THE CUP FINAL FILES

WOTHERSPOON GETS HIS CHANCE TO SHINE AT LAST

OMITTED from successive Scottish Cup Finals by former Hibs manager Pat Fenlon, David Wotherspoon (right) finally had his moment in the limelight. He flighted the corner onto Steven Anderson’s head for the first goal and could have had a couple himself in a fine display.

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE

WE’VE all posed the question about the purpose of those extra officials monitoring the penalty areas, so take a bow Alan Muir for advising referee Craig Thomson not to award St Johnstone an illegitimate goal from Stevie May’s handball.

MAY DAY?

THE image of May 17 on the back of St Johnstone star Stevie’s shirt was impossible for picture editors to resist on the morning of the game. But images of the Scottish Football Writers’ Young Player of the Year running off in celebration after a blatant handball might appear more unedifying.

PARADISE FOUND

WITH Hampden out of commission, Celtic Park stepped into the breach and, even with around 11,000 empty seats, managed to generate the sort of atmosphere so often lacking at the national stadium. A shame to see so many clad in tangerine leaving early, though.

WRIGHT PROVED RIGHT

TOMMY WRIGHT’S pre-match prediction that Jackie McNamara would leave out his two teenage prodigies Ryan Gauld (left) and John Souttar proved 100-per-cent accurate. The pair kept each other company on the bench until Gauld appeared for an unproductive 37 second-half minutes.

WHEN YOU’RE LUCK’S NOT IN...

United’s best move of the first half resulted in Ryan Dow’s clipped shot bouncing back off the post, there was sense that this would not be the Tannadice team’s day. Confirmation arrived when Nadir Ciftci’s excellent free-kick bounced off the crossbar and into the arms of the grateful Saints keeper Alan Mannus.