MORTON 0
ST.JOHNSTONE 0
Note: Cappielow Stadium, Greenock, 2.810 spettatori.
Morton boss Davie Irons described it afterwards as a hard-won point for his team, and that is what it was.
St Johnstone departed Cappielow on a cold winter’s night believing their performance was worth all three points, and it was difficult not to have some sympathy with that view.
They certainly contributed much more to the game in a positive sense, but Morton’s resilience earned them a point which maintained a decent home record.
The Perth Saints had the consolation of seeing their closest rivals,
It may be early days yet, but I am sure that we were watching the champions elect. Derek McInnes’s side have enough experience and strength in depth to go on and win the title, and it will be a deserved reward.
They were the dominant force, especially in a second half in which they constantly carried the game to their hosts.
Morton, for their part, fought hard and were forever competitive, but more often than not they were forced into knocking long balls upfield. Their midfield was largely bypassed and the front players had a forlorn task chasing down often lost causes.
The visitors began brightly and ex-Morton man Chris Millar almost nipped in as a ball spun high in the penalty area, but goalkeeper Cuthbert beat him to it.
Derek Holmes, whose physical presence was always a danger to the home team, then got on the end of an excellent Craig cross from the left to power a header narrowly over the bar. Paul Sheerin’s downward header was then saved by Cuthbert as Saints took the initiative.
Morton began to get more into the match, however, and a Brian Wake attempt from Kevin Finlayson’s cross broke to striking partner Peter Weatherson but he was only able to hook the ball over. The same player then produced a stinging drive from
As the half progressed Morton were finding it hard to establish any coherence to their game, though Alex Walker forced Main to dive to his right and save the right-back’s 22-yard shot.
After the interval it was St Johnstone who took a firm grip of the game, Stewart Greacen dumping the prominent Liam Craig on the left corner of the penalty area.
On the other flank, right-back Gary Irvine was pressing forward almost constantly and, in 63 minutes, pressure almost paid off when Holmes rose to head Craig’s cross off the crossbar.
Ton replaced Wake with Iain Russell in an attempt to change the pattern of the play, but it was Saints who continued to threaten and they were denied what looked like a definite penalty when Masterton tumbled Morris off the ball in the box in 76 minutes.
Four minutes later the referee decided
With a minute left on the clock the hosts almost snatched a goal when Iain Russell sent a pass in from the left and Peter Weatherson turned to strike the ball perfectly only for a defender to get a slight touch to deflect it past the left post.
That was the last of the action and Morton had collected a point which keeps them clear of the relegation area.
St Johnstone increased their unbeaten run to 16 games and it is hard to see who will stop them now in their quest to return to the Premier League.
Unused: Stewart, Paartalu, Dodds.
St.Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Gartland, Morris, Rutkiewicz, McCaffrey, Millar, Craig, Holmes, Milne (Samuel 42), Sheerin. CT: Derek McInnes.
Unused: McLean, Anderson, Swankie, Jackson.
Arbitro: C. Thomson
