St Johnstone 3 St Mirren 0: Nicky Clark gets Perth career off to flyer in Buddies rout
TWENTY THREE years ago Nicky Clark celebrated along with St Johnstone’s players.
Today he did it for himself after firing them to victory against St Mirren.
The new Saints striker, who was pictured jumping for joy with dad Sandy Clark’s team after clinching a place in Europe back in 1999, took just 26 minutes to get his McDiarmid Park career up and running.
Callum Davidson’s men had to soak up plenty of pressure here, but were clinical with Drey Wright and then a Graham Carey penalty late on securing this emphatic, confidence-boosting victory.
With Clark thrown straight in, Davidson tweaked his formation to accommodate two strikers up top with Jamie Murphy deployed in behind as support.
And the ex-Motherwell and Rangers attacker should have opened St Mirren up on thirteen minutes when they fashioned a three-v-three opportunity high up the pitch.
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THE VERDICT
St Johnstone
Remi Matthews - 7, Drey Wright - 7, Alex Mitchell - 8, Andy Considine - 7, Adam Montgomery -7, Ryan McGowan - 7, Graham Carey - 7, Melker Hallberg - 7, Jamie Murphy - 7, Stevie May - 7, Nicky Clark - 8
Subs - Theo Bair (Clark 76) - 3, Connor McLennan (May 76) - 5, Daniel Phillips (Murphy 76) - 4, Liam Gordon (Hallberg 83) - 3
St Mirren
Trevor Carson - 6, Richard Tait - 5, Charles Dunne - 6, Declan Gallagher - 6, Marcus Fraser - 6, Mark O’Hara - 7, Ethan Erhahon - 5, Ryan Strain - 5, Keanu Baccus - 5, Jonah Ayunga - 7, Curtis Main - 5
Subs - Scott Tanser (Tait 59) - 5, Eamonn Brophy (Main 59) - 4, Jay Henderson (Strain 59) - 3, Alex Grieve (Erhahon 70) - 2
MAN OF THE MATCH
Strikers always want a goal quickly after joining a new club and Nicky Clark got off the mark at the first attempt. By finding space in between two defenders, cushioning the ball on his chest before flicking it into the net, he showed the killer instinct Saints have been sorely lacking. The forward’s link-up play added another dimension to the St Johnstone attack and after this victory Callum Davidson will be hoping they kick on now.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Colin Steven had a great view of the penalty kick so was in no doubt about the award - and neither he should have been as Marcus Fraser’s foul on Connor McLennan was as blatant as you’ll see. Dished out bookings to Declan Gallagher, Alex Mitchell and Jonah Ayunga for their part in an ugly stramash late on. Ethan Erhahon, Graham Carey, Fraser and Charles Dunne in what was a hard-fought but never dirty contest.
MEN IN THE DUGOUT
Callum Davidson has had to be patient to get his main striker on board this summer - but watched Nicky Clark get off the mark in under half an hour. His team had to soak up pressure here but stood firm and if they can keep this cutting edge they’ll climb the table. Stephen Robinson’s side had loads of the ball and were unlucky to hit the woodwork but they didn’t test Remi Matthews nearly enough.
Murphy, with Stevie May on his left and Clark on his right, bolted forward until he was right on the edge of the box, but had delayed too long and left May frustrated to see his pass cannon off Charles Dunne and away to safety.
St Johnstone who should have taken the lead on 25 minutes when a Wright cross found Clark inside the box but the striker knocked his effort wide from six yards, claiming a deflection which ref Colin Steven didn’t see.
St Mirren didn’t learn their lesson, though, and were punished a minute later as Clark got up and running.
Again Wright was creator, jinking past Richard Tait before picking out May with a deep cross to the back post, which he knocked back over to the other side of the goal.
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Clark, who started in between two defenders, was coolness personified, as he snuck free from them, cushioned it on his chest then deftly flicked home from four yards with the outside of his right boot.
It was a cracking, well-worked goal - and exactly what the hitman needed to start his Saints career.
The lead should only have lasted six minutes though, as St Mirren had their best chance of the game.
From Saints’ perspective it was ragged, stemming from Murphy losing the ball high up the pitch and several players being out of position.
Well worked it up the pitch, the impressive Ayunga slipping in Main for a clear sight of goal but his touch let him down and Alex Mitchell appeared from nowhere to intercept.
St Mirren started the second half firmly on top, pounding the home defence in search of a breakthrough.
That gave Davidson plenty to think about, since his midfield pairing of Melker Hallberg and Carey were being all-too-easily swept aside time and again.
