Another game, another defeat. Things are getting desperate for Saints now as this latest loss has sent us to the bottom of the SPL. With goals hard to come by and one point from our last seven, are we likely to move out of the drop zone any time soon?
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Put simply, no. We cannot score to save ourselves, regardless of the strikeforce, and we do not seem to be keeping clean sheets. We aren't getting hammered, but losing just one goal is usually enough to send us to a defeat. We have the lowest "goals for" tally in the SPL and one of the lowest from the eight leagues in England and Scotland. Without goals, we will not survive.
A big change is needed at Love Street. We are far, far too deliberate and slow when it comes to playing the ball about. Our crossing is atrocious and on most occasions our strikers end up getting the ball with their backs to goal. Very rarely do we play it for them to run onto - although if today is anything to go by that makes sod all difference.
Is it time for manager Gus MacPherson to go? Perhaps. It is the same problems every week - the same problems we have had for over 12 months - and nothing seems to change. Every week we're hearing about a hard luck story and how our strikers squandered their chances. Every transfer window it's the same nonsense about struggling to bring players to the club. Things have to change - either the attitude or the manager.
The writing was on the wall today after just a few seconds when Morgaro Gomis played in Jon Daly and his shot was well saved by Mark Howard. The pair worked well again a few minutes later, this time Daly heading over.
The Saints' chances were falling to Andy Dorman - one being deflected over by Dennis Wyness (typical) and the second being fired just over after good play by Stephen McGinn and Craig Dargo. Sadly, these were rare attacks as United controlled the first half, with Danny Swanson going close after Daly had played him in.
Ten minutes before the break came a sequence of events that sum up everything that is wrong with Saints. Wyness played an excellent ball for Dorman to run onto. It was a trademark move from the former New England Revolution midfielder and last season he'd have buried his shot without a moment's hesitation. But he is not the same player - for whatever reason - and he took too long, allowing Michael Kovacevic time to clear the ball to safety. United cleared the corner easily (no surprises there), Dorman then lost possession in midfield and when the Arabs attacked Willo Flood was able to cross for Daly to head home. And that was as good as game over after just 35 minutes.
Things did not improve after the break. Dargo set Wyness up with a superb chance, but he inexplicably shot over. Dorman was sent through again - although in fairness it wasn't as good a chance - and Garry Kenneth cleared. Dorman and Wyness were soon removed, as was Garry Brady, with Billy Mehmet, Jim Hamilton and Steven Robb all coming on. So, with two big strikers on we stopped playing high balls. Genius. Robb's crosses were also dismal, causing no problems for Lukasz Zaluska in the United goal.
We were the home side, but you wouldn't have known from the way United went trying to kill things off. Craig Conway crossed for Flood to head just wide before Scott Robinson's effort bounced narrowly past. Daly also tested Howard, with the former Arsenal keeper unable to hold the striker's shot before it was cleared to safety.
For a brief spell, Saints began to pressure as they tried for an equaliser. Mehmet went on a fine run down the left before crossing for Dargo, but his shot was blocked. Mehmet then set up McGinn, only for his shot to hit the bar, before the big striker shot over himself. In truth, the only real excitement from a Saints perspective in the second half was when Zaluska and Hamilton clashed and the latter hit the deck. It was some shameful play acting and Hamilton was booked.
With three minutes left, United finished Saints off. Conway's trickery confused Jack Ross and he brought him down inside the box. It was perhaps a soft penalty, but it was probably the correct decision and Daly hammered home his spotkick. That was the signal for most Saints fans to head for the exit.
We created more chances than we normally do, but with the way our strikers are performing we could have created chances after United had gone into the showers and we'd still have missed them. For the third home game running we failed to make the opposition keeper make a save, which is unacceptable.
Things are looking grim. Two goals and one point from the last seven games is a terrible return. It's relegation form, and we're deservedly in the relegation spot. Things must change, and fast.
Over to you Gus. |
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