The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Saints boss concerned by lack of bravery in opening day defeat
Manager disappointed by Saints’ apparent lack of fight in Rugby Park loss
KILMARNOCK 2 ST JOHNSTONE 0
Stefan Scougall was every bit as frustrated as the travelling Saints fans for the first 81 minutes of this one-sided contest.
The midfielder couldn’t believe what he was watching as Killie dominated and his nine-minute cameo didn’t change that state of affairs.
Tommy Wright’s men had gone to Ayrshire planning to steal a point (and, with a little luck, all three) but their safety-first approach was found wanting against the impressive hosts, who look capable of repeating last season’s top-six finish.
The Perth side had begun last season with a victory at Rugby Park but that was never on the cards here as they dug in in a failed attempt to frustrate Steve Clarke’s men.
“We wanted to get off to a good start but, unfortunately for us, we didn’t get that,” said Scougall.
“Was there a lack of bravery on the ball? 100%. On the day Kilmarnock were the better team and we were very poor.
“The result showed that in the end. It might be a lack of bravery in terms of getting on the ball and it’s a tough pitch to play on as well.
“There was a lack of attempts to get on the ball and make things happen. Ultimately, we got what we deserved.”
The visitors reached the interval on level terms but Killie raised their game after the interval, with Northern Ireland winger Jordan Jones a real handful.
Zander Clark made superb saves from Alan Power and Jones but the keeper must take the blame for the breakthrough goal.
Lee Erwin didn’t properly get behind his shot from the edge of the penalty area but Clark – possibly distracted by the home players in front of him – spilled the ball out to Scott Boyd, who poked it home from two yards.
Saints attempted to get at the Killie defence but never really threatened and Jones hit the bar before substitute Mikael Ndjoli unleashed an unsaveable shot from the corner of the 18-yard box which fizzed behind Clark for the clincher.
However, Scougall insists that claiming a place in the top half of the table isn’t beyond Saints this term.
“The aim is always top six,” said the 25-year-old.
“Last year we were kind of unlucky to miss out – we had a horrific injury list and I think that played a part.
“It’s always the aim to try for the top six but you have to look over your shoulder to make sure you’re not in the relegation scrap.
“Personally, it was disappointing not to start. It’s always frustrating but there are a lot of games still to come.
“We’ll go back into training on Monday, dust ourselves down and go again. We have a home game against
“
The first half was all right but the second half was really, really poor and their two goals sum it up.
TOMMY WRIGHT
Hibs next weekend so, hopefully, we can get our season started then.
“A couple of experienced players left the club in the summer but I think we have enough experience to deal with games like this.
“Obviously, that wasn’t the case here but I think over the course of the season we should have.
“You have myself, Tony Watt, Matt Kennedy and younger boys who are coming through but who have been around the first team.”
Manager Wright admitted to being perplexed by the lack of fight in his side but he vowed to put things right – and quickly.
“It wasn’t the start I wanted and it certainly wasn’t the performance I was hoping for either,” he said.
“We knew this would be a bigger test than we’d had in the pre-season games and the BetFred Cup and I’ll take full responsibility, but I did not see that coming.
“There was a severe lack of bravery on the ball.
“We played three centre-backs because they do put the ball into the box, particularly on this pitch, and we dealt with that, but we kept giving the ball away whenever we had it.
“I feel sorry for Tony Watt because he had no service. The first half was all right but the second half was really, really poor and their two goals sum it up.
“The first goal was a free-kick we didn’t deal with and the second came from a simple 10-yard pass which wasn’t completed, allowing their player to run 40 yards with the ball before he puts it in the top corner.
“So there’s a lot of work still to be done but, most importantly for me, the players need to be braver.
“It’s no good wanting to be on the ball and pass it around against Montrose and Forfar if you can’t come and do it against the bigger, stronger teams. It’s extremely disappointing.”