‘It was a sending off’: Davidson backs ref Clancy
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson almost had his first game in charge ruined by a red card for Michael O’Halloran but he thought it was the right decision.
Saints found themselves 1-0 down and one man down to Dundee United in the Premiership opener at Tannadice after O’Halloran earned a second booking for lunging at Calum Butcher.
To their credit, the visitors fought back and equalised thanks to Liam Craig’s volley on 56 minutes and 1-1 is how it stayed.
Davidson said: “It was a sending-off. He got away with one a few minutes before and we were actually debating whether to take him off or not. We decided to wait until half-time but I turned around and he was sent off.
“Mikey is desperate to do well but it’s something you have to curb because we can’t afford to be losing players.”
Craig, who also conceded the penalty that was scored by United’s Nicky Clark after six minutes before scoring himself, felt the spotkick was rather harsh.
Craig said: “My arm was up but the ball hit my side first. I can see why he has given it but it was a harsh booking for deliberate handball.
“There was a bit of relief on a personal level after giving away the penalty and I’m just glad I was able to make amends.
“The key thing was how we responded after not starting the game well and the pleasing thing for the manager is the character we showed.
“I didn’t know what to do when I scored because of the empty stands. It’s been so long since I scored – never mind in front of fans!
“It’s never going to be the same without fans because the noise that goes with it is what makes a good goal look like a very good goal.”
United gaffer Micky Mellon, meanwhile, felt his side let victory slip away. He said: “I want to try and be honest about our performances. I think we just switched off on one tiny detail that we had worked hard on. The players will know that.
“We were a wee bit loose when the ball got turned over and we got punished for that.
“It was good finish from the lad and I’ll give credit to St Johnstone because they dug in, as you do when you have 10 men.
“Then we had to break down a block and we kept prodding and poking away at that.
“We were unable to do that but we will learn our lessons from that.
“We are in a transition and there are a few players playing at this level of the game for the first time in a long time.”