Parker (67) Bingham (53)
Hislop (74)
Attendace 3031
ICT arrived in Perth on the third leg of their tricky draw by the league computer which had arranged them to play against Falkirk and Clyde already. Their progress had been poor with only a point gained against Clyde. Much speculation had already been made about the heart of their offensive play being removed by the transfers of Robson and Wyness. However, they had been well replaced in the well travelled David Bingham (an ex-Saint from his youthful days) and Steve Hislop who had made the change from Highland rivals Ross County.
Saints were coming off the back of a mediocre performance against the Paisley Saints, where Saints rapidly gave away a lead from a wonder goal scored by the prolific Parker. This game highlighted weak points in the team, mainly in the defensive department, which repeatedly saw an inability to clear the lines and turn over possession.
Yet, since then, a week had passed, memories of the game in the Glasgow sun had withered, and thoughts returned to the opening day feast served up against Queen of the South. The mood in the ground was positive, with the crowd anticipating the previous week to have been a minor slip up and that normal business would return today.
Saints lined up with the usual back four, Lovering, Maxwell, Dods and Robertson, with Malone, Ferry, Bernard and Donnelly across the midfield and Mixu and Parker leading the line. Perhaps, Ferry was a surprise addition, a young player no doubt talented but yet to consistently convince the McDiarmid following.
The first half started well. From the kick off Saints surged forward, and two rash challenges by Hislop on Malone earned him a booking. From the free kick, on the left flank, deep in ICT territory, Saints failed to put any real pressure on the ICT defence with our aerial assault. Despite having a number of six footers in the team, dead ball situations were never causing any great unrest to the ICT camp.
During the first half, Saints did have some notable attempts at goal, Ferry mistimed a volley from eight yards out, Dods and Maxwell headed over from set pieces and Mixu found himself unmarked in the box yet was only able to power his header straight at the ICT keeper Mark Brown.
ICT failed to look particularly inspired and their tactics remained simple. Absorb the Perth pressure and then quickly distribute to Bingham and let him orchestrate the offense in the Saints half. They had a free kick which Bobby Mann (another ex Saint) who had obviously been attending the Beckham school of free kicks in the summer, looped the ball over the Saints wall from 30 yards to pull out a routine save and parry from Cuthbert. Much of their play came from possession which they had not won but were gifted. That was one of the main differences between the Saints team that was victorious against QOS. They controlled the possession well, did not panic on the ball and kept the possession. Today saw Saints time and time again gifting possession back to the opposition.
In 51 minutes, a failed attack gave possession to ICT who engaged the tactic of pumping a 40 yard ball to Bingham, who took one touch and delicately waltzed through the defence without much attention before volleying beyond Cuthbert.
A tactical change was now essential, and Stark replaced the ineffective Ferry after 61 mins with Hay to play 433. This did make a difference, Saints now began to play the ball around with much more purpose and precision. In 67 mins Parker was able to convert a Donnelly lay off on the turn to level the game. Whilst the Saints offence begun to gain more momentum, lapses in defence again began to undermine the posotive work done up front. An ambitious lobbed pass back by Lovering which Cuthbert had to attempt to volley karate Cantona style on his weaker foot was later followed by the slow and troubled full back later misplacing a pass across the defence to Bingham.
In 74 mins, the black clouds gathered over McDiarmid as Saints lost possession on the edge of the ICT box, Golabek looked up to set Bingham in his sights and released a 50 yard pass, which Bingham took on his chest before flicking the ball over his head for Hislop to run onto before taking one touch and firing low beyond Cuthbert. It was slickly executed but alarming for the home support which saw their team dismantled in three easy movements without any of our defence able to put any pressure on the Caley offensive duo. Yet, enviably the passes for both their goals, were well placed and equally well responded to by the ICT forwards.
Despite headed chances falling to Hay and Parker, Saints failed to capitalise and ran out losers with ICT recording their first league victory of the season and victory at McDiarmid Park.
This was a worrying display with the same faults in the team being exposed again. Pass marks could only be awarded to Robertson who has improved greatly since last season, the rejuvenated Parker, the tenacious Malone with half marks for Hay, Donnelly and Bernard.
Thankfully, Saints play Brechin in the Challenge Cup on Tuesday, which will give the team an attempt to put things right from today, but I would expect Stark to make ring the changes.
SAINTS: Cuthbert, Robertson, Dods, Maxwell, Lovering (Baxter 77), Bernard, Donnelly, Ferry (Hay 59), Malone, Paatelainen, Parker.
Other subs: Nelson, Forsyth, Fotheringham