CALLUM Davidson has already claimed silverware in a memorable debut managerial campaign.
But after seeing off League One part-timers Clyde, the St Johnstone manager appreciates the scale of the task facing his Betfred Cup winners if they are to extend their interest in the Scottish Cup.
The Perth side will await the outcome of today’s clash between champions Rangers and current cup holders Celtic with interest to see which Glasgow postcode beckons for next weekend’s quarter final tie.
“I’ve not got a preference who we play in the next round but I'll go and watch it,” said Davidson.
“I'll enjoy the victory tonight and I'll look forward to whoever we play.
“It’s a job well done. I thought in the first half we were very good.
“I actually really enjoyed the performance. We probably should have scored a couple more goals to take the game away from Clyde.
“I thought in the last ten, 15 minutes we probably came off it a bit. But I don't want to be overly critical.
“All credit to Clyde - they've had some week, playing that amount of games.”
Danny Lennon’s build-up to the first Scottish Cup tie in Perth since 1939 would have tested the mettle of any manager, never mind one tasked with lifting his weary part-timers after suffering three defeats since the previous weekend.
HIs prolific striker David Goodwillie was taken out of the firing line for challenges ahead.
Losses endured against Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Dumbarton in a wearying schedule have left the Bully Wee’s League One status hanging by a thread.
The visit to McDiarmid was something of a novelty, with the clubs last meeting 13 years ago, when Derek McInnes at the helm of a Perth side preparing to end their exile from the top-flight.
MIdfielder Liam Craig, now 34, has been an enduring presence in the Fair City, albeit with a brief and ill-fated venture with Hibs, and he has already put pen to paper on a contract extension through to the summer of next year.
Both managers fielded unfamiliar keepers, with Davidson handing back-up keeper Elliott Parish a rare outing while hIs opposite number, Lennon, turned to Slovakian youngster Matej Vajs, with No1 David Mitchell injured and David Wilson cup-tied.
After a minute’s silence in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh Saints wasted no time in securing an advantage.
MIchael O’Halloran delayed his fifth minute cross to allow support to arrive on the scene and Guy Melamed had the simplest of tasks in rolling it home from inside the six-yard box.
The centre then smashed a chance over the target from the edge of the area as Saints scented blood.
Clyde were caught out again in the 21st minute when May surged clear on a swift counter attack.
He opted to play an unselfish pass into the path of O’Halloran sprinting through the centre and the one-time Rangers forward’s finish was composed as keeper Vajs tried in vain to close him down.
MInutes from the interval a timely goal-line clearance from Malky Munro, the former Perth youngster, denied Jamie McCart a rare strike.
Clyde keeper Vjas stood between Saints and a rout in a one-way second-half, with the crossbar coming to his aid when Melamed rose to bullet in a header.
Late on, Lewis Jamieson found the net but the Clyde substitute’s joy was cut short by an offside flag.
While Davidson and his players are dreaming of more cup glory, Bully Wee manager Lennon lashed out at the SFA for forcing his part-timers to endure a crazy schedule.
And he blasted an offside call which ruled out a late Lewis Jamieson effort in Perth.
"I'd have love to have seen what would have happened in the final 10 minutes if it wasn't for a very strange decision from the linesman
“Apparently it was for offside but the ball through to LJ came off the St Johnstone defender.
"It's been a very challenging month. That's the fourth Thursday in a row we've had to play. I'm not getting the violin out but I just feel that the lower league clubs have been really shafted here in terms of the demands placed upon us.”
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