The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Saints are frustrated following poor start
‘Brutal going out of the cup’ says St Johnstone striker MacLean
Steven MacLean’s name was etched into the fabric of St Johnstone history with the second goal to clinch a historic Scottish Cup win over Dundee United.
So, three years down the line, Perth fans will forgive their striker for a wayward pass which contributed to Partick Thistle’s winner at a venue which the Jags have now left victorious on their last four visits.
Having drawn a home tie, albeit it against Premier opposition, those supporters were anticipating progress to the last eight of a competition which holds fond memories for them.
But Adam Barton’s sixth-minute goal put paid to Perth hopes.
After an insipid opening, Tommy Wright’s men rallied to apply pressure on a Jags team swift to string five men across the back to deny Saints space, with interval substitute Blair Alston and late arrival Chris Kane coming closest.
But Barton’s early 12-yard strike proved the difference between two wellmatched outfits, with an intercepted MacLean pass quickly shuttled on to Steven Lawless to pick out his holding midfielder charging forward on a supporting run as defenders dropped off.
MacLean, who had netted in the previous three encounters with the Jags, said: “We started the game poorly, they got their goal and tried to sit in and frustrate us, playing 5-4-1 at times.
“It is difficult when you start like that and try to pick up the pace.
“We got better in the second half and were unlucky at times.
“It was probably a mirror image of the game we won at their place recently.
“The first goal in these types of games is massive. It suited them to sit in and hit us on the counter, like we did to them at Firhill.
“They have beaten us twice here now and we beat them twice at Firhill.
“Maybe we’d have been better playing them away from home. They came here and their game plan worked perfectly.
“Obviously I gave the ball away for the goal and they countered on us. It wasn’t a great ball from me, but probably we could look to deal with it after that because we had enough men back. “It wasn’t the best of goals to lose. “It is brutal going out of the cup. We weren’t a happy dressing room.
“But it’s gone now. We have to look to the league and try to cement our place in the top six and see where we can go from there.”
MacLean, who agreed a new contract in the build-up to the cup tie, admitted it was no surprise seeing bookmakers quickly listing manager Wright among contenders for the vacant managerial position with Rangers.
But he hopes that the cup-winning Ulsterman is at McDiarmid for the long run.
MacLean said: “We’re not surprised he is being linked with Rangers with the job he has done and the budget he has here. It is testament to himself, his staff and the players as well. We are just hoping we don’t lose him.
“Obviously if big teams do come in for him then it will probably be hard for him to say no. But hopefully we can keep him here.”
Disappointed Wright admitted a tame opening period proved fatal for his side’s cup aspirations, although Alston and Kane, with a spectacular bicycle kick, had threatened to secure a replay with Thistle pinned back.
On the other hand, keeper Zander Clark did his burgeoning reputation no harm with one stop seconds before the break labelled a “wonder save” by rival manager Alan Archibald, who feared it might come back to haunt his team.
Being vulnerable to another counterattack didn’t please the Saints manager.
When David Amoo carved his way into the penalty box a second goal was on the cards until Clark fended off the rising shot with a stiff wrist and a solid connection with his left hand.
It was reminiscent of a save in the recent 1-0 win at Firhill. Rising star Clark also diverted a net-bound Liam Lindsay header after the interval.
The follow-up by Amoo was blocked by grounded skipper Steven Anderson.
Wright said: “We lost the game in the first 20 minutes. We didn’t start well. We gave the ball away too much and the goal came from us giving the ball away cheaply.
“I thought second half we were much better, but still suspect at the counter attack. We found them difficult to break down. Ultimately we didn’t do enough. We had opportunities to make things happen, but we didn’t.
“It was a frustrating afternoon for us,” he added.
Rival manager Archibald praised his players for sticking to a game plan and system designed to secure another
“We lost the game in the first 20 minutes. TOMMY WRIGHT
disappointing 2,884 crowd who celebrated progress to the Glasgow club’s first quarter-final since 2008.
He said: “We had a different shape and it was important we got an early lead to give the players belief.
“Our goal record has been poor over the last four or five games so it was overdue.”