Saints secure status with some room to spare
4 Inverness CT 0 St Johnstone win 6-2 on aggregate EWAN PATON
JUST over one year on from becoming double cup-winning legends, St Johnstone could not have imagined themselves scrapping for cinch Premiership survival in the play-offs 12-months on.
It wasn’t always pretty in their two-legged tie against Inverness, but Callum Davidson’s men got over the line and confirmed their spot at the top table next season.
Stevie May’s first goal since October right after half-time fired the Perth side on their way to a 4-0 victory on the night.
A wickedly deflected strike from Cammy MacPherson, then two beautiful chips from Callum Hendry and Shaun Rooney then secured the vital win.
There were no fans inside stadiums last season when Saints triumphed in the domestic cups. Despite that, the joy created by the players was clear for all to see.
Fast-forward one year and the emotion was evidently relief – from the stands to the pitch, as they belted out Sweet Caroline at full-time.
It was an unbelievably tough one to take for Billy Dodds and his team. From looking down and out in the first leg, to fighting back and actually looking like the top-flight team for a decent chunk of the second leg, the Highlanders did their supporters proud.
Logan Chalmers had an attempt on goal after less than 45 seconds, but his tame effort was held easily by Zander Clark.
The first booking of this feisty encounter was picked up on four minutes, as MacPherson caught Kirk Broadfoot late in the centre circle.
Caley Thistle were pressing on the nervy Saints backline well. And moments later Clark nearly made an almighty blunder as he took a freshair swipe at a back pass. Fortunately for him the ball narrowly went wide and out for a corner. Bill McKay was next to try his luck, this time from long-range, but again it was easily caught before David Carson was the second player to be booked for a lunge on James Brown.
Caley were continuing to create chances, as Wallace Duffy forced Brown to clear off the line from an out-swinging corner.
Saints were penned in, but a lung-bursting run from Shaun Rooney up the right eased the pressure on Davidson’s men as they looked to compose themselves and get up the park.
McKay played in Austin Samuels in the box for the next decent opportunity prior to the half-hour mark. He had to take the shot early on the stretch, but Clark was able to gather.
St Johnstone looked to have a great chance to score with Hendry clear inside the box after a dangerous free-kick, but the striker lost his footing and the chance was gone.
The score was level at the break, but Caley had been the more threatening side.
Davidson didn’t hang about as he subbed Stevie May on for Glenn Middleton at half-time. And the No.7 made an instant impact. The striker’s predatory instincts were on show as he followed in a superb pointblank save from Mark Ridgers to fire high into the net.
Melker Hallberg thought he’d scored with his header, but while it was a great reaction save from Ridgers, he could not prevent the home side from retaking the lead as May repaid his manager’s faith.
The break clearly did Saints the world of good, as they doubled their advantage a matter of minutes later.
There was a huge slice of luck with this effort though, as MacPherson’s long-range hit deflected off Sean Welsh to wrong-foot Ridgers, giving him no chance.
The Caley players looked deflated and were no longer stroking the ball around with such swagger. Having said that, a neat one-two between Reece McAlear and Samuels saw the latter get a show away on the edge of the box, but Clark parried to safety.
Dodds brought on Aaron Doran for the impressive Chalmers. He had a chance moments after coming on, but he skewed his volley wide when he at least he to hit the target.
Hendry showed terrific close control and skill to beat a couple of Caley defenders as he drove towards the box. But Broadfoot crunched him, earning himself a yellow card.
It would be Hendry who scored next, though, with a wonderful chip over Ridgers in the dying minutes. Rooney, not to be outdone, would replicate Hendry’s effort with a lovely dink of his own to complete the second-half rout.