CLARKSON THE SPARK AS DONS SINK PERTH MEN
Liverpool loanee nets another stunner
IT would appear that Leighton Clarkson only deals in goals of the stunning and spectacular variety. When Aberdeen need a spark, he duly delivers.
The 20-year-old midfielder is on a season-long loan from Liverpool — and he announced his arrival at Pittodrie in some style when he netted a howitzer of a strike on his debut in the 4-1 win against St Mirren two weeks ago.
When the opportunity presented itself at McDiarmid Park yesterday, he wasn’t going to waste the moment again. Standing over a free-kick nearly 30 yards from goal, the Englishman curled a stunning effort into the top corner — much to the delight of the Red Army.
It has been quite an impact from Clarkson, but the Dons will hope they don’t always have to rely on the sublime to earn a result.
They were deserved winners here.
But, given their up-and-down start to the season — two wins and two defeats — they need to find consistency if they want to threaten at the top end of the Premiership.
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin joked he was relieved to see Clarkson take the set-piece... instead of Jonny Hayes, who was making his 300th Dons appearance.
‘He’s a quality player,’ said the Aberdeen boss. ‘Technically, we know exactly what we’re going to get. Physically, he needs to bulk up a little bit if he’s going to go back to Liverpool and play in the Premier League.
‘He’s very brave on the ball, he takes it in tight areas and looks to play forward.
‘That free-kick was a real bit of quality. I was petrified Jonny was going to take it! I’ve not seen Jonny hit the target from a free-kick in God knows how long. I was shouting to let Leighton hit it and thankfully he stepped aside.
‘You need that bit of individual brilliance sometimes. But we can’t rely on one player. We relied on Christian Ramirez in the first half of last season then when he wasn’t scoring in the second half, you were scratching your head as to where goals were coming from.
‘People will see a 1-0 win and think it was a close game but we were in control and are disappointed not to score more goals.’
Left-back Hayden Coulson returned for Aberdeen, with the on-loan Middlesbrough man having recovered from injury. His return saw Ross McCrorie switch back into midfield, while Liam Scales moved into central defence.
Daniel Phillips made his first start for Saints in midfield, replacing the injured Cammy MacPherson, while James Brown came in for on-loan Celtic defender Adam Montgomery at left wing-back.
Due to a medical incident in the main stand involving a fan, kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes.
When the match did eventually get underway, the ball was in the back of St Johnstone’s net inside 10 minutes when Bojan Miovski headed home from Hayes’ delivery, but the offside flag was raised.
Clarkson almost lit up the match with a sumptuous pass through to Miovski, who couldn’t quite stretch to poke the ball into the net. Andy Considine, facing the club where he clocked up 571 appearances over 18 years, made his mark in a Saints shirt when he caught Dons winger Vicente Besuijen, who was holding his stomach as he rolled on the ground. Considine was swiftly booked by referee Craig Napier.
The match was crying out for a spark, with so many stoppages. Three minutes after half-time, Clarkson took aim from the edge of the box but drilled his shot wide.
No matter. The 20-year-old then delivered in style eight minutes later. Graham Carey, who had not long been booked, was penalised for a foul on Hayes. Up stepped Clarkson to curl his long-range effort into the top-left corner.
‘I’m not sure if there was contact at their free-kick but Graham is adamant he didn’t touch him,’ said Saints boss Callum Davidson.
McCrorie then had two chances to double his team’s lead. His first effort was tipped over the bar by Saints keeper Remi Matthews before he soon saw a shot flash inches wide of the post.
The Dons had been lifted by Clarkson’s stunner and sensed the chance to kill the game. Miovski was denied from close range by Matthews before McCrorie sliced his follow-up effort over the bar.
Saints hadn’t given up hope, though, and Jamie Murphy’s eyes lit up when he was afforded room to run through the Dons defence but his shot was parried by Kelle Roos.
Aberdeen substitute Shayden Morris could have made it 2-0 in stoppage time when he raced through on goal but he was denied by Matthews.
Hailing Hayes on his landmark appearance, Goodwin added: ‘I feel like I’m blowing smoke up Jonny’s a*** every week now.
‘Even in the last five minutes, he’s still sprinting up and down the left-hand side.’
St Johnstone have just three points to their name after four matches and have yet to score at home in the league in these early stages. The fact is they didn’t have a finisher to match Clarkson’s quality.
‘I need to ask more of my players in the final third,’ added Davidson. ‘They need to be more positive. I thought our set-plays were pretty poor as well.’