Lions’ pride as Shinnie strikes to sink Saints
St Johnstone spurned a succession of chances to regain the upper hand in their desperate struggle to skip a relegation play-off.
A team that has toiled to create opportunities all season suddenly found a flood of them.
But, as if spooked by the very thought of running up a score, they criminally failed to take advantage of 25 attempts with some wasteful finishing when dominant.
Adama Sidibeh’s eighthminute opener was cancelled out by a first Premiership strike of the season from Cristian Montano.
Then, after being continually denied by the superb Shamal George, Craig Levein’s men were floored by a sucker punch from Andrew Shinnie.
The stoppage-time dramas summed up the season for Saints. A stunning pass with the outside of the excellent Graham Carey’s left boot released Nicky Clark in behind.
The veteran striker was presented with a one-on-one that he’d net in his sleep.
Yet Clark screwed the chance wide, sending him and multiple teammates sinking to their knees.
Incredibly, they conceded in 95 minutes. On the break, Steven Bradley teed up fellow sub Shinnie to smash home a terrific finish from 12 yards.
David Martindale had started recruiting for the Championship before this game by snapping up Robbie Muirhead.
But he promised his relegated Lions would be fully wound up to say farewell to the top flight with three fullycommitted displays.
There was no chance, however, of matching the ferocity of Saints’ opening when it appeared that the only issue of the day was how many they would score.
Clark’s left-foot shot fizzed just over in the opening seconds before George dug out goal-line stops to deny headers from Stevie May and Sidibeh.
Flimsy protection for George was creaking before Sidibeh broke through.
May’s mis-kicked attempt at goal from a Carey delivery into the box spun kindly for the Gambian to pounce from close range.
Saints should have capitalised further while firmly on top. Cammy MacPherson missed by inches after a well-timed arrival onto Sidibeh’s cutback and George hurled himself to thwart Sidibeh.
St Johnstone’s Player of the Year stepped up towards the end of the first half. Dimitar Mitov spread himself brilliantly to deny Montano.
The Bulgarian then forced away from Joel Nouble after a sweet one-two with Bruce Anderson and clutched well from Sean Kelly’s free-kick.
Livi enjoyed a steadier start to the second half until Mikey Devlin coughed up possession to Carey.
The Irishmen fed Sidibeh before George produced a fine save from Clark.
Drey Wright drove forward, Sidibeh’s effort was blocked and MacPherson fired straight at George.
There was huge frustration on the visiting bench and it was exacerbated on 72 minutes as Livi levelled – Stephen Kelly’s looping corner dropping to the left boot of unmarked Montano at the back post.
With Bradley and Daniel MacKay on, Livi were livelier. Saints were almost caught out by the same corner routine as the goal.
Mitov this time closed the gap at the post to deny Ayo Obileye, on for injured scorer Montano.
But Saints did ultimately wilt and Levein faces a huge task lifting them to face Ross County.