SAINTS STORM BACK TO GRAB SEMI-FINAL PLACE

SAINTS STORM BACK TO GRAB SEMI-FINAL PLACE

26th July 2016

Morton vs St Johnstone Attendance: 2,433

Saints made the trip to Greenock this evening for a Scottish League Cup quarter-final against Championship side Morton. Tommy Wright made two changes to the Saints team that grasped a last minute goal on Saturday to defeat Inverness CT 1-0 in the Highlands as Brian Easton and Liam Craig came in for Darnell Fisher, who dropped to the bench, and the suspended Dave Mackay. Morton, who ended a run of four straight defeats when they defeated Alloa 1-0 at the weekend, made three changes as Michael Miller, Stefan McCluskey and former Saints youth player Bobby Barr came in to replace Michael Tidser, Thomas Orr and Romario Sabajo.

Saints got the match underway and they very nearly took an early lead after 6 minutes as Michael O’Halloran saw his cross knocked behind for a corner by Mark Russell. Liam Craig took the corner and his ball into the box found Graham Cummins who saw his header hit the crossbar.

Morton’s first chance came on 9 minutes as the home side broke forward Ross Forbes unleashed an angled drive from about 25 yards which went narrowly wide. Then 2 minutes later Conor Pepper failed to make a connection with a deep Bobby Barr cross.

A mistake by Tom Scobbie on 15 minutes gifted Morton a corner and the ball into the box missed everyone before falling to the unmarked Barr on the edge of the area but his shot was well blocked by Brian Easton, who was captaining the team this evening in the absence of Dave Mackay.

Good play by Saints on 18 minutes saw them win a corner which was taken by Craig and his delivery into the box found Joe Shaughnessy at the back post but his header was turned behind for another corner by home keeper Derek Gaston. The resultant corner was taken by Simon Lappin and he picked out Cummins and he flicked the ball on to Steven Maclean who tried to bundle the ball over the line but his effort was well saved by Gaston.

Determined play by Murray Davidson on 20 minutes saw him win the ball before advancing forward to setup Cummins however, the Irish striker saw his effort hit the side netting.

It was end to end stuff with Morton breaking forward a minute later as Stefan McCluskey setup Denny Johnstone who was set to unleash a shot at goal however, Scobbie made a great block to deny the striker, who is currently on loan at Morton from Birmingham City.

Saints were awarded a free kick on 34 minutes after O’Halloran had been fouled by Barr, who was booked for his challenge. Lappin took the resultant free kick and he swung the ball into the box which found Cummins but he saw his glanced header go narrowly wide of the target.

With 3 minutes remaining of the first half Alan Mannus did well to hold a deflected McCluskey shot. Saints then immediately broke up field as Craig was setup by Maclean but the Saints midfielder saw his effort go inches over.

Barely a minute after the restart O’Halloran went on an excellent run down the right wing evading several challenges before seeing his low cross into the box cleared by the home defence.

The deadlock was broken on 52 minutes as Morton took the lead. Pepper went on a good run into the Saints box before squaring the ball to Johnstone who lashed the ball home from 10 yards.

Saints, looking for a quick response, were awarded a penalty on the hour mark after Lappin’s inswing corner had been handled. Top goal scorer Maclean stepped up to take the penalty and he coolly slotted it low past Gaston to draw Saints level.

Saints then took the lead on 64 minutes as O’Halloran went on a jinking run before driving a low shot past the outstretched fingertips of Gaston.

Saints were awarded a dangerous free kick following a foul on substitute Chris Kane on 79 minutes. However, Lappin saw his effort well held by Gaston.

With 7 minutes remaining Saints got a third as they brilliantly broke forward from a poor Morton corner through O’Halloran and he then squared the ball to the unmarked Kane who blasted it high past Gaston to finish the game off as a contest.

Overall, it was a tough cup tie for Saints this evening. However, Saints showed great character to bounce back from going a goal down to go on and win the match to secure a place in the semi-finals. The draw for the semi-finals takes place at Hampden on the 9th November. Next up for Saints is a trip to Hamilton Accies on Saturday.

Man of the Match: Michael O’Halloran

Morton: Gaston, Kilday, O’Ware, Miller, Forbes (Orr 85), Johnstone, McCluskey, Pepper (Tidser 80), Barr (Scullion80), Russell, Gasparotto Unused Substitutes: Adam (GK), McKee, Stevenson Booked: Barr

Saints: Mannus, Scobbie, Lappin, Anderson, Davidson. Maclean, Shaughnessy, Cummins (Kane 75), Easton, Craig, O’Halloran (Wotherspoon 87) Unused Substitutes: Clark (GK), Sutton, McKay, Caddis, Fisher Booked: Davidson

Referee: Craig Thomson

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