St Johnstone 2 Kilmarnock 1:Perth side pile up the points

Sunday 21 October 2012

STRIKERS seek solace in the strangest places when things aren't going their way – glances to the heavens, a perceived divot in the turf, or even the inside of their own shirt.

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Chris Tait

Nigel Hasselbaink spent yesterday's visit of Kilmarnock checking in all the usual spots before finally unearthing some comfort at the bottom of a pile of his team-mates.

The exuberant celebration which greeted the St Johnstone forward's late goal served as a poignant illustration of his side's collective efforts in securing a sixth successive win to lift the club into second spot in the SPL, yet it was also a sign that all was forgiven after 90 minutes spent spurning their best chances.

The most glaring had been the hardest to watch. It came after 62 minutes, Gregory Tade running in behind the Kilmarnock defence before teeing up his diminutive team-mate to nudge a shot in to an open goal. Instead, the Dutchman bundled an effort wide from all of eight yards, causing him to stare despondently at the pitch. Tade looked as though he wanted to bury him under it.They can laugh about it now, of course. Winning can put a gloss on most incidents, and the points were secured when the pair combined in the final minute; Hasselbaink mercifully recovering his composure to round Cammy Bell and tuck a shot into the corner of the net to add to Murray Davidson's earlier strike."I've told Nigel that I don't care how many he misses as long as he keeps getting in there," said St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas. "I will give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe it was a bobble."Hasselbaink had hardly ingratiated himself to his team-mates in the first half when he conceded an unnecessary free-kick not far outside the penalty area by grabbing Rory McKeown. Goalkeeper Alan Mannus was left grasping at air as Cillian Sheridan skelped the ball off a post.The former St Johnstone striker had been tipped as the most likely nuisance – scoring four goals in as many games will make you a person of interest, at least – and his movement helped to engineer space for James Fowler, only for the midfielder's ill-judged first touch to allow the hosts to get away scot-free. Fowler gained a small measure of redemption when he turned in a shot in stoppage time but his goal meant little else by that stage.It was somewhat unexpected that it arrived at all. St Johnstone are playing with a sense of confidence inspired by their form and the grasp in which they held this match suggested they are unlikely to relinquish it any time soon. Hasselbaink blazed past McKeown after 17 minutes, only for his cut-back to prove too heavy for Davidson, but the move sparked a series of enterprising forays from the home side.Steven Anderson and Tade had both failed to profit from opportunities before Davidson put St Johnstone ahead after 29 minutes. A corner brought another header from Anderson which Bell could only parry and Davidson hooked the ball into the net. "We are probably getting a little bit of fortune," said Lomas.What Kilmarnock would do to be able to say something similar. Sheridan's volley was parried by Mannus early in the second half, but there was a suspicion that only an act of larceny was going to be enough to pilfer any points. Even then it wasn't enough.Kilmarnock's frustration culminated in a booking for Liam Kelly after Tade went down under the faintest touch from the midfielder. Kelly was cautioned for his protestations but there was little argument that St Johnstone had earned their win, Hasselbaink scoring before the consolation from Fowler."The better team won on the day," said Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels.

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St Johnstone 2 Kilmarnock 1:Perth side pile up the points

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