Today's game against Falkirk was truly remarkable and is another in the long line of crucial relegation matches that will live long in the memory. After playing the second half with 10 men, Stephen O'Donnell bundled the ball home with just five minutes of normal time left to give us a point that was celebrated as if we'd won the European Cup. And why not? Thanks to Kilmarnock losing, only some freak results in the next seven days will stop us gracing the top flight again next season.
Every player in the second half was sensational. After Chris Innes was sent off just before the break and Falkirk gleefully scored the penalty, things looked bad. However, from the restart the fans gave their all, and the players responded by giving everything they had and more. When O'Donnell somehow forced the ball home, it really was bedlam.
But we'll get to that later. What matters is that we should be safe and we can look forward to another season in the SPL. There shouldn't be any last day relegation drama for us this year, and thank god for that.
After last week's win over Kilmarnock there were two changes for Saints, one of which was enforced. Innes replaced the suspended Lee Mair, while the fit again Billy Mehmet took over from Michael Higdon. Falkirk stuck with Pedro Moutinho up front and also found a place for former Saint Burton O'Brien.
After surviving an early scare from a corner, Saints began to settle and looked good. O'Donnell missed the target with a cross-come-shot, Andy Dorman headed a couple of crosses just off target and Graham Carey had a go with a free-kick that failed to trouble Robert Olejnik.
Right on half time came trouble. Falkirk had a corner, and while Paul Gallacher managed to grab a goal-bound header out of the air, Innes and Brian McLean started squaring up to each other. An eagle-eyed linesman decided Innes had been naught, and off he went. None of the Saints fans had a clue what had happened, and my version is both gave as bad as they got and should have met the same punishment. However, McLean escaped scot-free. Remember, this is Willie Collum - the referee who doesn't think a goalkeeper assaulting Craig Dargo is worth a red card.
To make things worse, the ball was still in play, so Collum gave a penalty that Scott Arfield fired home to give Falkirk the lead at the break.
Some reshuffling was required and O'Donnell went to right back. it's fair to say he didn't cover himself in glory, and it wasn't entirely due to being out of position - his distribution and attempted clearances were poor. On the other side, Carey was also having a disappointing day.
The interval was spent with Saints fans asking each other just what had happened, with no one really knowing. The team was cheered on to the field for the second half and the noise level grew as we forced some early set-pieces that came to nothing.
Moutinho had a shot blocked by Potter as Falkirk tried to extend their lead and were passing it about nicely in an attempt to stretch Saints. They managed to work the channels well, but just couldn't make the final ball work. There were a number of last ditch tackles as the men in black and gold set about trying to ensure things didn't get worse - which they threatened to when Enoch Showumni came on for Colin Healy. As a response, Steven Robb was replaced with Michael Higdon as we went with two up.
It nearly worked as Mehmet was able to find space to turn and shoot just wide from the edge of the box. At the other end, Darren Barr seemed to have scored but somehow the Saints defence managed to clear it off the line. Craig Dargo was then brought on for Hugh Murray as we went for broke, and with five minutes left it worked.
Dargo was unlucky to see his shot parried by Olejnik, but Mehmet chased the ball down, played it back to Dorman, his cross was flicked on by Dargo (who was promptly flattened) and O'Donnell was there at the back post to head home from about a yard. Quite why our supposed rightback was there is anyone's guess, but no one was complaining as the Saints fans behind the goal celebrated their equaliser in suitable style.
I must admit I was waiting on Mr Collum ruling it out for some supposed infringement due to his weird performance, and even when I'd finished running down the steps and banging the side of the stand I still wasn't sure it had been given until play resumed!
Dargo needed treatment before that happened and the beginning of five minutes of stoppage time was marked by Garry Brady replacing the hard working and tired Mehmet. This wouldn't be Saints without a late scare and, with seconds remaining, Falkirk won themselves a corner. Fortunately, it came to nothing and after Dargo won a throw in Mr Collum decided to bring proceedings to a close.
With Kilmarnock losing, it meant the celebrations could begin among the Saints support. Only a freak series of results will see us down now. We'd need to lose 5-0 to Hamilton on Wednesday while Falkirk and Kilmarnock would need to win by the same margin. Then we'd need to lose 5-0 to Aberdeen - and even then we'd only be in danger if Killie and the Bairns drew their final game. It ain't going to happen!
Every player (with the exception of Innes!) was superb today. The fans were terrific, especially in the second half. It may not have been the win we all wanted, but it was the next best thing. Crucial relegation games, Saints and Westfield seem to mix, as today proved. It really is days like today that make supporting a club like Saints worthwhile.
Well done to every Buddie for today - that was one hell of an afternoon.
