TAIT IS TERRIFIC
Saints new boy leads the way as debutants steal show
A STUNNING goal from debutant Richard Tait gave the home side all three points and, if it was out of keeping with the rest of the fare on offer, no one in black and white was complaining.
Given the fact that St Mirren had played only two pre-season games due to the false positive results their coaching staff received following routine Covid-19 testing, manager Jim Goodwin boldly selected three new signings in his back four, playing in front of another debutant, goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, and he was rewarded with a clean sheet.
Alnwick, in particular, looked impressive. He commanded his penalty area in the way defenders appreciate, coming for and claiming everything which was launched towards him, thwarting Livingston, whose reliance on set-plays and long throws remains unchanged.
Although Saints’ newly-fashioned rearguard has not had sufficient time to develop an intuitive understanding, they already look more solid than last season.
There is a reassuring physicality to them as well, with Marcus Fraser, Tait and, especially, Joe Shaughnessy strapping physical specimens who are capable of giving as good as they get when it comes to a tussle like this one.
However, just as it can be foolish to read too much into the performances and results of pre-season friendlies, it is equally unwise to rush to judgement on the opening day of what is going to be a crowded and compressed campaign.
Yes, Livingston were below par on this occasion but it would be rash to wager that they will not improve and perhaps as soon as next weekend, when they are at home to Hibernian.
Both sets of players displayed their support for the Black Lives Matter campaign prior to kick-off but it was the only time during the afternoon when either side looked like bowing the knee.
It took less than 13 minutes for the first caution to arrive and Saints defender Conor McCarthy can have few complaints about the booking after scything down Alan Forrest.
In the unlikely event that this fixture will be broadcast live later in the season, Sky may wish to consider deploying a seven-second delay, given the audible obscenities emanating from both the pitch and the technical area.
No quarter was given or asked, challenges were robust and every 50-50 ball was fiercely contested but this was percentage football and chances were at a premium as the players attempted to work the rust out of their systems.
Efe Ambrose, operating as a left wing-back, had the first attempt on goal midway through the first half but his shot from distance was comfortably claimed by former Rangers man Alnwick.
Saints made the breakthrough on the half-hour. Kyle McAllister supplied Jamie McGrath, whose inviting cross picked out Tait’s run and the full-back gave Robby McCrorie no chance with a diving header from 10 yards.
It was a goal which deserved to be seen by a full house rather than a near-empty stadium but it was celebrated as though it had been scored in front of 200,000 at the Maracana.
Livvy’s Craig Sibbald then struck the junction of post and crossbar with a swerving shot from 25 yards but clear-cut openings continued to be scarce in this war of attrition.
Cammy MacPherson ought to have doubled the hosts’ advantage on the stroke of half-time but miscontrolled Jon Obika’s pass when he was left with only McCrorie to beat.
Forrest, the younger brother of Celtic and Scotland winger James, came close after the break but his drive was turned away by Alnwick.
Unfortunately, neither team could find a way to get their respective leading scorers, Obika and Lyndon Dykes, into the game as both defences held firm.
Livingston looked out of sorts in the opening 45 minutes but, fired up by a half-time pep talk from their enraged coaching staff, raised their game afterwards. Indeed, they enjoyed the bulk of possession and pressure during the second half but could not make an impression on the Saints defence. Sometimes a key is better than a battering ram when it comes to opening a door. Junior Morias smacked the base of McCrorie’s right-hand post with a volley from point-blank range with eight minutes remaining.
He really ought to have burst the net but, in truth, a second goal would have flattered the Buddies.
There was a late shout for a penalty from Livingston when the ball appeared to strike Shaughnessy’s hand but it seemed a clear case of ball playing man rather than the other way around.
Reprieved and relieved, the home side held on for the victory.