St Johnstone 0 Dundee United 0: Pitch takes blame after dull encounter
An uninspiring Tayside derby got the result it deserved — a goalless draw.
- By Eric Nicolson
- Published in the Courier : 23.02.11
- Published online : 23.02.11 @ 08.14am
This was a match best forgotten, with neither team putting up a convincing case for taking all three points. There was barely a near miss, let alone a goal. Both managers felt the heavy and uneven McDiarmid Park surface was the main reason for what was played out.
Saints boss Derek McInnes said, "There was a lot of effort and endeavour out there but the pitch makes it difficult to take a touch and play. It just doesn't allow it. I never felt we were in danger of losing a goal, and that's now six clean sheets in a row at home which is a great achievement.
"Unfortunately there's going to be a lot more of those type of games in the remainder of the season, and not just at McDiarmid."
United's Peter Houston said, "It wasn't a classic but the pitch was never going to allow that. The ball was bobbling about all over the place and if there was going to be a goal it would probably have come from a mistake.
"It's not St Johnstone's fault. The severe winter has killed a lot of Scotland's pitches. You feel sorry for the fans but you can't blame the players."
McInnes made three changes to the team which went down at Inverness on Saturday, with Jamie Adams, Collin Samuel and Cleveland Taylor all starting. Sam Parkin broke his ankle in training on Monday and is out for the season, while Chris Millar has a hamstring strain, and Stevie May was on the bench.
For United Craig Conway and Timothy van der Meulen replaced Barry Douglas and Garry Kenneth. Conway was involved on four minutes when he sent over a teasing cross from the left which flashed across goal. David Robertson nearly connected at the back post but it flew out for a goal-kick.
Saints' first effort of note came on eight minutes when lone striker Samuel turned his marker in the box and got a shot away. It failed to trouble keeper Dusan Pernis, however. A pinpoint Paul Dixon cross field pass picked out David Robertson at the edge of the box. The midfielder headed the ball into the danger area where Johnny Russell had two attempts to steer the ball past Peter Enckelman, but the Finnish internationalist won the battle on both occasions.
08.27am - 23.02.2011 Arabella - Wellbank, uk Report This
This pitch is getting beyond the joke. United were always at a disadvantage having to plough through this field - more suited to saints style of play.
12.57pm - 23.02.2011 Niall MacKenzie - Coleraine, N. Ireland Report This
At least the pitch was good enough to let the game go ahead.
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