Today's game against Falkirk was truly remarkable and is another in the long line of crucial relegation matches that will live long in the memory. After playing the second half with 10 men, Stephen O'Donnell bundled the ball home with just five minutes of normal time left to give us a point that was celebrated as if we'd won the European Cup. And why not? Thanks to Kilmarnock losing, only some freak results in the next seven days will stop us gracing the top flight again next season.
Every player in the second half was sensational. After Chris Innes was sent off just before the break and Falkirk gleefully scored the penalty, things looked bad. However, from the restart the fans gave their all, and the players responded by giving everything they had and more. When O'Donnell somehow forced the ball home, it really was bedlam.
But we'll get to that later. What matters is that we should be safe and we can look forward to another season in the SPL. There shouldn't be any last day relegation drama for us this year, and thank god for that.
After last week's win over Kilmarnock there were two changes for Saints, one of which was enforced. Innes replaced the suspended Lee Mair, while the fit again Billy Mehmet took over from Michael Higdon. Falkirk stuck with Pedro Moutinho up front and also found a place for former Saint Burton O'Brien.
After surviving an early scare from a corner, Saints began to settle and looked good. O'Donnell missed the target with a cross-come-shot, Andy Dorman headed a couple of crosses just off target and Graham Carey had a go with a free-kick that failed to trouble Robert Olejnik.
Right on half time came trouble. Falkirk had a corner, and while Paul Gallacher managed to grab a goal-bound header out of the air, Innes and Brian McLean started squaring up to each other. An eagle-eyed linesman decided Innes had been naught, and off he went. None of the Saints fans had a clue what had happened, and my version is both gave as bad as they got and should have met the same punishment. However, McLean escaped scot-free. Remember, this is Willie Collum - the referee who doesn't think a goalkeeper assaulting Craig Dargo is worth a red card.
To make things worse, the ball was still in play, so Collum gave a penalty that Scott Arfield fired home to give Falkirk the lead at the break.
Some reshuffling was required and O'Donnell went to right back. it's fair to say he didn't cover himself in glory, and it wasn't entirely due to being out of position - his distribution and attempted clearances were poor. On the other side, Carey was also having a disappointing day.
The interval was spent with Saints fans asking each other just what had happened, with no one really knowing. The team was cheered on to the field for the second half and the noise level grew as we forced some early set-pieces that came to nothing.
Moutinho had a shot blocked by Potter as Falkirk tried to extend their lead and were passing it about nicely in an attempt to stretch Saints. They managed to work the channels well, but just couldn't make the final ball work. There were a number of last ditch tackles as the men in black and gold set about trying to ensure things didn't get worse - which they threatened to when Enoch Showumni came on for Colin Healy. As a response, Steven Robb was replaced with Michael Higdon as we went with two up.
It nearly worked as Mehmet was able to find space to turn and shoot just wide from the edge of the box. At the other end, Darren Barr seemed to have scored but somehow the Saints defence managed to clear it off the line. Craig Dargo was then brought on for Hugh Murray as we went for broke, and with five minutes left it worked.
Dargo was unlucky to see his shot parried by Olejnik, but Mehmet chased the ball down, played it back to Dorman, his cross was flicked on by Dargo (who was promptly flattened) and O'Donnell was there at the back post to head home from about a yard. Quite why our supposed rightback was there is anyone's guess, but no one was complaining as the Saints fans behind the goal celebrated their equaliser in suitable style.
I must admit I was waiting on Mr Collum ruling it out for some supposed infringement due to his weird performance, and even when I'd finished running down the steps and banging the side of the stand I still wasn't sure it had been given until play resumed!
Dargo needed treatment before that happened and the beginning of five minutes of stoppage time was marked by Garry Brady replacing the hard working and tired Mehmet. This wouldn't be Saints without a late scare and, with seconds remaining, Falkirk won themselves a corner. Fortunately, it came to nothing and after Dargo won a throw in Mr Collum decided to bring proceedings to a close.
With Kilmarnock losing, it meant the celebrations could begin among the Saints support. Only a freak series of results will see us down now. We'd need to lose 5-0 to Hamilton on Wednesday while Falkirk and Kilmarnock would need to win by the same margin. Then we'd need to lose 5-0 to Aberdeen - and even then we'd only be in danger if Killie and the Bairns drew their final game. It ain't going to happen!
Every player (with the exception of Innes!) was superb today. The fans were terrific, especially in the second half. It may not have been the win we all wanted, but it was the next best thing. Crucial relegation games, Saints and Westfield seem to mix, as today proved. It really is days like today that make supporting a club like Saints worthwhile.
Well done to every Buddie for today - that was one hell of an afternoon.