Saints pay penalty again as Staggies dig in to earn point
Callum Davidson admits Ali Mccann’s fluffed chance against Ross County was evidence that penalty kicks are starting to cause St Johnstone a spot of bother.
Mccann’s 70th-minute miss denied Saints a winning start in the Premiership ahead of their Europa League adventure away to Galatasaray on Thursday.
It’s three misses in a row for Saints now – after Glenn Middleton’s miss in the final against Hibs in May and David Wotherspoon’s poor effort in pre-season.
Davidson, now fully focused on the Turkey trip, said: “Penalties are becoming a problem, now you mention it!
“Liam Craig was off the pitch and he is probably the one who usually takes them.
“It is just one of those things. Ali was confident and David missed one in pre-season.
“It is disappointing because they are massive moments in games and it could have turned things our way.”
With excitement building ahead of Thursday for last season’s double cup winners, Davidson felt the draw was nevertheless valuable.
He stressed: “I thought it was a game we should have won. First half, both teams played the same system.
“It was quite difficult to get any real flow in the game and it was quite scrappy.”
Manchester United loan signing Reece Devine, at left wing-back, won the penalty from Coll Donaldson in a fine debut performance and Davidson said: “I thought he was excellent. All credit to him because that was his first senior game.
“He came up from down the road and was a little bit behind.
“He has worked extremely hard to get better. He has ability and he has real pace.”
Davidson is closing in on Finnish striker Eetu Vertainen and added: “We are still working hard behind the scenes to get something sorted.”
Saints found precious little space to punish a side that had shipped 66 goals in the Premiership last season.
Scotland’s double cup winners were playing competitively for the first time since completing that historic feat against Hibs at Hampden Park 70 days before.
Malky Mackay’s first home league match in charge made it a clean slate for a Staggies squad still being rebuilt after 15 departures.
But they were looking for a first Dingwall win against the Perth side in nine visits.
Mackay gave ex-gillingham frontman Dom Samuel his league debut.
The presence of two sets of supporters cranked up the adrenaline and energy levels, but it was a poor first half hour.
County created a couple of early aerial chances with new captain Keith Watson and Charles ReganCook both heading wide.
Saints retaliated with young Devine grasping the chance to drive forward and fire low but just wide from 20 yards.
County’s best first-half chance came after 35 minutes.
Coll Donaldson tore forward and played through Ross Callachan to the right.
The summer signing from Hamilton might have been caught in two minds as he drove low and wide of the far post.
The penalty came in 70 minutes. As Devine tried to drag the ball back from the by-line just inside the left side of the box, Donaldson appeared to catch him.
County were incensed as referee Colin Steven pointed to the spot, but Mccann stepped up and fired wildly over the bar.