Saints make the Diamonds suffer

Oct 8 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

IF only the electric scoreboard at McDiarmid Park had been accurately reflecting the game instead of displaying a glaring error.

As the last of the Airdrie fans shuffled out of the ground, it read: St Johnstone 0 Airdrie 1.

The gremlins had obviously found their way into the system or maybe the scoreboard operator had forgotten to do all his work before he toasted Saints’ victory.

Either way, the true story wasn’t being told. The Perth title hopefuls picked up the three points from this encounter, which sent the Diamonds tumbling to a fourth straight defeat.

Kenny Black’s troops didn’t make it easy for their hosts - David Nixon equalised Gavin Swankie’s fourth minute opener at the start of the second half - but failed to put them under the cosh as they lacked a real zest in attack.

Poor defending was also to blame and the five clean sheets in a row the team chalked up during August seem a long time ago.

A double from Steven Milne put Saints back in the ascendancy and they never relinquished control, which ensured another frustrating journey back to Monklands for the Diamonds contingent.

“We started the game poorly and it gave the home team an impetus,” said Black. “The first two goals are a concern. I’m not worrying too much about the third as we were pushing on.

“We got ourselves back into the game but then conceded a very soft goal from our point of view. It is a disappointing result and we are on a horrible little run at the moment.”

Certainly the Diamonds’ gameplan was dealt a massive blow when Saints took an early lead. Scott McLaughlin won a strong tackle in central midfield but no-one in a white jersey was alive to the loose ball.

The hosts pounced, with Swankie given the time and space to advance and unleash a drive that deflected off Nixon and high into the net.

It was Nixon who levelled for the Diamonds, brilliantly heading home a Kevin McDonald cross, but Milne made it 2-1 eight minutes later after the Airdrie defence fell asleep.

Paul Sheerin then hit the post for the Saints, who wrapped up victory in the dying seconds when Milne tapped home Chris Millar’s low cross at the back post.

Black opted for a 4-3-3 formation which the players look comfortable adapting to and there were spells when they confidently knocked the ball around, although the passing overall was suspect.

Airdrie were also unable to get beyond the full-backs and deliver crosses into the box and too often Paul Di Giacomo was isolated up-front, with no support from midfield.

On the right wing, Steven McDougall showed glimpses of his talent and, at times, was prepared to take on Liam Craig but he appears to be missing conviction and belief.

Joe Cardle, on the left-hand side, is a winger who needs to realise that it is just as important to drop the shoulder and hit the byline with possession as it is to cut inside and make things happen.

“The players’ effort was okay, but their decision-making and that final pass could have been better,” commented Black, who must know that hard work and endeavour alone won’t be enough to win First Division matches.

To collect a win bonus, there needs to be a spark and that little bit of quality and invention that can prove the difference.

Maybe substitutes Darren Smith, Michael Brown and Steven Maguire could have added those touches but we will never know as they sat on the bench unused.

Black made just one change during the game, bringing on Simon Lynch with 15 minutes left, which was puzzling given that fresh legs and a new face - particularly in midfield - might have caused Saints problems.

Still, the first quarter of the season is now complete and it has been a satisfactory opening for Airdrie. They are five points above bottom spot and most punters would have settled for that on the season’s eve.

The important issue now is for the Diamonds to feel confident about the foundations that have been laid and look to be bolder and braver in attack.

“We are certainly finding out that this is a difficult division,” said Black. “We need to defend a lot better and offer a bit more of a cutting edge going forward.

“From top to bottom, every team will have their moments. The results come in every week and they don’t surprise me.

“We maybe got ahead of ourselves with the good start that we made but I never got carried away as I knew this type of form was in us.”

The first quarter of the season came to a close when referee Dougie McDonald blew his final whistle. For Airdrie, it has been one of two halves.

Advertiser man of the match (3pts) - David Nixon. Defended solidly throughout and took his goal well. Steven McDougall (2pts), Bobby Donnelly (1pt).

Moment of the match: Gavin Swankie’s deflected opener put Airdrie on the back foot early-on.

St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Rutkiewicz, McCaffrey, Craig, Millar, McKoy (Moon 45), Sheerin, Swankie (Morgan 76), Holmes (MacDonald 83), Milne. Subs not used: Jackson, Robinson.

Booked: McKoy.

Airdrie: Robertson, Smyth, Donnelly, Nixon, Lovering (Lynch 76), McDougall, McKenna, McDonald, McLaughlin, Cardle, Di Giacomo. Subs not used: Smith, Brown, Maguire, Hollis.

Booked: McDonald, Nixon.

Referee: Dougie McDonald.

Attendance: 2259.