SAINTS got the Jack Ross era off to a hugely frustrating start as despite creating a plethora of chances they drew a blank as Dundee United left with all three points. Missing chances and giving away soft goals is a deadly combination and the areas of improvement for the new managerial team is clear to see.
On the positive it was a massively better performance in most areas than we have witnessed thus far with a slightly altered shape allowing our better players to get on the ball in more advance areas which is a huge step in the right direction as was the increased work rate. On another more clinical day we could have very probably taken something against a United team destined to be there or thereabouts come the business end of the season.
Saints started brighter taking the game to a United team still looking for the expected levels of consistency under Ray McKinnon. John Sutton was assigned to lead the line with Lewis Morgan and Ryan Hardie either side with Stevie Mallan in close contact in one of the noticeable tactical tweaks made by the new management team.
The physical presence of Sutton was causing United all sorts of grief and Ryan Hardie really ought to have profited from the crumbs. The Scotland Under-21 striker dragged one chance wide then rammed a shot down the throat of Cammy Bell in the United goal.
United were offering little against a Saints team anchored by Rocco Quinn and a far more lively than previously seen Kyle Hutton. This being the case it continued to be Saints who threatened with Bell needing two attempts to field a well-struck and slightly deflected drive from Lewis Morgan.
At this stage Saints were well on top with United unable to get out. Problem was Saints didn’t take the chances when they were coming and United went on to punish them late in the half as they grew more and more into proceedings.
Tope Obadeyi robbed Gary Irvine and as United broke Saints struggled to get set defensively and were ultimately undone by a quick exchange of passes and a final pass from Tony Andreu showing why Norwich paid over a million pounds for him as he set Scott Fraser through to open the scoring.
It was a cruel blow for Saints, but by the interval they were happy to get in just a solitary goal behind. United hit Saints with another purposeful and pacy counter and only a good last ditch intervention kept them out. This, and a final wild swipe by Obadeyi when he had a chance to work Jamie Langfield.
Half-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Dundee United
When the second half got underway it was United who came out the traps quicker. Gary Irvine did well to get back and boot Tony Andreu’s effort off the line as Fraser and Charlie Telfer in the visiting midfield started to pop passes about.
Saints eventually weathered the storm and started to once again cause problems. Morgan should have done better than shoot straight at Bell when he had evaded his marker and then Bell made a super stop to keep out substitute Lawrence Shankland.
Again though without being able to add a finishing touch to the good work Saints were to be landed with another counter punch. Langfield denied Simon Murray, but the ball bobbled to Andreu who cleverly and clinically clipped the ball over the head of Langfield into the vacant net.
Two goals down but Saints kept going, but also kept missing chances. Shankland shot wide, Clarkson missed a glorious opening having done well to wheel away from his defender, Morgan again hit Bell with a shot and Shankland saw a header booted off the line.
In amongst all this United stopper, Mark Durnan, was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Despite the numerical advantage, albeit for the very late stages, Saints were unable to get the goal they merited as United held on for the win.
Full-Time: St Mirren 0-2 Dundee United
St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, Irvine, MacKenzie (Clarkson 75), Quinn, Sutton, Mallan (Shankland 59), Hutton, Baird, Morgan, Hardie (Walsh 71).
Subs Not Used: Gallagher, McLear, Stewart, Gallacher (GK).
Dundee United: Bell, Dixon, Durnan, Fraser, Obadeyi (Spittal 69), Telfer, Edjenguele, Flood, Andreu (Donaldson 86), van der Struijk, van der Velden (Murray 69).
Subs Not Used: Dillon, Smith, Coote, Zwick (GK).
Referee: Nick Walsh.
Assistant Referee: Willie Conquer.
Assistant Referee: Jordan Curran.
Attendance: 3,612.
Star Saint: Have to agree with the fans’ vote as Gary Irvine was exemplary throughout in appetite, leadership and general play.
Match report and gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography.
