Match report

Saturday, 20 March 2010
Late goals frustrate Saints' efforts

Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Celtic (3) v Saints (0)
Attendance [0]

Gavin Swankie and Paul McGowan battle for possession.


Derek McInnes rightly considers that a few more wins are required to be assured of SPL survival this season but nevertheless, recent successes meant that we headed to Parkhead perhaps more interested in the teams above us than below us in the SPL table. To that end, the players headed into the game knowing that Hearts - the next side in their sights in terms of league position – had picked up a win in the lunchtime Edinburgh derby and had therefore edged six points ahead of us.

Given the lengthy ‘unavailable’ list it was no surprise to see changes in the line-up from the midweek win over Aberdeen. The defensive unit was the only department to escape unscathed but it was all change elsewhere.

One of the players expected to make it – Jody Morris – failed a fitness test but Murray Davidson was deemed fit enough to play and he joined Chris Millar in the centre of park flanked on either side by the recalled Paul Sheerin and Gavin Swankie.

Liam Craig picked up a knock in Thursday training and only made the bench where he was joined by new recruit Josh Falkingham.

Steven Milne made it and replaced on-loan Celt Cillian Sheridan who was not allowed to face his employers.

Saints gave a good account of themselves throughout the first half of what was a strangely subdued affair: the home side’s position in terms of the title race seemed to affect the home support in terms of both numbers and vocal support.

The ever-sharp Robbie Keane was well policed by the Saints rearguard although Graeme Smith had to be quick off his line to get in ahead of the Tottenham loan player as early as the third minute.

These was yet another injury blow for Saints in just 13 minutes when Kenny Deuchar picked up a knock on what looked to be his recently injured ankle and it was apparent fairly quickly that he would not be able to continue but just as his replacement – 17 year old Steven Reynolds – came on, the home side grabbed the lead in 16 minutes.

Paul Sheerin conceded a free kick and when the ball was swung in from the right, Celtic defender Josh Thompson got his head on it and although it wasn’t the strongest of efforts, it was close enough inside Graeme Smith’s left hand post to prevent the Saints keeper from getting to it and the ball landed in the back of the net.

The recalled Gavin Swankie – in just his third start of the season – picked up a booking in 20 minutes for clattering into Mark Crosas.

Saints certainly saw plenty of the ball in the remainder of the half and knocked it around reasonably well but the final pass which might have opened up a glimpse of goal was frequently lacking although Swankie did get an effort in on goal but a nick off O’Dea took the sting off the ball and Zaluskas was able to gather.

The home support were frustrated that their side were not making more of an impression and the well-marshalled Perth defence coped well with what came their way – Paul McGowan was the pick of the home players in terms of danger to our hopes of taking something from the game and he had their best chance, clipping an effort off the bar after a nice interchange with Robbie Keane.

After that lacklustre first-half, the second period opened with chances at either end which, apart from the goal, were as close as anything that had gone before.

First up, a corner kick won after good play by Gavin Swankie, was cleared only as far as the edge of the box where Josh Thompson conceded a free kick after fouling Murray Davidson. Swankie took the 20 yard dead ball himself and his effort was just inches wide with Zaluskas clutching thin air.

Almost immediately, Celtic were on the offensive and a dangerous cross from the right caused panic and although there were no immediate takers, Aiden McGeady gathered the loose ball and curled in an effort which struck the post.

This signalled a definite shift up in gear from the home side and Smith was required to produce a great point-blank stop from Robbie Keane but it wasn’t long before the home side did increase their lead.

It came from the penalty spot after Smith challenged Fortune for a ball – referee Calum Murray having no hesitation in awarding the kick and Robbie Keane fired high into the net from 12 yards to make it 2-0.

On either side of that goal, Saints had made changes – Liam Craig and Filipe Morais replacing Paul Sheerin and Steven Milne respectively but you sensed that the chance of taking something from the game had evaporated with that second goal.

Celtic introduced Georgios Samaras to the fray in the latter stages and it was he who put the game beyond all doubt in the dying minutes.

He had already beaten Gary Irvine once, turning on a sixpence after the Saints had rashly dived into a challenge and while the outcome of that attack was only a corner kick, there was to be a different result moments later when the Greek turned Irvine for a second time. He was closer to goal this time and he had the time to set himself up to fire the ball under Graeme Smith to make it 3-0.

Saints gave a decent account of themselves in this one but there can be few complaints about the outcome. The home side created by far the bulk of the chances in the game – our best effort came from the Gavin Swankie free kick early in the second half – we can only surmise what would have happened had that one gone in to make it 1-1.

This was always going to be a ‘anything’s a bonus’ game but there was to be no crumb of comfort on a day in which Hearts were the main beneficiaries in the race for the top six.

SAINTS: Smith, Irvine, Grainger, Duberry, Mackay, Millar, Davidson, Sheerin (Craig), Deuchar (Reynolds), Milne (Morais), Swankie.
Subs not used: Main, Connolly, Gartland, Falkingham.

CELTIC: Zaluska, N’Guemo, Keane, Fortune (Samaras), Wilson, Crosas (Ki Sung), Braafeid, Thompson, McGeady, O’Dea, McGowan (Zhi).
Subs not used: Boruc, Hinkel, Samaras, Rasmussen,Caddis

PHOTOS
Top - Paul Sheerin is closed down by Aiden McGeady and Marc Crosas
Bottom - This Gavin Swankie free kick clipped the post