St Johnstone’s woeful start to the season continued at Forfar yesterday afternoon as the League One side celebrated progression to the latter stages of the Betfred League Cup with a 2-1 win over Tommy Wright’s men.
Wright was furious at the inept performance of his makeshift side – the second time they have lost to League One opposition in the tournament this month – and was scathing in his appraisal of the 90 minutes.
“There is only one way to sum it up – embarrassing,” fumed Wright. “I think the Montrose game and this game shows that some of our younger players aren’t ready. Some of the senior players didn’t help them but they have been given an opportunity in games where you think they would do well and they haven’t. From that point of view it is a worry but they will learn from it hopefully.
“It has been a disastrous Betfred Cup campaign for us. We have a chance to put it behind us and prepare for next week but against Montrose and here I have learned a lot about the squad and it is weak at the minute.”
Callum Tapping had set the tone for the afternoon with a goal inside the opening two minutes before Ross Forbes struck a sweet second-half free-kick to put Forfar firmly in the driving seat. Matty Kennedy turned in a loose rebound to give St Johnstone the chance to pull themselves back into the game but it was too little, too late.
Wright has seen a deal for Aberdeen striker Stevie May hit the buffers this weekend although he was tetchy at any question the move could be resurrected before the end of the window. Certainly, though, a pressing need for reinforcements has been evidenced this month.
"I have had enough of Stevie May. I have more worries right now than Stevie May,” said Wright. “The only way we can add numbers is to get people out. That is reality. We have got to get people out to get people in. We have money set aside for a striker and I certainly don’t want to be delving into that.”
Weir was thrilled with Forfar.
“I am delighted,” he said. “We just wanted a chance going into the last game and we knew if we got through it would be a great achievement.”
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