Incase you aren’t aware of what happened two years ago, I’ll explain. Main said in the press before we played Aberdeen and the Perth Scum played Dundee United, he’d prefer his old club United to stay up as they’d been unlucky and it would be better for the league. Not exactly the brightest thing to say. At half time St. Johnstone were winning 2-0 and Saints were winning 2-1, scores which would see the teams level on points. First major eejit Paul Hartley got himself sent off for the Perth Scum, then Main decided to throw a couple in/not exactly try to save them to help United win, get the three points and stay up. As a result Main got a lot of abuse in the friendly last season. That’s friendly in the loosest possible sense, considering 4 players were sent off!
Hartley was already hated by the St. Mirren fans for his antics with Hamilton, Raith Rovers, Hibs and Morton and the sending off, combined with his equaliser the week before against Saints, make him the most hated opposition player I can remember for the 10 years I’ve been supporting Saints. I have, however, bee told the look on his face was priceless when he missed the penalty against us before his equaliser. Wish I’d seen it. He’ll get a load of abuse tomorrow but the ned with the shocking haircut loves it and will probably score another screamer against us. I think he was the Fake Saints top scorer last season coming from midfield, just like Ricky Gillies was when we were relegated.
Another fully fledged ned is striker Keigan Parker, who’ll be a real danger to the Real Saints tomorrow. A narky, moany, diving little git, he probably gets on very well with Paul Hartley. He is also a half decent striker who could score a fair number in the fist division, most probably against us.
The real Saints have injury worries ahead of tomorrow, although it is expected that Ian Ross, Junior Mendes and Martin Cameron will all be fit. Greg Denham is out for a month, but Ludo Roy should be fit after picking up a slight knock against Celtic. Mark Yardley will probably make the bench as he is very unfit, but Jamie McGowan should be fit enough to play. Richard Robb will probably replace Denham in defence.
Finally, some points to ponder. Since the Real Saints were relegated to the first division in the early 90s, only two of their seasons (not including the SPL) have seen them start the season with a game at Love Street. In one of those seasons we reached the final of the B&Q Cup and lost to Falkirk, now the Bells League Challenge Cup. In the other, we won the league. I’d take either of those, preferably winning the cup instead of losing, but if I had a preference I think its pretty obvious which I’d take.
Another point, and you can have your say on the message boards or by voting in the poll about this. It will cost £1 less for an adult and child to go through the parent and child gate than for one adult to get into McDermaid Park for the battle of the Saints in Perth. What a con. Admittedly the 5 St. Johnstone fans won’t be able to take advantage of our nice prices as there isn’t enough space to park their tractor.