Match report

Saturday, 24 April 2010
Saints grab another late draw

Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Saints (1) v Aberdeen (1)
Attendance [3,295]

ABOVE: Aberdeen's goal on the way - Steven Mclean (hidden behind Graeme Smith) is about to pounce to give the Dons a 15th minute lead.

There were four changes in the line-up for this afternoon’s High Noon kick-off against Aberdeen. Michael Duberry was suspended while Steven Anderson, Liam Craig and Kenny Deuchar all dropped onto the bench.

Into the side came Dave MacKay, Murray Davidson, Collin Samuel and there was a long awaited return for Kevin Rutkiewicz.

With the harsh words from the manager after last Saturday’s mostly lethargic performance presumably fresh in their minds Saints came out of the traps in fine style and should have been in front within two minutes.

Good lead up play saw Chris Millar played in and his fierce drive was pushed around his near post by Dons keeper Nelson and the resultant corner kick caused the visitors all sorts of problems: three shots rained in on their goal with Aluko having to boot Dave Mackay’s effort off the line and Jody Morris eventually drove the ball through a forest of legs but wide of the post.

The recalled Collin Samuel was looking lively and he had an effort wide of goal and another couple of opportunities in the box but the ball wouldn’t come down for him.

Saints enjoyed by far the best of the opening quarter of an hour and that’s what made the 15th minute opening goal all the more surprising because it came for Mark McGhee’s side.

The root of the goal was a corner kick which was headed goalwards by Davide Grassi. Saints keeper Graeme Smith did well to touch it onto the bar but it dropped invitingly for Mark Kerr and although he couldn’t get it over the line, Steven McLean was on hand to knock it over the line from less than a yard although defender Dave Mackay was unhappy with the referee as he felt he was obstructed.

That took the wind right of the Saints sails and it was the best part of another 15 minutes before they looked like making an impact on the Dons goal - a good exchange of passes between Dave MacKay and Jody Morris saw the ball reach Samuel in the box but he couldn’t get it under control to create a scoring opportunity.

Sone Aluko fired an effort wide but indecision in the Perth defence almost let the Dons in for a second – neither Graeme Smith or Danny Grainger got on the end of a cross from the left and that allowed Steven Mclean to make a connection and the ball rattled off the face of the bar.

Davide Grassi sent a header across the face of the goal as the Dons looked to grab a second before half-time and although they were not able to, the interval arrived with Saints reflecting on a disjointed 30 minute performance after the Dons had scored against the run of play.

Saints looked to try and start the second half as brightly as they had the first and just three minutes had elapsed when Kevin Rutkiewicz saw his goal-bound header from a Grainger corner be cleared off the line by Aluko.

Saints were certainly more like the thing now but when they had not made the breakthrough just short of the hour mark, Kenny Deuchar was brought on in place of Filipe Morais.

Ten minutes later Andy Jackson made his first home appearance since February 2009 replacing the out-of-touch Sheridan.

It has to be said that goal scoring chances at either end were at a premium – there were nervy moments in the Perth defence on occasions – and while Saints enjoyed an increasing amount of possession, Stuart Nelson was rarely troubled, a couple of relatively straightforward stretches apart.

Like last week, all the drama came late on and it was in 89 minutes when Saints unexpectedly grabbed the leveler.

A free kick was awarded to Saints 25 yards from goal when Richard Foster clattered Murray Davidson and late sub Liam Craig took it and his low, curling effort looked goal-bound all the way until Nelson dived low and stuck out a hand to make a great save.

Nelson would probably have been looking for some assistance from his defensive colleagues but in their absence, Kenny Deuchar tried to knock the loose ball home but it was eventually Andy Jackson, almost on the goal line who got the goal. There was a suggestion the ball may have come off the back of Nelson’s head but it mattered little to Jacko who rightly celebrated his goal-scoring return.

Incredibly, Saints could and should have won the game a minute into injury time when a Grainger corner from the left was met by Murray davidson and although his header was as clean as a whistle, it was the wrong side of the post.


SAINTS: Smith, Irvine, Grainger, MacKay, Rutkiewicz, Morris, Millar, Davidson, Morais (Deuchar),Sheridan (Jackson), Samuel (Craig).
Subs not used: Main, Anderson, Gartland, Sheerin

ABERDEEN: Nelson, Foster, Ifil, Duff, Young, Marshall (Paton), Grassi, Kerr, McLean, Mackie, Aluko (Fyvie).
Subs: Langfield, Robertson, Gibson, Shaughnessy, Hansson

referee: Dougie McDonald

Att: 3,295

PHOTOS
Top - Gary Irvine and Steven Mclean in an aerial duel
Bottom - Andy Jackson nets the equaliser with Kenny Deuchar in close attendance