Deadly O’Halloran again the main man for Saints
ST JOHNSTONE 1 O’Halloran (33) PARTICK THISTLE 0
SAINTS maintained their 100% Premiership record with a convincing victory over struggling Partick.
Once again, match-winner Michael O’Halloran set the tone with an energetic display.
Saints manager Tommy Wright said: “I haven’t been happy with the way we have been retaining the ball and passing it, but that was much better today.
“We used the ball well at the goal. It was a nicelyworked, clever goal, which gave Michael the chance to cut across the box and shoot home.”
Thistle were a shadow of the team that won 3- 0 at McDiar mid Park in the Betfred Cup earlier this month and, ahead of another stiff test against Aberdeen on Saturday, they are secondbottom of the Premiership.
Alan Archibald, who has been linked with the Hearts job following the departure of Ian Cathro, admitted his side’s form was concerning.
“We knew we had a difficult start and we have to start picking up points soon,” said the Jags boss.
“Saints were better first half and won the battle.”
The problem for every Premiership side apart from Celtic is finding consistency.
With the notable exception of the champions, it’s very difficult to establish a pecking order.
Thistle, for instance, fulfilled their League Cup commitments unbeaten but
have now lost their first three league matches.
Saints, too, have been hard to work out, losing to the Jags in the cup before thumping in- form Motherwell 4- 1 at home last Saturday.
But with O’Halloran’s addition pace and movement and improved finishing, alongside the clever Steven MacLean, Saints have improved up front.
O’Halloran’s goal, in off the post after 33 minutes, gave the home side the lead their play deserved.
The vital strike again illustrated how instrumental O’Halloran has been in the Saints’ upturn in form.
Still operating mainly on the left, the Irishman has the awareness to find pockets of space and is always in the right place when there is a chance to convert in the box.
Behind him, Saints look very compact in midfield, with Murray Davidson and Paul Paton reliable alongside Steven Anderson and Joe Shaughnessy.
With such a solid unit centrally, Richie Foster and Brian Easton had the chance to push forward on the flanks and, for a fair bit of the match, placed Partick on the back foot.
Wuth Miles Storey given a lone role up front following his move from Aberdeen, the Jags were relying on their mid- field players to provide support.
However, the young striker didn’t get much of that until midway through the second half when Conor Sammon came off the bench, when the pattern of the match had already been set.
So for the visitors it was a day to work hard behind the ball and hope to seize their chances on the counter-attack later in the game when legs became weary.
Chris Erskine came close in either half with fierce drives which Alan Mannus kept out acrobatically.
But apart f r om those chances, Thistle failed to threaten.