Kilmarnock 3 St.Mirren 1
A frustrating game at Rugby Park yesterday saw Saints fail to capitalise on first half dominance before capitulating to Kilmarnock in a second half collapse that left fans, management and players scratching their heads in bemusement.
Danny Lennon made only one change to the side that started against Hearts last weekend, recalling Gary Teale for Graham Carey as he looked to exploit the wide areas and put pressure on Killies rookie keeper Kyle Letheren.
The buds strated brightly and there was a decent sized following through from Paisley to see if the side could build on last weeks excellent win.
After Kenny McLean had come close in those early exchanges Saints were then presented with an absolute gift as Pascali lost possession to McGowan who sent Lewis Guy clear on goal with an expert pass. It seemed a certain goal but Guy dithered and scuffed his shot wide of the far post. The Killie keeper got a touch but it looked like the shot was going wide anyway, a real opportunity missed for a striker who has previously proved clinical in such situations.
A few minutes later and he was remarkably through on goal again, this time opting to try and round the home keeper but Letheren was alert to the danger and clawed the ball away before Steven Thompson fired well over the empty goal from a narrow angle.
It seemed it was just a case of when rather than if a goal would come but few would have predicted it appearing at the other end of the park.
The buddies looked in no danger as they attempted to play their way out from their own corner flag. A neat triangle had sent the ball to Paul McGowan but his touch was clumsy and he lost possession on the edge of the box, Racchi crossed and Cillian Sheridan was on hand to nod the ball past Sammy from six yards.
It was a wake up call for the buds and they battered away at the home goal trying desperately to restore parity.
Dummett nearly grabbed his first goal for the club as his drive was hooked off the line whilst Thompson and Teale both went close.
It wasn't to be however and at half time the home side jogged off the park a goal to the good having hardly been in the match.
Danny Lennon made only one change to the side that started against Hearts last weekend, recalling Gary Teale for Graham Carey as he looked to exploit the wide areas and put pressure on Killies rookie keeper Kyle Letheren.
The buds strated brightly and there was a decent sized following through from Paisley to see if the side could build on last weeks excellent win.
After Kenny McLean had come close in those early exchanges Saints were then presented with an absolute gift as Pascali lost possession to McGowan who sent Lewis Guy clear on goal with an expert pass. It seemed a certain goal but Guy dithered and scuffed his shot wide of the far post. The Killie keeper got a touch but it looked like the shot was going wide anyway, a real opportunity missed for a striker who has previously proved clinical in such situations.
A few minutes later and he was remarkably through on goal again, this time opting to try and round the home keeper but Letheren was alert to the danger and clawed the ball away before Steven Thompson fired well over the empty goal from a narrow angle.
It seemed it was just a case of when rather than if a goal would come but few would have predicted it appearing at the other end of the park.
The buddies looked in no danger as they attempted to play their way out from their own corner flag. A neat triangle had sent the ball to Paul McGowan but his touch was clumsy and he lost possession on the edge of the box, Racchi crossed and Cillian Sheridan was on hand to nod the ball past Sammy from six yards.
It was a wake up call for the buds and they battered away at the home goal trying desperately to restore parity.
Dummett nearly grabbed his first goal for the club as his drive was hooked off the line whilst Thompson and Teale both went close.
It wasn't to be however and at half time the home side jogged off the park a goal to the good having hardly been in the match.
The second period however was an entirely different story as Kilmarnock tore Saints apart in an opening flurry of 15 minutes which killed off the match as a contest.
Ten minutes in and another Racchi cross had the Saints defence in knots and after Sheridan failed to convert a simple chance the ball fell to Fowler who showed the way to do it as he slammed it past Samson to double the lead.
Another five minutes later and the game was gone as Dayton sailed past a few half hearted challenges and slammed a superb drive high into the corner of the net.
The soft defending was undoubtedly assisted by a fussy referee who managed to book three of the Saints back four in the first hour (Vanzy, Cheesy and Mair). DVZ can certainly have no cause for complaint about his yellow but the other two looked soft to me.
An hour gone and unbelievably Saints now 3-0 down.
Danny threw on Parkin, Imrie and Barron for Thompson, McLean and Van Zanten but Kilmarnock were content to sit on their lead and seldom looked troubled by Saints although Guy did cap a miserable afternoon by hitting the crossbar from six yards out before Parkin blazed the rebound wildly over the bar.
McGowan did eventually grab a consolation goal, rattling in a deflected drive with 7 minutes remaining but it was too little too late and Saints slumped to their second defeat of the season.
Hard to be too critical of the team, who did play very well for most of the first period. Had Guy converted one of his two gilt edged chances the game could have been very different indeed but as it is this will be a harsh lesson learnt by the buddies who must learn to take the chances that come their way and also that there is a time and place for pretty passing and the edge of our own box is not it !
Onwards to Tuesday night and a league cup tie at home to Hamilton where hopefully the boys can re-discover their shooting boots.
Comments
I think we were too pedestrian in the second half and Kilmarnock changed their tactics to close out our mid field and we became inneffective. We also did not appear to be able to change things to apapt to Kilmarnock's change of tactics.
We seemed to be playing at "half speed" and having one or two too many passes in our half of the field and not driving forward with any determination.
I know we all have great expectations this season and maybe yesterday will be a wake up call not only for the team but also for Danny to be a wee bit more versitile in his tactics.
But as for Danny that is a different story............ My grandson in America wrote to Danny last year ( some project from his American school where he had to write to a "personality" of his choice) and Danny wrote back immediately with a beautiful letter and it really made his day !
Perhaps a letter to Danny might let us know what is happening though one can always read "Danny's Diary" in the Official St Mirren Web page.
Saturday willbe a bigger test........... one which we must win.
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