Gaffer’s grin bonus for Buddies’ cardboard fans
The 66 cardboard cut out fans in the stands might not have had a lot to say but Jim Goodwin was beaming as his St Mirren side swept to an opening day victory.
Richard Tait’s debut goal got the Buddies off to a flier and instantly propelled them into the top- six spot that chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick reckons must be the target.
Whether Saints will still be there come May is anyone’s guess but this was as straightforward a victory as Goodwin could have hoped for in what were anything but ordinary circumstances.
With the stands empty other than assembled media and a few suits – as well as those cardboard cut-outs – the odd bursts of recorded fan noise broke up the constant barking from the touchlines, the vast majority of which came from Livi assistant David Martindale.
Indeed Martindale might have passed his temperature check on arrival at the ground but Gary Holt’s animated sidekick would have been struggling to make the cut on the way back out after 90 minutes on the edge.
Despite his best efforts the Lions were tame, nothing like the side which tore to a fifth-place finish last time out and in- demand Lyndon Dykes struggled to make an impression.
Indeed St Mirren strolled to the three points, with their new-look defence marshalled brilliantly by debutant Joe Shaughnessy.
And they could have had more to show for their efforts other than Tait’s headed winner on the half-hour. The
Buddies’ last meaningful encounter here five months ago was a rollicking relegation affair with Hearts when Jon Obika’s goal ignited the home fans packed inside the ground.
This game had the same result and Goodwin was equally pleased.
Sam Foley was so eager to get going he kicked off on the first whistle as everyone else on the park took the knee to support Black Lives Matter.
Goodwin handed Marcus Fraser, Tait and Shaughnessy debuts in his back four while Jak Alnwick made a first start in goal.
Jack Fitzwater and Alan Forrest were the debutants for the visitors as Gary Holt started with the fami liar 4-2-3-1 shape that served Livi so well last term.
Efe Ambrose started on the left of defence and his ears must have been ringing after an opening spell that saw him constantly in the line of fire. Martindale’s voice could still be echoing round Paisley after he exploded out of the dugout to berate the Nigerian for a slack pass which gave Saints the first glimpse of goal but Ilkay Durmus’ effort was blocked.
Fair play to the former Celtic and Hibs man, he never hides and his roving runs up the left were giving the Buddies plenty to think about.
Indeed Ambrose cut in after 25 minutes and let fly but his shot was easily held by Alnwick.
But it was the Buddies who broke the deadlock.
A measured ball into the box from Jamie McGrath found Tait, whose late run deceived the Lions and his diving header beat Robby McCrorie.
Craig Sibbald cracked the outside of the post f ive minutes before the break as Livi looked for a quick leveller.
But it was Saints who should have gone in 2- 0 up when Obika played in Craig
MacPherson on the left but the young midfielder tripped on the ball at the vital moment.
Livi looked hungry after the break. Forrest produced his first piece of brilliance five minutes in to wriggle through two challenges and bend a shot from the left just wide.
Fitzwater then fizzed a ball into the danger area after a f lowing move but Nicky Devlin headed just over before the same player’s claims for ha ndba l l were waved away when
Tait blocked across.
The Lions had the bit between their teeth and a series of set plays swung into the box tested the new-look homerearguard.homerearguard. ButtoweringButtowering Shaughnessy, in particular, was standing firm.
Salim Kouider-Aissa came on for his debut when Sibbald wa s i nj u r e d l a nd i ng awkwardly and the sub tried his luck with a 25- yard free-kick, only for Ambrose to get in the way. The defender then saw his dig from outside the box deflected over.
Saints should have wrapped up the points in 81 minutes when the ball fell to sub Junior Morias eight yards out but he went for power over accuracy and his effort smacked off the base of the post. Shaughnessy could have capped his impressive debut with a late goal but his header f rom MacPherson’s free- kick f lashed just wide. Even Mar t indale had gone quiet as the points stayed in Paisley.