That had the effect of seeing waves of attack heading towards his team’s goal,
But it was the Buddies who made the first changes, bringing on ex-Perth man Scott Tanser, Eamonn Brophy and Jay Henderson in a triple switch on 59 minutes. Tait, Main and Strain were the three sacrificed.
Their team were two down on 66 minutes, though, as St Johnstone scored another well-worked goal to double their lead.
Huge credit has to go to May, who played a superb ball in behind Henderson for Adam Montgomery to chase down the left-hand side.
The on-loan Celtic man had St Mirren on the stretch, but showed a cool head to delay on the byline, cut back and roll a perfectly weighted ball through the area for Wright, who had ghosted in unmarked and slammed a shot high into the roof of the net.
On the balance of the play second half, it was a sickener for the visitors, but Davidson’s side - so criticised for their lack of cutting edge - had suddenly found their teeth.
The advantage should have been cut in half on 77 minutes though when failing to deal with a cross from the right allowed Tanser space to shoot, but his effort hit the bar before Ayunga’s follow up smacked the outside of the post.
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WHAT THEY SAID
STEPHEN ROBINSON insists there’s no way St Mirren deserved to lose by three.
But admits they let St Johnstone sucker them.
The Buddies had plenty of the ball at McDiarmid Park but couldn’t break down a dogged Saints defence and didn’t trouble goalkeeper Remi Matthrews.
Clinical Saints put them to the sword with goals from Nicky Clark, Drey Wright and Graham Carey's late penalty.
Robinson was pleased with his team’s application but admits they didn’t do nearly enough to keep their good run going.
He said: “There wasn’t any ranting and raving in the dressing-room because although they’ve won 3-0, they had two clear-cut chances and took them both.
“We probably had three or four and took none.
“We have been defensively sound so far this season but we made two errors today and were punished for it.
“The result is very frustrating because there wasn’t very much in the game.
“It looks like a hammering and it certainly wasn’t.
“Credit to St Johnstone, they took their chances and in the key moments of the game we were not good enough.
“We didn’t win enough first contacts in the box, so many deliveries went in there from set plays, long throws and good play but we didn’t affect their back three enough.
“We gave ourselves a lot to do, making mistakes and missing from three yards out.
“Previously when we’ve broken we have made the right decisions but we didn’t do that today.
“All in all, I believe we will play a lot worse than that and win matches.
“It’s hard to criticise the players because they have given everything and we went right to the end.
“We need to dust ourselves down and go again at Hearts next week.
“We have missed a chance to build momentum but we will go there confident, but we know we have to be better in the key moments.”
CALLUM DAVIDSON reckons Nicky Clark showed exactly why he was worth the wait.
The striker opened his account for St Johnstone just 26 minutes into his debut after joining from Dundee United last week.
Clark pounced on a Stevie May header back across goal to break the deadlock and send Saints on their way to an impressive 3-0 win over St Mirren.
Davidson has had to be patient to get his main striker on board but insists Clark, the Tannadice top scorer last season, showed precisely why he was so desperate to land him.
He said: “Nicky signed on Wednesday and gets the goal to give us the vital lead in the game so I’m delighted.
“That was so important, we then defended really well as a group and got the goals to kill it off.
“It is great for Nicky’s confidence.
“That’s why we went after Nicky - we know what he can do.
“Hopefully he will enjoy his football and score goals. Then we’re all onto a win.”
Saints have struggled for goals in recent times but being able to pair Clark with May up top transformed their attacking threat.
Davidson reckons having a partner with as much guile as Clark complements May’s workrate perfectly - and should bring the best out of both.
He said: “I thought Stevie May’s energy up front was incredible.
“He epitomised how we played and worked, leading the line really well.
“Stevie got the assist and it was nice to see the strikers work as a pair.
“We had a good impact from the subs too, which helped us towards the end.
“I thought it was a really tough game and that first goal was going to be crucial.
“St Mirren are hard to play against and very well organised so we’re delighted to get the win.”
As well as scoring three goals for the first time since beating Dundee at McDiarmid Park last season, Davidson was thrilled with the clean sheet.
The ex-Scotland defender said: “If you look at how we’ve defended, we’ve probably deserved more clean sheets.
“There was the wonder free-kick against Aberdeen and a couple of last minute goals too.
“I was really pleased with the clean sheet. St Mirren threw everything at us but we handled it well.”
But the game was put beyond any doubt four minutes from the end with Carey’s penalty kick.
It was great vision by Remi Matthews to take a long punt to sub Connor McLennan and with him outstripping Marcus Fraser for pace, the defender chopped him down after being skinned - leaving Carey the spot kick, which he blasted high into the net.
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