“Disappointed but not bitterly disappointed” was Craig Levein’s verdict on St Johnstone’s 2-2 draw with Motherwell.
It wasn’t a huge step back after the previous week’s victory against Kilmarnock under caretaker boss, Alex Cleland.
But it will have given Levein a clear picture of a few bad habits that have become ingrained in the Perth side and a few good ones that are emerging.
Courier Sport picks out four talking points from the match that saw Saints move to within two points of second bottom in the Premiership.
No room for doubt
One of the big themes of Levein’s first media conference was the extent to which he will be delegating duties to others on his coaching staff, chiefly the man he has brought with him from Brechin City, Andy Kirk.
This is far from a new model in football.
From Sir Alex Ferguson to Tommy Wright, many successful managers operate this way.
And, with Levein, there is no room for dubiety regarding who is the boss.
Four years may have passed since the 59-year-old was last on the touchline but he was the same vocal presence in the home McDiarmid Park technical area as he was in the away one in his final game in charge of Hearts.
Dip was costly but it didn’t end up being fatal
The implosion in Paisley was the most spectacular example, but second half dips have been far too prevalent this season.
Only against Dundee, when they had nothing to lose, had Saints finished stronger than they started.
Until Tuesday night.
Levein was right to be enthused by the fact “at 2-2 we grew again and got better”.
That two goals being wiped out in 10 minutes didn’t become a fatal, defeat-inducing slump is progress.
It will now be up to Levein to get a grasp on whether the post-interval dips are physical, psychological or a combination of the two.
▶️ Craig Levein began his reign at St Johnstone in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Motherwell ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/MM21xMaKxu
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 8, 2023
Six outfield players in the box and four on the edge for Motherwell’s first goal was asking for trouble and not pressing the crosser with enough zeal for that one and the equaliser was equally infuriating.
As Levein said in relation to the second: “These are things we can fix.”
You would back a manager of his calibre to do just that. And quickly.
Right wing-back
That Motherwell’s two goals both came from their left and Saints’ right wasn’t a shock.
Dan Phillips’ use of the ball was more often than not as good as you’d expect of a central midfielder asked to do a job in unfamiliar territory.
But is only a sticking plaster solution, of course.
Even if you sharpen up his pressing and positional sense, Phillips will never have the ability to take his opposite number on a lung-bursting run up the pitch and relieve pressure on his team by doing so.
Drey Wright will be out for a long time and Dara Costelloe for one more game.
Ross County scored both of their goals down that side of the pitch in August. Expect them to target it again on Saturday.
Clark’s incredible statistic
There are so many statistics flying around social media these days that most of them wash over you.
Occasionally, however, one can still pack a punch.
Should he feature this evening, Nicky Clark’s last four appearances for St. Johnstone will have come under four different managers. pic.twitter.com/kjKJRKsr2E
— St Johnstone Fans (@StJohnstoneFans) November 7, 2023
Nicky Clark’s last four games have been played under four different managers – Motherwell (Levein), Kilmarnock (Alex Cleland), St Mirren 2023 (Steven MacLean) and St Mirren 2022 (Callum Davidson).
There’s rarely a first in football but I defy anyone to find a player who can match that!
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