St Johnstone 2 Kilmarnock 0: Countdown conundrum concerns Lomas

Richard Winton

Assistant Sports Editor

Monday 11 March 2013

MOMENTUM.

Gregory Tade rises to head in his side's second goal

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Richard Winton

Something St Johnstone have struggled to generate all term and something now denied to them by the vagaries of the fixture list. That was not lost on Steve Lomas, the Perth team's manager, as he considered how he and his players would spend the 22-day hiatus before they next play, the Northern Irishman bemoaning the fact that his side would be unable next weekend to build upon this morale-massaging win.

Given that the McDiarmid Park outfit have been able to record consecutive wins since a six-game block of victories in September and October, his complaint – one echoed by opposite number Kenny Shiels – was perhaps more than a little bit disingenuous, an impression bolstered by the reason for much of the impending inactivity. The next two Saturdays are blank for St Johnstone because of Hearts' participation in the Scottish Communities League Cup final – the consequent postponed fixture having been played last midweek – then Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Wales.However, Lomas' gripe about his side being then asked to host Dundee United, then travel to Inverness, inside four days in April is more valid. The games, on a Monday and Friday respectively, have been moved at the behest of broadcasters and, while the Northern Irishman acknowledges that he who pays the piper calls the tune, he is still sore at the havoc wreaked on his side's hopes of qualifying for last season's top six by rescheduling at this stage.As it stands, the Perth men hold a five-point cushion over seventh-placed United, albeit they have played a game more and host Jackie McNamara's side in a potentially decisive meeting when their season restarts. Another two performances in the manner of the one delivered on Saturday should secure their place, though, even if a more ruthless team than Kilmarnock would punish their profligacy. Rowan Vine and Steven MacLean spurned several openings before Murray Davidson and Gregory Tade finally franked their dominance. For the latter, his goal capped a fine few weeks during which he became a father to daughter Amari and reconciled relations with his own dad, Theophile. "The bottle might go back to France with him," said Tade of his surprise man-of-the-match prize. "That's the first time he has seen me play and it went well. I think I will have to invite him here more often. I thought the bottle was maybe for Nigel [Hasselbaink] but they assured me it was for 'the taller one'. I'm glad some people saw that even though I was on the bench, I did chip in. I have come on in the last few games and made a difference every time."That impact was something Shiels and Kilmarnock lacked, despite throwing Kris Boyd and Cillian Sheridan into the fray in a quest to rouse a dour display. The result leaves the Rugby Park side needing three wins, so says their manager, from a trip to face Ross County and home games against Dundee and St Mirren, to reach the upper half. On this form, they will not get them. Blunt in attack, mismatched in midfield and hesitant in defence, the visitors offered little to suggest they were capable of winning this game, never mind the three testing ties that follow.Some may suggest it matters little, given the artificial nature of the divide, but the financial pressure is increased upon those clubs that fail to stay above the cut-off line. As well as the potential drop in crowds, television and prize money that scrabbling around the lower end brings, Shiels disclosed that the Scottish Premier League's payment schedule is more penal, with the top-six clubs receiving monies in April, while the rest must wait until July.It is not just St Johnstone, then, who are harbouring annoyance about a schedule.

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St Johnstone 2 Kilmarnock 0: Countdown conundrum concerns Lomas

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