Tommy Wright may not be singer Amy Macdonald’s favourite person.
However, had St Johnstone scored the penalty that was given then taken away the manager might have left Pittodrie humming her tune: “This is the life!”
A converted spotkick would have put Saints on course to beat Aberdeen 2-1 instead of the draw they did get and that would have left Wright feeling pretty chirpy.
Instead, we all witnessed a curious thing as referee Steven McLean first ruled that Dons defender Andrew Considine had fouled Matty Kennedy then changed his mind after talking to standside assistant Graeme Stewart.
Macdonald had name-checked Wright on a radio show earlier that afternoon, claiming the Perth boss had harshly treated her husband Richard Foster during an incident that led to the player’s departure for Ross County.
The Northern Irishman was probably too busy getting his team ready to tune in.
He certainly had other things on his mind when reflecting on a match that Saints came oh so close to winning.
Asked about the reversed decision, Wright replied: “I have seen it and I don’t see how you can be 100% on it.
“I think there is contact on his (Kennedy’s) left heel but he bounces straight back up.
“The only thing I would say is the referee has the best view of the incident.
“It is rare that it is overturned but Derek (Dons boss McInnes) believes it was the right decision and I think there was contact.
“I actually think we should have had another one on Murray Davidson later on and you can see that (Aberdeen player) Sam Cosgrove looks worried but we didn’t get that either.”
Wright revealed that he went in to see McLean to try to get an explanation.
“I have just been in to see the referee,” he added.
“He said he had some doubt in his mind but he gave it and it is his assistant who doesn’t give it.
“Derek will say there is no contact but my players say there was contact and if there was the decision should have stood.
“I don’t send my players out to go to ground easily.”
Saints did well in the first half and extremely well in the second.
They were as dangerous as the Dons in attack and pretty solid at the back.
There were also successful debuts for Jason Holt and Anthony Ralston, while it was nice to see Stevie May back in blue after his return.
Manager Wright said: “Jason makes people play around him and our midfield three were excellent.
“We talked through the week of the need for everyone to be on their game and they were.
“We’ve come here and gone to Hibs and should have had three points in both.
“We created the best chances and looked in control against a really good side. We showed character.”
Midfielder Davidson, meanwhile, felt that it should be viewed as a positive that Saints were aggrieved at just getting a point at Pittodrie.
He said: “We’ve got to take the positives.
“We have come to Pittodrie and faced a really good Aberdeen team who have shown over the last few seasons they are one of the best teams in the land. We have matched them.
“It’s been a difficult start for us but there’s a lot of positives.
“The new signings have lifted the place.
“Now we have a tough match against Rangers next week but if we play like that we will be fine.
“We know as a squad we are more than capable of having a good season.
“I have heard people talking about us being bottom of the table but it’s still early doors.
“I don’t look at the table.
“Of course, you would rather be top than bottom but we are only five games in and we’ve been to Celtic Park, Easter Road and Pittodrie – three of the toughest away venues in the league.
“We need to improve our home form and we will look to try and do that against Rangers.’
After a quiet start by the hosts, the Dons hit the woodwork on 17 minutes when Sam Cosgrove’s header crashed against the post.
Aberdeen did take the lead on 28 minutes and it was a fine finish from Ryan Hedges, who fired his angled drive under Saints keeper Zander Clark.
The Perth men were doing well, though, and they grabbed an equaliser two minutes before the break when Michael O’Halloran’s low shot from just outside the box sneaked inside Joe Lewis’s right-hand post.
The 373 away supporters at Pittodrie were looking for more of the same from their side in the second half.
They threatened the Dons again on 51 minutes when Davidson sent a header flying by the post.
Davidson had an even better chance three minutes later when he found space inside the box and his well-hit shot had to pushed away for a corner by Lewis. From the resultant setpiece, Liam Gordon nodded wide.
Matty Kennedy’s close-range header on 62 minutes had Lewis on his toes again before Saints were “awarded” a penalty then had it taken off them.
Kennedy went down in the box under a challenge from Andrew Considine. Referee McLean gave the spotkick but then walked over to standside assistant Stewart, who had a clear view of the incident.
A few words were exchanged before McLean reversed his own decision.
The visitors were more than a match for their hosts and the home fans worried as the second period reached its midway point.
There was a nice moment on 83 minutes when May was substituted by Callum Hendry and received a round of applause from the Aberdeen fans.
Saints keeper Clark pulled off a great save from Lewis Ferguson’s deflected freekick late on and, with Saints’ defence looking solid, they saw out the game to secure a very valuable draw.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen substitute Jon Gallagher was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.
He was hurt in a tackle with St Johnstone’s Liam Gordon but played on to the end.
Dons boss Derek McInnes said: “Jon has hurt himself in a challenge with Gordon and is on his way to hospital now.
“He has a problem with his tibia and it could be a fracture so we’re getting it X-rayed.
“He was struggling after that to have any real impact on the game. That one doesn’t look good.”
