TOMMY WRIGHT often appears to have the demeanour of someone who could win the lottery and still find reason to complain, but he was quick to accentuate the positives of a big victory against 10-man Inverness.
The St Johnstone manager has been growing increasingly irritated by his team’s defensive deficiencies in recent weeks and so, while others may have been purring over the three goals that earned Saints a first victory in five games, the Northern Irishman was more impressed by his players’ rearguard effort.
“It was much better and what pleased me about it was the clean sheet,” he beamed. “I’m pleased, it was a solid performance. A clean sheet and three goals is a good way to bounce back from the last disappointment we had at home.”
Liam Craig, the fit-again and influential Murray Davidson and Danny Swanson, who shrugged off being linked with boyhood heroes Hibernian to collect a 12th goal of the season, were stars in attack to combine with the stoical Steven Anderson and Joe Shaughnessy at the other end.
Davidson, in particular, won praise as he returned after five weeks out with an injury. “Murray hasn’t played one minute, even in the under-20s,” Wright said. “But we thought we needed what he gives us, with his physical presence, and he can be pleased with how he came back.”
With Ross County dishing out a 4-2 scudding to St Johnstone on their last outing, there could have been a measure of trepidation about the defending against Inverness. Perhaps surprisingly, Wright opted to send out the same back four again, but afforded them the extra protection of Davidson, who stationed himself in front of the rearguard.
The ploy also allowed the four midfielders in front to bomb forward in support of lone striker Steven MacLean. It was a tactic that worked to perfect effect in the 14th minute when the Perth outfit earned themselves a superb opening goal. Craig poked a pass in to MacLean’s feet 30 yards from goal and the striker played a perceptive ball into the box for the running Craig. The midfielder provided the finish the move deserved as he drove low past Owain Fon-Williams.
Inverness were neat and tidy but too infrequently looked like being able to cut loose in the final third, something that was not a problem for Saints. They were aided when Inverness skipper Gary Warren earned himself two bookings in the space of a minute around the hour mark. Seconds later, the visitors’ issues were compounded when Davidson initially blocked Swanson’s shot before swivelling to drive in the second.
The Perth outfit’s third was a beauty. Craig’s superb ball down the left was inch-perfect for Brian Easton and when the full-back picked out Swanson at the edge of the box, the midfielder’s drive arrowed past Fon-Williams.
A fourth straight defeat sent Inverness bottom of the table on goal difference but manager Richie Foran is confident he can address his side’s glaring deficiencies.
He said: “We have gone from our best performance last week (against Dundee), although we were beaten, to our worst performance of the season,” he moaned. “Talk about being inconsistent – that is us all over. It sums us up.“I can see where it is going wrong. We probably have too many attack-minded players. We probably need more defensive-minded players. I know what I need to change and it will happen.”
