We knew Stranraer would come for a point yet we didn't adjust the team accordingly. We've had plenty of practice playing against teams who sit back at Love Street but still we were useless.
Saints starting lineup was bizarre to say the least. Ian Maxwell and John Potter both started, with David van Zanten and Mark Reilly strangely making way. Maxwell played for the first hour at left wing back, a position he proved today he is far too slow for. Mark Corcoran was dropped to the bench and in his place came Billy Mehmet, free from the mumps but well short of match fitness. Still, no worse than Brian McGinty I suppose.
Let me summarise the match in a few praragraphs. Saints were restricted to long range efforts through a variety of players and rarely tested Stranraer keeper Barry John Corr. The few times they did manage to get into the box to have a go it was either straight at Corr or deflected off of another Stranraer player. The best chance came in the first half, when Hugh Murray's free kick was knocked on by Stewart Kean to Kirk Broadfoot, who let the ball bounce off him and behind from a few yards out. In the second half Kean volleyed over from close range but it was a difficult chance.
Stranraer came to sit back for a point and hope to catch us on the break. They almost did on a few occasions as well, Allan Jenkins firing a shot just wide with a few minutes left. They won many corners but, like Saints, couldn't do anything from them. The only other notable point was Corr being booked for time wasting in the final minute, though why he hadn't been booked before is a mystery.
Saints created virtually nothing all day and were clueless up front, the final ball into the box being terrible. Simon Lappin has forgotten how to cross a ball, whilst Ian Maxwell is not a wing back. Mehmet looked decent but was well short of fitness, and it is surely time for Kevin McGowne to be dropped to the bench at best. Finally, for some reason all the high balls were played to Kean instead of the much taller Mehmet. Suppose nothing should surprise me after today's dross though.
Hopefully Mehmet will be a bit nearer fitness next week whilst Reilly and Corcoran will return to the starting lineup. It would also be nice to see a new, creative edge in midfield and another striker as if we lose to St. Johnstone we can kiss the league goodbye right now.