It was written in the stars I’d get a goal, says Carey

Graham Carey celebrates scoring Saints’ winner.

Graham Carey gave thanks to the support for his wife’s cancer fight after netting the emotional winner against Ross County.

St Johnstone fans have rallied round the family since news became public that Rachel Borthwick is battling the disease for the fourth time.

Supporters organised a fund-raising collection before yesterday’s McDiarmid Park contest.

In midweek against Motherwell, they applauded in the 11th minute in support and displayed a banner for Rachel.

Carey said: “So many peoplesaidI’dscoreand thankfully I did – I think it was written in the stars I’dgetagoal.

“Thankfully it was the winner.

“It has been really tough, the whole club, the team and the staff have really shown their support.

“It means a lot to me and my family. Rachel was overwhelmed with the support the other night at the Motherwell game.

“It hasn’t just been this club – the whole football community have been great at sending messages and stuff.

“Physically it has been a bit draining. When you’re playing in the games you can switch off a little bit, but at half-time and at full-time it’s been tough.

“I have said all season we have a great group in this dressing room and they’ve really shown their support this week. It means a lot to us all.”

Ross County have gone nine games without a win and Malky Mackay admitted his men didn’t have the quality to match Carey and Co.

Mackay said: “It was a scrappy game. I said at half-time that one moment of quality was going to settle the game, and Carey scored a very good goal.

“We just didn’t have that extra little bit of cutting edge and quality all over the park that we’ve shown in the last couple of weeks away fromhome.

“We didn’t have enough showing that extra bit of responsibility. It’s not like them because, if nothing else, we are a brave team.

“We had plenty of the ball, we just didn’t quite make the telling pass. We’ve come off the back of four away games in five.

“It’s just the way it goes, but it’s a lot of travelling. We go into thebreaknowandthere are obviously a tonne of games after that, right up to January 2.

“We will be pedal to the floor again, but it gives us the chance to reflect over the next few days.”