01/02/2025 – ST. JOHNSTONE (H)

After our last match at home, against Dundee Utd, we wrote that it was becoming like “Groundhog Day” watching Saints at home this season, with the concession of another late goal from a set piece leading to defeat.

When this happened yet again on Saturday, our immediate thought was this is now turning into a recurring nightmare, however once the dust settled we agreed it isn’t quite that bad…………yet.

Before the match, we expected St. Johnstone to come out and attack, as has been their approach under Simo Valakari so far this season, however they surprised us, and probably Stephen Robinson, by sitting deep and asking us to open them up.

In fact, they made no real attempt to even attack in the first half, and their first effort on goal came around the hour mark when Zach Hemming made a double save from Carey and Kirk. They would have one more shot on target in the afternoon, which they scored the winner from. That’s too easy, in our opinion.

Of course, the easiest way to open up a team with no intention of attacking is via the penalty spot, (even with our poor record from 12 yards) and in the first half we undoubtedly should have had the opportunity to do so, when Elvis Bwomono was brought down on the right hand side of the box.

At the time, even without a replay, it looked like a stonewaller to us. Usually you can tell if a fall from a player is natural or exaggerated, and Bwomono’s tumble in no way looked false. The referee didn’t give it, however VAR is of course the “safety net” on such occasions and we were fairly confident a penalty would be awarded.

Despite a lengthy VAR review, Alan Muir decided there was no need for the referee to look again and play continued. However, TV footage available even during the match and in the evening via Sportecene and Sky Sports, showed as clear a foul as you will ever likely see, when Bwomono is clearly and very obviously chopped down making his way to the by-line.

How a trained and experienced referee can miss this foul, with the help of replays, multiple angles and slow motion, is beyond most supporters, and it is completely bewildering to us also.

It was such a poor decision in fact, the club made a statement the following day about it, something we have been very reluctant to do since VAR came in, despite topping the table for wrong decisions against us for two seasons in a row.

It wasn’t the only controversial moment of the match, and in the second half, the St. Johnstone keeper grabbed a loose ball a yard outside his penalty box, but was bailed out by a decision to award a foul against Killian Phillips challenging him a second before.

Again, with a replay, clearly it is not a foul by Phillips and it is just weak goalkeeping. The reality should have been a red card for the keeper and a free kick to Saints (the real ones), but once more the opposition benefitted from the decision.

One thing the referees can’t be blamed for however, is our inability to defend corner kicks. Before the match, it was already a very poor situation, so giving away the cheapest corner possible in what we are now calling our “period of self destruction”, also know as the last quarter of the match, was enough for panic to set in.

Sure enough, following a scramble, St Johnstone forced the ball home to score the only goal of the match, and we all could have left our seats and went up the road in truth, as we never looked likely to score.

It was tough to watch, but we like to be as positive as possible and an encouraging appearance from James Scott, after being brought on for Mikael Mandron, was probably the highlight for us, particularly his sensational solo run where he nutmegged a couple of St. Johnstone players.

This is the creativity and individualism we are crying out for during matches like this, and hopefully this is a good sign that Scott is fit and ready to make an impact in the second half of the season.

Fellow sub, Oisin Smyth also made an impact with some fine raking passes, and if he can find his late December form again, the Irishman can also make a difference.

Another continuing positive is Zach Hemming, who seems to have added a stability to the team, despite that concession from a corner, with his organisation and handling continuing to impress us.

We get a break from the league next weekend, with in-form Hearts visiting Paisley on Monday evening for a Scottish Cup tie.

Despite our woes at home, it is a match we are very capable of winning and have already beaten the Edinburgh side in Paisley this season. It is sure to be well attended by the visitors despite the match being on the BBC, so if you can, get down and roar the team on to glory!

COYS!

St. Johnstone Players of the Match:

5 points – James Scott

3 points – Zach Hemming

1 point – Oisin Smyth

Check our the Player of the Season race here –

PLAYER OF THE SEASON