,’ sighed Albion boss Brian Kerr.
‘But I could not have asked for any more from my team.’