Davidson delighted with points haul as Saints enter top six ahead of break
ROLL on the World Cup break and, on this evidence, it could do with being a few weeks longer. A match that threatened to spark into life in the first half – it even had two goals – passed almost without incident in the second, and no obvious story to write home about.
At least a fifth game without defeat saw St Johnstone end this part of the season inside the top six; a feat that didn’t seem likely when they were toying with the idea of another relegation scrap just a month ago.
“In the end we’ll take the point and move on,” said Callum Davidson, the Saints manager. “We’re two points from third and I’m delighted with that position after 16 games.”
St Johnstone’s mission to stay in momentum’s good books saw Stevie May return beside Nicky Clark in one of four changes. Fatherhood appears to have given the latter the Midas touch, his three goals in five games coinciding with the Saints’ own purple patch; and his early touch was sharp.
As was that, perhaps more surprisingly, of Motherwell. Just one win in seven read their recent record book, but there was an uncharacteristic zip to their play. Louis Moult cleverly prodded the ball into Stuart McKinstray’s path in the game’s first chance, only for the Leeds United loanee to get the finish all wrong.
Further Well pressure came moments later when, by virtue of Moult’s introduction, Kevin van Veen drifted into the midfield and wrestled for the ball from Adam Montgomery. His long-range effort dipped devilishly, but Remi Matthews dealt with it comfortably.
There was a welcome openness to the game – if a lack of genuine quality – but it appeared the momentum was slowly ebbing Motherwell’s way. Callum Davidson’s men grasped for ideas but were hardly helped when referee Nick Walsh accidentally bundled Graham Carey off the ball to sound the horn on another Well attack, this time Matthews having to sharply deny Moult at the near post. Stephen O’Donnell headed just over from the resulting corner and Walsh sheepishly held his hands up in apology.
Then, out of nothing, the mood music took a couple of dramatic shifts. First, the impressive, if slapdash, Montgomery made his latest foray towards Well’s box, before flicking the ball into David Wotherspoon’s path. Cue the Canadian’s trademark turn inside, Sondre Solholm being the only man in the country not to have expected it, and an effort Liam Kelly could only parry into Drey Wright’s path. The winger made no mistake.
Motherwell appeared to be running out of ideas, only for them to level on the cusp of halftime. There was a touch of good fortune to Blair Spittal’s equaliser, his free kick trundling beyond Matthews with the aid of a not-insignificant deflection. But Motherwell were certainly the team in the ascendancy in the early moments after the break.
Yet, other than a couple of ambitious attempts from Spittal, they had very little to show for it. Davidson’s men had even less for their own interventions.
Van Veen, neatly played in again by Moult, could have won it, but his curling effort was hooked off the line. By the end, however, both teams looked ready for the World Cup break. As did everyone else inside McDiarmid Park. “The break will do us good,” said Motherwell’s Steven Hammell. “It will give the squad a chance to recharge and refresh.”