Milestone game ends with defeat
Tommy Wright proudly patrolled the touchline for his 300th match in charge of St Johnstone on Wednesday night.
But the Northern Irishman’s milestone moment proved to be a frustrating one against a stubborn Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Oh how the Perth boss would have loved to be celebrating a three-point haul on his special day. His side certainly did have chances to make that dream come true in this Premiership fixture.
The final scoreboard is the one that matters and it was Scott Pittman’s second half finish which ultimately did the damage to secure the hosts victory.
Attacker Michael O’Halloran had a couple of fantastic opportunities but was met by strong resistance from goalkeeper Robby McCrorie, who was making his top-flight debut.
“He is a good goalkeeper,” O’Halloran said of McCrorie. “He did well on Wednesday so fair play to him.
“We wanted to put a performance on and we had chances. I’m disappointed to come away with a defeat.
“We need to work on putting the ball in the back of the net. You are not going to go through every game without conceding. The artificial surface is difficult to play on and Livingston are a well organised side. They have proved that since they’ve come up.”
Early doors Liam Gordon found himself in an uncharacteristically advanced area of the pitch, picking up the ball at the edge of the box.
The Perth centre-back delicately controlled with the bottom of his boot and that neat work opened up a promising sight of goal.
It was a clean connection but the right-footed strike whistled harmlessly beyond the post on four minutes.
O’Halloran, back in from the start, then used his searing pace to send red panic lights flashing among the home rearguard with 14 minutes played.
He had chased down a hopeful ball over the top, his speed allowing him to get sandwiched in between defender Ciaron Brown and McCrorie.
The attacker hit the deck - strong appeals for a penalty followed - but referee Euan Anderson clearly didn’t think there was enough in it. Wright was in conversation with fourth official Kevin Clancy about the decision in the seconds that followed.
The McDiarmid manager would be concerned in the 31st minute when Steve Lawson lined-up a free-kick from a precarious location on the edge of the box. The right-footed hit navigated beyond the wall but Saints’ saviour was the outside of the post.
Travelling fans from the Fair City, there were 267, would hope for a reaction and they almost got the perfect one when Stevie May slipped in O’Halloran.
From a tight angle he went for the low route and attempted to thread through the legs of McCrorie. But the ‘keeper pulled off a smart stop.
Perhaps more impressive from O’Halloran in the first half was his defensive work where, on numerous occasions, he patrolled the left flank with determination.
On the stroke of half-time Saints were in danger when Brown crossed for his fellow centre-half Jon Guthrie, but his back-post header could only find the side netting.
Zander Clark, rarely called into action in the first half, was flying across his line not long after the interval to expertly tip Pittman’s fierce drive over.
Then the Perth men carved out their best chance of the evening, kick-started by Drey Wright’s bursting run down the left side of the pitch.
He gained plenty of ground before delivering for O’Halloran, who had powered into the centre of the box. Again, though, McCrorie was the saviour.
The all-important breakthrough was just around the corner and it was the home faithful who were sent crashing from their seats in the 56th minute.
Dangerous frontman Lyndon Dykes managed to dig out a cross from the left side of the box and awaiting at the back post was Pittman. The experienced midfielder had been afforded far too much space to have the simple task of guiding low into the bottom corner.
Boss Wright rolled the dice and sub Scott Tanser managed to nudge the ball across the box for O’Halloran with time running short.
He looked destined to level but the Livingston rearguard protected their net admirably before holding on for the win. Saints remain in ninth place.