The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
St Johnstone made own luck and earned this end to gruelling slog
St Johnstone will be a Premiership club for a 16th season in a row.
It summed up a long, gruelling slog for players and fans that their battle to stay up went all the way to the end of their own final league game – and then one that was being played elsewhere.
Those few minutes between Colin Steven blowing his whistle at Fir Park and Chris Graham doing the same in Dingwall were a form of sporting torture – all the more so because of Motherwell fans glorying in a bit of fake news.
That won’t be forgotten if the shoe is ever on the other foot!
LUCKY MOMENTS
When titles, European places, relegations and play-off spots are determined by small margins, every team can point to “if onlys” and moments of misfortune.
After all the VAR injustices they suffered over the course of the season, St Johnstone were due an afternoon when things went their way – both at Fir Park and Victoria Park.
As it turned out, that had nothing to do with the referees. It was all down to the woodwork.
A Blair Spittal shot midway through the second half that struck the post and came back into the arms of Dimitar Mitov was pivotal.
So too was County centre-half Will Nightingale directing a header on to the post in injury-time.
But don’t put this down as a lucky Saints win.
They deserved their victory. And, on a day when County had control of their own destiny yet failed to beat 10 men, Saints also deserved to finish 10th.
MITOV FOLKLORE
Don’t even think about labelling the defining moment of this contest – and survival Sunday – as lucky.
For Theo Bair’s penalty, Mitov had clearly done his homework.
But even though Bair has a preferred side, the Canadian international still struck his shot well, kept it low and close to the post.
This was a magnificent penalty save.
Without a goalkeeper of Mitov’s class, Saints would be contemplating a play-off against Raith Rovers or might even have been relegated automatically.
His consistent excellence merited a save that will stick in supporters’ minds for ever – an Alan Main against Dundee folkloretype stop.
Even if he gets bought this summer, Mitov will go down as one of the best single campaign performers St Johnstone have ever had. Possibly even the best. Hopefully he’ll be around for a while longer, though.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
Nobody let Saints down on Sunday.
A good team selection, the correct tactics, strong minds, strong nerve, defending the penalty box with bravery and commitment, and taking their chances.
All of the above were needed to earn, and hold on to, a lead against Motherwell for the first time in four attempts this season.
Mitov, the two centrebacks, Drey Wright, Graham Carey, Nicky Clark and Adama Sidibeh elevated this performance to the level the occasion demanded, however.
Ryan Mcgowan and Liam Gordon emerged from Livingston onwards as the strongest centrehalf combination at Craig Levein’s disposal and if this turns out to be the last time they play together, what a way for the partnership to end.
The double block to deny Bair and Lennon Miller was the definition of heroic, body-on-theline defending.
Carey’s left foot provided two assists – the first of which was sublime.
Clark came up with a goal which vindicated his manager’s faith and the strategy of playing the long game with his fitness.
Sidibeh scored five goals in eight games and is the template for what Levein will hope to do in the summer transfer market.
And Wright’s return came in the nick of time.
Having someone who could carry the ball on the right was the single most significant strategic change in Levein’s team over the last few weeks.