Saints to be wrapped in cotton wool after wrapping up Euro slot
ST JOHNSTONE 0
LIVINGSTON 0
Callum Davidson has steered St Johnstone into Europe for the sixth time in nine seasons.
In his 50th match in charge, the Perth manager preserved fifth place to secure an invitation to the new European Conference League.
Saints got the point they needed to keep Livingston at bay, thanks to a slightly superior goal difference.
The achievement has been overshadowed by Covid worries and the countdown to their Scottish Cup Final clash with Hibs.
But Davidson was thrilled for his players and he’s pledged to wrap them in cotton wool.
He said: “It’s a phenomenal achievement to finish fifth and to compete for trophies.
“It’s been a phenomenal season, whatever happens next week.
“There are issues we have to deal with, testing procedures because there were cases last week. Training has been pretty difficult.
“It’s not ideal preparation but you saw the character we have. Basically we are praying we get nothing else.
“I’m thrilled for the players but let’s not really talk about the game.
“I don’t think it was a great game. There were very few chances. But the lads have hardly trained the last two weeks so to get that performance in effort, attitude and desire to get the result we needed was fantastic.”
Davidson was delighted to get game time into Murray Davidson, Stevie May and Liam Craig.
“I wasn’t planning on playing Murray for 90 minutes, it’s just the way the game panned out.
“You can see his sharpness wasn’t quite there, that’s why we decided to play Liam, Stevie and Murray because I think they needed that before the Cup Final.
“There was an element of risk to play them in order to get the result.’
“I’ll put Murray in full PPE gear, make sure he stays at home, comes to training and comes back again.
“I’m just hoping for good fortune with Covid and hopefully we are doing everything we can to make sure no one has it or passed it on. We are praying no one else gets it.”
With keepers Zander Clark and Elliot Parish self-isolating, on-loan Hearts goalie Zdenek Zlamal got another start hard on the heels of the 4-0 loss to Celtic, with Ali McCann, Liam Gordon and Michael O’Halloran notable absentees.
After tentative exchanges in the opening minutes, Livi keeper Max Stryjek caused his defenders unnecessary problems by opting to punch a Callum Booth cross floated towards his back post. He was under no pressure but in the ensuing chaos, Davidson couldn’t summon up enough power on his header to exploit the keeper’s discomfort.
Perth keeper Zlamal had to be on his toes in the 27th minute to frustrate Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
The Livi danger man shook off Booth at the edge of the penalty area and Zlamal, at full-stretch, pushed his effort round the post.
Referee Craig Napier had no option but to yellow card Marvin Bartley and Liam Craig for challenges before the interval.
The top six rivals were cancelling each other out in a lacklustre affair.
Both managers turned to their benches in a bid to break the deadlock.
In the 72nd minute veteran Zlamal showed why Davidson had turned to him for an emergency loan. He hasn’t seen much action this term at Tynecastle but the keeper came to Shaun Rooney’s rescue in the 72nd minute.
Livi centre Jaze Kabia robbed the Perth defender and let loose from 16 yards.
And Zlamal produced a vital stop to guarantee European football for his team-mates.
He jabbed out a leg to mop up the danger, with Livi pleading in vain for a spot-kick for Jason Kerr’s late challenge.