DON’T BLAME ME
United goalkeeper Cierzniak hits out after Saints strike twice to inf lict Cup Final pain
RADOSLAW CIERZNIAK last night refused to take the blame for Dundee United’s Scottish Cup Final heartache.
The Tannadice goalkeeper missed the cross that led to Steven Anderson scoring St Johnstone’s opening goal at Celtic Park yesterday, then also appeared suspect when Steven MacLean sealed Saints’ first-ever national cup final triumph.
However, Cierzniak claimed he was held back when he attempted to gather David Wotherspoon’s corner on the stroke of half-time and insisted his leg was almost broken in the challenge with MacLean which preceded the second goal.
‘Somebody was holding my hand as I tried to move and maybe that cost me half a second and it’s the reason why I didn’t manage to touch the ball,’ he insisted.
‘It’s not football but it happens very often. But I am not looking to make excuses. There have been many other times when I have helped my team.
‘When they scored their second goal I was very close to breaking my leg. It was a 50-50 ball and I have marks on my leg.
‘I think the luck was with St Johnstone today and I feel terrible. It should have been a great day for us and we should have been holding the trophy.
‘But this is football and it’s the lowest I have felt in my career. This was my biggest game and I am very, very disappointed.
‘I am also very sorry for our fans. The atmosphere they created was amazing and everything should have been perfect.
‘It is so difficult at the moment. But we need to pick ourselves up and I think this experience will make us more powerful in the future.
‘We are a very good team and we have to take something positive from today into next season.’
United manager Jackie McNamara also refused to make critical judgment of Cierzniak in a defeat which also denied his team a place in European football next season.
The Tannadice side miss out on a Europa League qualifying mission as St Johnstone will now join Motherwell and Aberdeen, second and third respectively in the Premiership, in continental competition. But McNamara believes his players will emerge stronger for the disappointing experience of losing out yesterday after both Ryan Dow and Nadir Ciftci hit the woodwork.
‘I don’t know if our keeper was impeded at the first goal, I’d be guessing,’ said McNamara.
‘I was disappointed with the goals we conceded, especially the first. But he made the decision to come out for it and he’s been outstanding all season. I’d never criticise a goalkeeper for coming and trying to get the ball, or making a mistake.
‘I’m disappointed for the players. There were thin margins, like hitting the post and the bar.
‘Ryan was unfortunate with his chance — I thought he’d scored. I think he did, too. It was disappointing for him as I thought he had
a good game. Losing the goal right before half-time was a body blow.
‘We tried to break them down in the second half but it just wouldn’t go in for us. We’ll learn from this and hopefully come back bigger and stronger next season.’
When asked if a good season overall was consolation, McNamara replied: ‘Not at this moment, no. We’ve finished as losers in the final and that’s all I’m thinking about.
‘The players have been fantastic for me. We worked hard to get there but little things have cost us a higher place in the league and in this final today.
‘There was our concentration at a set-piece, with a second goal coming when they got the break of the ball. But I know we can play a lot better.
‘We need to do things quicker and switch on better at throw-ins and corners.
‘I think you have to congratulate St Johnstone on their victory. Tommy’s had a fantastic season and his players have done him proud.’
McNamara explained his decision to keep teenage sensation Ryan Gauld on the bench until after an hour was made after assessing the two big wins of their season — 5-0 over Inverness in the quarter-finals and 5-1 against Motherwell last month.
Gauld was absent for the first game and a second-half substitute in the second.