BENJI MOAN
Davidson curses United No.1’s superb stops in Perth stalemate
Callum Davidson was cursing the brilliance of Benji Siegrist after the United keeper denied Saints all three points.
The Swiss ace produced several superb second- half saves, the pick of which was a stunning point-blank stop from a Murray Davidson header in stoppage time.
Davidson said: “Siegrist has produced two or three top-class saves and the one from Murray’s header at the end and David Wotherspoon’s deflected shot are both great stops.
“On another day they go in and we would have won the game comfortably.
“We were the better side after the first 10 minutes and we created the best opportunities and dominated the game.
“The pleasing thing was how we coped with Dundee United’s front three and limited them to no shots on target.
“I have been on the other side of It when we have performed well and lost. I am disappointed for the lads that we did not win.”
Micky Mellon unleashed a three- man strikeforce for United with Marc McNulty making his first start to help
Nicky Clark give more support to Lawrence Shankland.
McNulty f ired two early efforts over the bar whi le Shankland’s dig from 35 yards went the same way.
Saints battled to gain a foothold in the game but Siegrist wasn’t tested during a period of dominance that grew as the half wore on.
Stevie May hit the side netting, then Davidson drove close from long distance but the best chance of the half was squandered by Jason Kerr.
The defender rose to meet Craig Conway’s corner, only to direct his header the wrong side of the post.
Craig Bryson preyed on United slackness before curling inches wide with the outside of his right boot. Bryson, who endured a luckless spell with injuries at Pittodrie, is a shrewd addition to Davidson’s ranks.
Wotherspoon is just one Saint relishing the opportunity to feed off the ex-Derby man.
The McDiarmid midfielder gave Mark Connolly many awkward moments when driving at the United defence.
He was twice off target as he emerged as Saints’ best secondhalf hope of a goal.
On 72 minutes, Siegrist did superbly to push the ball out for a corner as Wotherspoon’s drive spun off the foot of Connolly to deny the Canadian international a third successive game on the scoresheet.
For United’s supposed goal threats, this was a thoroughly unsatisfying shift. McNulty was replaced by Liam Smith with 20 minutes to go as his hunt for full fitness continues while Shankland was forced to turn defender to get into the action.
Fair play to the Scotland striker for tracking back deep to break up a Bryson charge.
United only emerged from camping in their own half brief ly and with around 10 minutes to play, posing no threatreat to Zander Clark as two attackstacks fizzled out.
Saints still had more to offer, including a heart-art-stopping injury timeme moment when
Siegristegrist stood firm to become thee United heroro once again. ain.
Davidson rose to meet a corner and produced a bullet header from eight yards. The g iant United No. 1 was perfectly positioned to beat the ball away off the line.
Saints slipped to 10th in the table as a result of the stalemate but boss Davidson took the posit ives from the great performance of his midfield.
Bryson made his first league start alongside Davidson, allowing Wotherspoon to be a danger further up the field.
Boss Davidson said: “We feel that David can be more creative and we want him to play higher up the park and he has been doing that.
“He i s an int el l i gent footballer and he has taken on board what we have toldtol him and he knows his rrole in the team.
‘ When I first ararrived here he was the first signing and he’s a vital part of the teteam. I want him to be more clinical ini the f inal third
for us.” u