Saints boss makes plea for goals

Nov 15 2008 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

BUDDIES boss Gus MacPherson has urged his entire team to help lighten the load on his beleaguered strikers.

MacPherson said that he is looking for a bigger contribution from other players in his side when it comes to providing a goal threat.

So far, Billy Mehmet is head and shoulders above the rest, with eight goals to his credit, while fellow strikers Dennis Wyness and Jim Hamilton have yet to find the back of the net.

The only other striker to score has been Craig Dargo, who netted in the 7-0 demolition job over Dumbarton in the Co-operative Insurance League Cup.

However, MacPherson insists the responsibility lies with every player on the park to do their bit to help shoot Saints back up the table.

He said: “Our defenders, midfielders and full-backs all have to step up to the plate and offer themselves as options.

“They need to show that they are willing to get forward and have a go in areas of the park where they are going to be capable of scoring.

“We set up our team to be positive, especially at home, and you only have to look at our selection, where we have two strikers and two full-backs who spend most of their time in the opposition’s half, to see we like to pass the ball and go forward.

“Any player you ask here will tell you that we are not a defensive team.”

MacPherson remains confident his players will find their scoring touch sooner rather than later.

He added: “Maybe it’s a confidence thing in the final third and maybe, in some situations, we make the wrong decisions.

“It’s only natural that, if things don’t go your way, there’s a dip.

“But it’s our job to remind the players of what they are doing properly.

“We’re not scoring enough but nobody has gifted us a goal this season.

“That’s because we are dealing with better quality opposition.”