I stuck it in and the rest is a blur. I was looking for my boy his shirt as he ran to family and friends
Goalscorer MacLean ‘happy’ with a booking for removing
STEVEN MacLEAN last night reflected on the goal that ensured an end to 130 years of trophyless history at St Johnstone and surmised that the yellow card he earned for his delirious celebration was a small price to pay.
MacLean’s scrappy goal, which saw him scoop out a finish after a collision with Dundee United goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak, sealed a 2-0 Scottish Cup Final victory and confirmed that a major piece of silver would go to the Perth club for the first time.
The striker’s reaction, which saw him whip his top off before making his way to the corner of the stadium housing the Saints support, seemed instinctive but he admitted that the direction of travel was premeditated.
He said: ‘It’s been a long old road and to be part of it and score a goal, the feeling is incredible.
‘The ball broke and I just went for it. When I saw the keeper coming, I just tried to smash into him. Thank goodness it broke, I stuck it in and the rest of it was a bit of a blur.
‘I had about 70 people here and I knew they were in that corner. I had said if I scored I would run there — and then the top came off.
‘I knew I’d get a booking. It was late on so I thought OK, top off. I was looking for my wee boy Luke, who was there with all his mates. I was just trying to get hold of him but all I could smell in there was booze!’
Tommy Wright’s team had a 15,000-strong support backing them in Glasgow and MacLean conveyed the sense of emotion that engulfed everyone. ‘A day like this — it might never happen again,’ he said. ‘A cup at St Johnstone — it’s been 130 years and it means so much to everybody, from the guys in the dressing-room, right through the club.
‘I’m so close to all my family. I’ve never seen my dad greet in his life but he was crying his eyes out.
‘My sister arrived from Sydney on Wednesday and she goes back on Monday, so we might not sleep for a couple of days.
‘I’ve got my coaching badges this week. I might not make Sunday but I’ll be there on Monday.’
The 31-year-old’s foray into coaching stems from a knee injury suffered last year which put his future in the game in doubt.
‘I remember the day the surgeon told me my career might be over and my missus’ face dropped to the floor,’ he explained. ‘I said to her there and then: “I’ll get my coaching badges, I promise!”.
‘That’s why I’m signed up to the course to try to get my A licence but, hopefully, I’ve got a few years left in me yet. But certainly those injuries make all this worthwhile and the worry you go through makes you a stronger person.’
MacLean added: ‘It could be in 20 years’ time before we realise just what we’ve achieved. It’s a massive blur but this team could go down as legends and I hope so because it’s a team of hard-working boys.
‘There are no superstars in there, no boys who don’t do the hard graft and don’t go the extra mile for their team-mates.’
MacLean was joined on the scoresheet by Steven Anderson, who headed Saints into the lead just before half-time.
The defender, who has been at McDiarmid Park for 10 years and is now due a testimonial, dedicated his goal to the club’s chairman Steve Brown and his predecessor and father, Geoff, who took over the club in 1986.
He said: ‘I’ve got to dedicate this to Geoff and Steve Brown. They’ve run the club really well over the years and it was time they got their day.
‘Every year we think about getting a cup run. It’s long overdue for the club and we’re just delighted to have done it now.’
Anderson’s goal arrived from a David Wotherspoon corner and was aided by United goalkeeper Cierzniak’s sprint from his line.
‘We worked on that goal,’ he continued. ‘The gaffer studied their set plays, pointed out where they were weak and told us we’d be able to nick a few goals.
‘He called it right and we were able to capitalise on it. My usual run is at the back post and I was in the right place to score when the ball got to me.
‘It’s massive, it’s time the club won something major, it has been long overdue. It’s my testimonial year, so it’s brilliant.
‘I’ve lost so many semi-finals in my time here and it’s just great to finally win a cup.’
Pre-match, much of the hype centred around St Johnstone striker Stevie May, the club’s top scorer and the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year.
May did bundle the ball into the net in the second half but referee Craig Thomson disallowed the ‘goal’ on the advice of additional assistant Alan Muir, who spotted the striker using his hand to push it over the line.
May had been off celebrating in front of the Saints fans when the whistler eventually produced a yellow card.
‘I did think it had crossed the line but I wasn’t sure,’ he admitted.
‘It was more a reaction thing. It hit my nose and I thought it was over, and when the keeper hits it back out my reaction was just to flash my hand out at it.
‘It’s irrelevant now anyway. We got the result, no matter how it was won and who scored the goals.
‘We rode our luck a couple of times when they hit the post and the bar but you could say it was just going to be our year.’
May paid tribute to manager Tommy Wright for winning a trophy in his first season and also said he had been vindicated for deciding to remain at the club in the wake of strong interest from Peterborough and Queens Park Rangers earlier in the season.
‘I said back in January that I wanted to stay and win a cup and I fancied it to be our year. It’s better than I ever could have imagined.
‘And what the manager has done in his first season has been incredible, arguably as good as any manager has ever done for St Johnstone.’