Saints end the Lions’ long unbeaten run
LIVINGSTON 1 Pittman (83) ST JOHNSTONE 2 Tanser (45), Rooney (51)
ST JOHNSTONE may have aced the dress rehearsal but that will mean nothing when these sides take to the Hampden stage for the real thing.
That is the view of Livingston boss David Martindale, who endured the first taste of defeat in his brief managerial career on Saturday.
After 14 matches – a rampant, thrilling three months – the Perth Saints were the team who finally derailed the Livi juggernaut, with goals from Scott Tanser and Shaun Rooney securing a precious three points.
Will that plant the seeds of doubt ahead of the Betfred Cup final on February 28? Not a bit of it, according to Martindale.
“Will they think they’ve got the measure of us going into the final? Yes, of course they will,” said the Livi boss. “And I’ll be delighted if they think like that.
“I’m confident that’s not the case.
“Evenifwehadwonthegame on Saturday, I don’t think it would have given us the opportunity to go in the final as favourites. It’s a national cup final and form goes out the window.
“Nerves will play a part with both teams – and I’m not bothered about what this game will do.”
The visitors should have claimed the lead with just two minutes on the clock, with skipper Jason Kerr ghosting in at the back post to meet a Wotherspoon delivery, only to volley over the bar from six yards.
Aside from that early opportunity, it was a first half characterised by both sides showing far more efficacy without the ball than with it.
The pressing, tackling and intensity was admirable but, once back in possession, sloppiness abounded.
The Saints’ Israeli attacker, Melamed, was a particular culprit.
However, a moment of magic on the cusp of half-time gave the visitors the lead. Tanser produced a sumptuous dipping free-kick from the edge of the box, leaving Max Stryjek clawing at fresh air and punishing Aaron Taylor-Sinclair for his tempestuous challenge on Chris Kane.
Martindale threw on Emmanuel-Thomas in place of Forrest at the interval, rather summing up his dissatisfaction with the prior 45 minutes.
But St Johnstone doubled their advantage within five minutes of the restart when Rooney – afforded unforgivable freedom in the box – headed a Liam Craig free-kick beyond Stryjek.
This was uncharted territory in Martindale’s managerial career and, even during Livi’s remarkable run of form stretching back to November, they only came from behind to get a result twice. They never looked likely to do so here. Indeed, St Johnstone should have ended the game as a contest when Rooney was hauled down by Nicky Devlin in the box.
Euan Anderson pointed to the spot but Stevie May, on as a substitute, saw his penalty saved by the legs of Stryjek.
A nerve-shredding finale was assured for the Perth Saints when Pittman glanced a super Devlin delivery beyond Zander Clark, via the inside of the post.
But that did not spark a dramatic comeback as St Johnstone held firm to inflict a first defeat on Livi since their 1-0 reverse against St Mirren on November 21 – a whole new experience for Martindale.
“I don’t feel any different and I won’t be changing anything that I do,” he added.
“We still trust the work, trust the process and I’ll be doing the same things I’ve done for five years.
“We don’t get too high when we win games and we won’t get too low now we’ve lost one.”