Craig Brown’s master stroke was not his changes in personnel (replacing Gow and Saunders with Fitzpatrick and Murphy) but the realisation that when St Johnstone come to Fir Park the post-match celebrations are normally held in the away dugout. The cure was as simple as swapping the technical areas!
Hateley was at right back to allow Fitzpatrick to take a midfield slot and to his credit, given his lack of first team action, he fitted in well. Blackman’s three goals will grab the headlines but the contribution from Humphrey was superb. The visiting fullback, Grainger, will have nightmares with the vision of our winger whizzing beyond his ineffective attempts to halt the threat offered by the winger.
Hateley’s thirty yard delivery released Murphy down the right wing and Blackman was given a simple task to convert the cut back from the by-line. The opener had arrived in 11 minutes and it set the pattern for the rest of the game.
It was Humphrey’s turn to be provider ten minutes later when his pace beat the defender and enabled the pass for Blackman to score the second. With a quarter of the game gone we were in a commanding position and Randolph had yet to be called into action. Indeed his only call to arms in the first period came when he had to act smart of scoop an effort deflected off his own defenders.
The concession of a silly free kick in added time before the break led to the third goal. The delivery from the corner flag was not cleared and Blackman was able to bundle the ball over the line. It would have been a comfortable cup of tea at half time.
The second half was a bit of an anti-climax. St Johnstone made the expected effort but they made only one clear chance and Randolph produced the best save of the game to keep the clean sheet.
Sutton got a bonus in the dying minutes when his deflected shot beat Enckelman. He owes the goal to Gow’s impressive run from the centre circle. The substitute had defenders all at sea with his direct run and his blocked shot provided his team mate with the chance.
Craig Brown was restrained with his compliments and explained the the performance was not our best. Maybe not, but we were streets ahead of the visitors, and we have laid a bogey to rest.