Saints clinch a precious point at last

Feb 11 2010 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

ST MIRREN1

ST JOHNSTONE1

A SECOND half fightback from the Buddies last night earned their first point in five SPL games.

Michael Higdon came riding to the rescue when he powerfully headed home on-loan Celtic star Graham Careys left wing cross after 72 minutes.

Higgys header cancelled out Dave MacKays first half opener and in the second 45 Gus MacPhersons side took a grip of the game.

And given the chances they created, they might consider themselves unfortunate not to ahve picked up maximum points

Stephen ODonnell was drafted into midfield for the suspended Steven Thomson last night in St Mirrens only change from the weekend.

Perth defender Michael Duberry was cautioned by referee Mike Tumilty for sything down Hugh Murray after six minutes, before Michael Higdon connected with an angled ball from the left but goalkeeper Graeme Smith took the effort easily.

ODonnell picked up a Higdon pass and his effort into the box took a deflection but Smith was there at his near post to make the catch.

Billy Mehmet won a free-kick out towards the right touchline and Jack Ross swung it into the dangerzone but Duberry was on hand to head it clear.

Former Inverness Caley Thistle striker Filipe Morais tried his luck with an ambitious right foot shot from distance but the effort sliced high and wide.

Then Mehmet was the second player cautioned after 22 minutes for a late challenge on Steven Anderson.

Liam Craig saw an effort zip over target as the visitors threatened at the midway point, before Ross picked up an Andy Dorman pass to send a right foot shot from 20 yards just wide of the right hand post.

Craig sent a free-kick into the grateful arms of Paul Gallacher after Murray was penalised for a soft foul on Peter MacDonald.

At the other end, a Ross free-kick into the dangerzone forced a fumble from the keeper but he recovered sufficiently with Dorman waiting to pounce.

St Mirren forced a corner on the right after 33 minutes and Dorman was on hand with the delivery but Danny Grainger hoofed the danger clear from the boot of Higdon.

Gallacher was forced to fist a fizzing Craig effort over the bar after 34 minutes and from the resultant corner Duberrys header was blocked on the line.

But when the ball eventually came to MacKay, he sent a low driven shot into the net from 12 yards.

Gallachers skills prevented the home side from going further behind when he leapt acrobatically to his left to catch a lovely header from MacDonald after he connected with a Craig cross from the left.

After 41 miniutes Mair was forced to clear off the line when Steven Milne picked up a Morais cross from the left, then saw his header thump off the crossbar.

Thankfully, Mair was there with a crucial intervention when the ball dropped in front of goal.

St Mirren searched for a leveller and Ross worked the keeper before the break with a testing effort but Smith was equal to the task.

After 58 minutes MacKay sent a looping header from 12 yards a fraction wide of the left hand post but Gallacher looked to have it covered anyway.

Higdon saw a left foot shot sail harmlessly into the arms of Smith after Mehmet played him in, before Carey made his club debut for St Mirren when he came on for David Barron on the hour mark.

Also introduced for ODonnell was striker Craig Dargo.

Carey nearly made himself an instant hero, sending a cross-cum-shot skimming off the crossbar from the wide area with the St Johnstone goalie looking beaten.

Then Dorman passed up a chance to equalise when he slammed a shot wide of the post from a great shooting position.

Dargo showed lovely skill inside the penalty box to pick up a Chris Innes flick-on but his first time effort took a touch off the outrushing Smith.

The Buddies continued to turn the screw and Mehmet cut in from the right to send a deflected shot wide for a corner on the right but Morais eventually headed it to safety.

But after 72 minutes St Mirren deservedly equalised when a lovely Carey free-kick from the left was powerfully headed into the net by Higdon.

Strike Higdon could have made it 2-1 when he sidefooted a low cross from Dorman agonisingly wide of the left hand post with Smith bamboozled.

Dorman was cautioned for a foul on Murray Davidson with 15 minutes remaining, then Perth substitute Cillian Sheridan drilled an effort from the edge of the box well wide of target.

MacDonald and Sheridan both had chances to press Gallacher when MacKay whipped in an inviting cross but they both failed to get a clean connection.