Soft penalty tips the balance for Buddies
ST MIRREN 1 Mcgrath (82 pen) ROSS COUNTY 0
Jim Goodwin admits there are too many soft penalties being awarded in Scottish football.
And the St Mirren boss pledged to throw the book at striker Collin Quaner if it can be proved he dived to win the spot-kick that won the game.
It looked like the Buddies were about to record their fifth consecutive draw until the German went down and Jamie Mcgrath stepped up to convert from eight yards.
This victory means the Paisley club have almost secured their place in the top six.
Goodwin, who believes they need one more win to be sure of that, gave an honest assessment of the controversial penalty incident.
He said: “I don’t think it was a dive. Collin has got the wrong side of the defender.
“It was soft, no doubt. I’m not going to try to pull the wool over people’s eyes and say it was stonewall.
“But that’s the way the game has gone and if we don’t do
something about it, that’s what happens.
“I don’t think it was simulation, there was slight contact. Was there enough to make the big man go over? I’ll need have to have a look.
“If it is proved he has dived, I will be the first one to speak to him. If my player deserves the book thrown at him, then so be it.”
Goodwin was happy to agree that a draw would have been a fair result.
The highlight of the first half was a tremendous save by visiting keeper Ross Laidlaw.
In truth, his leap to push away a Mccarthy header was the only noteworthy incident in 45 untidy minutes of action.
It was one of those periods that makes you reflect on the tension that’s never far away in a 12-team top flight.
Saints are clearly desperate to clinch a top-six finish and the Staggies have a fight on their hands to escape the relegation zone.
There was plenty of pressing and lots of tackling, all to the background noise of managers imploring players to get closer.
Social distancing is not an option in a Premiership scrap.
John Hughes attempted to shake things up by making a triple substitution at half-time.
The introduction of Oli Shaw as a second striker helped to push the visitors further up the pitch.
Just as Laidlaw had done earlier, Jak Alnwick produced a fabulous stop to prevent White’s header from bulging the net.
The numerous substitutions made before 70 minutes showed that neither manager was satisfied with the way things were going.
Jim Goodwin followed County’s example by introducing Obika and Quaner in attack.
Alex Iacovitti had a volley from Paton’s corner cleared off the line.
That summed up the match – attempts on goal either weren’t good enough or were blocked by defensive heroics.
So it wasn’t too surprising the winner came from a penalty.
Leo Hejelde was the man adjudged to have fouled Quaner.
County kept pressing for a leveller but their efforts were in vain.
Tillson got a decent chance in added-on time but sent his effort just wide from close range.
So often we end up talking about referees.
Jim Goodwin came back to the subject when talking about a calf injury sustained by Joe Shaughnessy.
He said: “Joe was also clearly smashed in the face.
“If you ask which is more of a penalty, then I’d suggest Joe’s. He has a peach of a black eye.”