St Johnstone left Ibrox harbouring a sense of injustice after Willie Collum’s decision-making robbed them of any realistic chance of getting a result against Rangers.
Asked about the big calls at Ibrox, Saints manager Callum Davidson said: “Where do you want me to start?”
These are my three big talking points from the 2-0 defeat as the Perth focus switches to a pivotal match against Motherwell.
1 – What’s the point?
Make no mistake, this was an extremely bleak day for Scottish football.
Those of us who welcomed VAR – primarily because our referees are so woefully inadequate and thus grudgingly arrived at the conclusion that at least we’d see more correct decisions purely because there was irrefutable video evidence to assist them – have nowhere left to turn.
Collum – through arrogance, incompetence or a combination of both – has single-handedly undermined my faith in a system that should provide a belt and braces for officials.
I won’t be alone.
Ryan Jack tackle reviewed by VAR.
Straight leg off the ground.
Yellow card. pic.twitter.com/cFuIzftdNQ— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) January 28, 2023
With the angles that were made available to him by Nick Walsh, and the time he took to watch them, it would be attempting to explain the inexplicable to find justification for Ryan Jack’s off-the-ground (studs-up, landing on Adam Montgomery’s planted ankle) challenge not being upgraded from a yellow to a red card.
Not only does Collum need to be seen to be held accountable – stood down for the next set of fixtures as a bare minimum – St Johnstone should receive a public apology.
There also needs to be clarification on what prompted Collum to show Nicky Clark a red after a long delay and supporters in the stadium being informed there had been a VAR check.
Even in a country where you accept from birth that tight refereeing calls will go in favour Rangers at Ibrox, what happened on Saturday had the capacity to shock.
It isn’t just ticket prices that will keep fans out of Scottish football grounds.
A feeling of ‘what’s the point in turning up?’ is just as dangerous for the health of our national sport.
2 – Saints at a crossroads
That St Johnstone have been able to absorb six league defeats and maintain a four-point buffer on four other teams is a testament to their work in November and December.
But it’s time to get that cushion puffed up again.
After the Livingston first half debacle the manager has responded as effectively as you would have hoped – changing formation, drilling his team on the training ground to make it work and picking players who suited it.
And the players have shown talk of dressing room character wasn’t misplaced.
You don’t dig in at Ibrox and only concede one goal in an hour while it’s 11 v 10 if team-mates are inclined to look to the man next to them for a reaction.
In stark contrast to Jim Goodwin’s Aberdeen, for example, it’s been fight not flight.
But, as much as the talk in the Saints camp after the Rangers game was of Motherwell on Wednesday night being no more or less important than any other fixture, we and they know this is a crossroads match.
Manager and players probably deserve better than this being highlighted after last two performances but 7 losses on bounce for Saints. Other than last season's run of 10 defeats, worst run since 2001/02. With Celtic next weekend, Wednesday night at Motherwell huge.
— St Johnstone 1884 (@stjohnstone1884) January 29, 2023
Lose and it will likely be nine defeats on the spin by the end of the week, all hope of a top six finish will have disappeared and a battle for top flight survival will be the name of the game once more.
Win and the mini crisis will be over, with post-split top half fixtures a realistic prospect once more.
The hope is that the 4-4-1-1 which has made Saints more compact and confident is elevated to the next level against a Motherwell side bereft of belief.
The selection of the player deployed just off Stevie May – and how he performs – will be key in that regard.
My choice would be the man who has brought a bit of penalty box X factor in Saints’ two best spells of attacking football over the last few weeks (Livi and Hearts second halves) Jamie Murphy.
3 – The rise of Dan Phillips
You could see Dan Phillips was a talent back at the start of August when he made his debut at Ibrox.
A talent who was probably only operating at 50% match fitness, perhaps, but the innate touch and composure on display marked him out as a player who would survive and thrive in the frenetic Scottish Premiership.
Tynecastle a few weeks later was a brutal experience for the young midfielder and injury issues since then stalled momentum.
But the broad base of Phillips’ game has been showcased to ever greater effect after the World Cup break.
For Ross County away he was predominantly operating as a back three but post-formation change we’ve seen him arguably flourish above all others in the Saints side.
There’s far more to Phillips than closing down opponents, sensing danger and popping short and sharp passes off.
He’s an all-round central midfielder.
The close-control and vision needed to put Drey Wright through for what should have been a Saints equaliser was of a standard any player pigeon-holed as an ‘eight’ or ‘10’ would have been proud of.
In the short-term, Phillips will be a crucial part of a team which needs to get itself away from Premiership danger.
In the long-term, he could make the club a very nice profit on their investment.
Offering a pay rise and a contract extension would seem like the most prudent course of action for an international footballer who is only going to get better and better.
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