Match report

Wednesday, 05 May 2010
Saints gain point in goalless affair

Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Falkirk (0) v Saints (0)
Attendance [5,502]

Left: Collin Samuel in a aeriel duel for the ball.

With seventh place still to be played for, Derek McInnes was in no mood to make wholesale changes for this game against relegation threatened Falkirk but there were a couple of switches from Saturday’s win at Killie: Steven Anderson came in for Kevin Rutkiewicz in defence - Dinky dropped to the bench - while Liam Craig, who is just one booking away from missing the start of next season through suspension, dropped out altogether and his place went to Cillian Sheridan.

As might have been expected, the home side came out of the traps at a rate of knots but Saints repelled the attacks well and indeed the first attempt on goal in the game came in front of the Perth support but Jody Morris was wide with an effort quickly taken after the ball had broken off referee Craig Thomson.

That would be termed a half-chance but the same couldn’t be said of the 7th minute opportunity that came the way of Pedro Moutinho but his volley from close range was fired high into the stand behind Graeme Smith.

Murray Davidson was left frustrated when he appeared to be fouled as he broke forward from the middle of the park but referee Thomson ignored his appeals and it proved to be the first of several decisions by the whistler that left Perth fans and players more than a little agitated.

Saints weathered that early storm but keeper Graeme Smith was called into action in 16 minutes when a neat Falkirk move ended with Colin Healy firing in a low drive which the Saints man smothered.

Ten minutes later came the first of three first half bookings for Saints as Kenny Deuchar was yellow carded for dissent – the big man was penalised by Craig Thomson for virtually every one of his early challenges and his frustration understandably boiled over.

The 27th minute brought a substitution for Saints with Murray being replaced by 19 year old debutant Josh Falkingham – Derek McInnes later revealed that Murray had been unwell most of the day but thought he would be okay to play but was unable to continue.

The game was scrappy with too many free kicks being awarded to enable the play to flow properly and Jody Morris and Steven Anderson were both booked fouls.

Neither could complain and Ando was fortunate that Michael Duberry was covering behind him as he hauled down Showunmi.

Goal scoring chances were painfully thin on the ground – Smith saved a Moutinho drive and Scobbie headed wide for Steven Pressley’s side while a Cillian Sheridan snapshot for Saints was deflected for a fruitless corner in the best of the opportunities.

Half-time came with Falkirk fans pleased to hear that Kilmarnock were a goal down at Aberdeen while the Perth support reserved a chorus of boos for referee Craig Thomson as he left the field.

Derek McInnes made a change for the start of the second half with Paul Sheerin replacing Cillian Sheridan and Saints started the stronger team with what was to prove our best chance of the game arriving in 52 minutes as a Danny Grainger free kick was met by Kenny Deuchar and his first clean header of the evening was just inches over Olejnik’s bar.

In terms of quality the second half was not a great deal better than the first but until the home side pushed hard in the final ten minutes Saints had the better of it and were a much improved side.

The 69th minute saw Flynn head wide for the home side with Graeme Smith beaten and just a minute later the main talking point of the evening arrivedwhen Josh Falkingham was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Bairns keeper Olejnik.
Referee Craig Thomson – with no help from his assistant - was unmoved and the wee midfielder was absolutely incensed. Post-match Steven Pressley admitted his side had received a let off with that one and it was clear to see why – if it wasn’t a penalty then the Saints man should have been yellow carded for a dive. A penalty would have been the right decision.

With news filtering through that Killie had turned things around at Pittodrie the home side desperately tried to find a goal but too often their final pass or first touch let them down and the game petered out to a goalless end.
Saints were worth their point in this one and yet again the second half performance exceeded the first half.

The Bairns created the better of the few chances that were carved out over the 90 minutes but Saints should undoubtedly have been awarded a spot kick.

SAINTS: Smith, Grainger, Morris, Millar, Mackay, Deuchar, Davidson (Falkingham), Samuel (Milne), Anderson, Sheridan (Sheerin), Duberry.
Subs not used: Duffy, Rutkiewicz, Swankie, Jackson

FALKIRK: Olejnik, Barr, Scobbie, Twaddle, McLean, Moutinho, O'Brien, Arfield, Flynn, Showunmi, Healy.
Subs not used: Wagenaar, Stewart, Lynch, Marceta, Lima, Compton, Duffie.

Referee: Craig Thomson

PHOTOS:
Top - Cillian Sheridan battles for possession
Bottom - Josh Falkingham cannot believe he hasn't won the team a penalty kick