New Year, new start? Saints managed just one home league win in the whole of 2010 but managed to match that tally in the first couple of days of 2010 after beating Kilmarnock today thanks to a Chris Innes goal.
We probably didn’t deserve it, but after just four home wins in all competitions last year, and two points in the last eight games, no one really cares. The performance wasn’t great, Kilmarnock should probably have won based on the second half. But we got three points. Gus MacPherson isn’t out of the woods by a long shot, but a few more results like this might buy him some breathing space – unless he heads to Preston in the next few days.
The first surprise of the New Year was the inclusion of Andy Dorman in the starting line-up after his lengthy injury layoff, with Stephen O'Donnell also handed a start - although Steven Robb was once again on the bench and Mo Camara didn't even make the squad. Instead, the bench featured Dennis Wyness following his loan spell at Queen of the South. Kilmarnock had to leave giant hitman Kevin Kyle on the bench as he wasn't well.
Conceding early goals has been a problem for Saints this season but we nearly had one of our own to celebrate after four minutes when James Fowler had to clear a Billy Mehmet header behind. David Fernandez headed the ball harmlessly over a short while later as the opening 25 minutes or so proved to be rather boring. Amusingly, we seemed to be enjoying the benefit of the refereeing decisions for once, with the Killie fans becoming increasingly incensed at every decision that went our way, although admittedly the advantage rule seemed to be something he was unaware of.
The arrival of some snow coincided with things getting a bit more exciting, Conor Sammon almost connecting with a cross when in a good position before Dorman and Dargo exchanged passes at the other end, after which Dorman saw a fierce drive blocked by Mark Brown, with some help from a post. Some typically dodgy defending from Saints almost allowed Sammon in again, but this time he duffed his shot.
We struggle to score from corners so it was perhaps no surprise to see Kilmarnock almost score from one of our set-pieces 10 minutes before the break. The delivery was poor, allowing Killie to clear the ball quickly in the direction of Jamie Hamill. He was able to run towards goal unchallenged, before firing in a low shot that Paul Gallacher managed to hold. An injury enforced switch then saw John Potter removed, with Chris Innes taking his place. Little did we know…
The start to the second half wasn't much better than the majority of the opening 45 minutes, although the Saints defence was beginning to look increasingly shaky, partly due to the movement of Invincible. He managed to create a chance for Sammon that he blazed over, but it was clear he was beginning to unsettle the home backline. The only Saints "action" of note came on the touchline when Gus MacPherson decided to replace O'Donnell with Alan Johnston, back from his latest injury. It made little immediate change, with Sammon passing up another chance from close range.
Johnston did begin to make a bit of a difference and Dargo very nearly gave us the lead when he tried to steer home a flick-on from Mehmet, only to see it deflected behind. Unfortunately, Kilmarnock then decided to bring on Kyle, although replacing the dangerous Sammon was a bit odd. Fernandez being replaced by Mehdi Taouil also seemed a bit strange to me. But maybe that's why I'm not a football manager as almost immediately his cross was deflected to Invincible, who messed up and fluffed his shot wide.
It seemed a matter of time until Killie scored and the goal duly arrived with 10 minutes left. At the other end. From a corner. Perhaps in shock at the events that were about to take place, my laptop decided to crash seconds before Dorman swung in the set-piece for Innes to bullet into the back of the net!
There turned out to be only one late scare and it came in injury time. Gallacher did his best David James impression by getting nowhere near a free-kick, allowing Taouil to hammer a shot towards the net. It looked for all the world like a goal, but Innes got himself in front of it to keep it out, much to the delight of the Saints support. It turned out to be Killie’s last chance, but not before their fans started calling for Jim Jeffries to go.
A home win, a goal from a corner and a clean sheet – the rest of 2010 is going to have to go something to produce a more shocking Saints game than this!