St Johnstone midfielder Paddy Cregg hopes those who saw his goal in the 3-1 win over Hibs on Monday night savoured the moment because it doesn’t happen all that often.
The Irishman returned to haunt his old club by scoring Saints’ third at Easter Road but admitted he feels like goals have been few and far between in his career.
“My last goal was for Hibs against Dundee United three years ago,” he said.
“Monday night’s game was my 200th in football so I am averaging a goal every 20 games! So it was a sentimental moment for me, a real collector’s piece.
“It was a superb through ball from Murray Davidson, a great team goal. The pitch wasn’t great but it shows there is good football played in the SPL.
“The gaffer was saying we had to be disciplined and I am the deep lying or more defensive midfielder. The emphasis is on me to protect the back four so I don’t know what I was doing so far up the park.
“But I saw the ball go to Steven MacLean and he is really good with his back to the goal. He is always saying in training he wants to see runners. I saw the space open up when he played the ball into Muzz and he picked me out superbly.
“All I had to do was put it across the keeper with a bit of pace on it. It’s nice to score because I’m a water carrier. But I am really enjoying my football with St Johnstone.
“It’s the first time in three years I have got my head fully on football, because I had a few problems in my private life which didn’t help.”
Cregg was delighted with his side’s 3-1 win in the end, although he reckons the margin of victory could have been more comfortable if Ben Williams was not around.
The Hibs keeper stopped Steven MacLean’s penalty with the score at 2-0 and Cregg reckons Williams is getting a bit of a reputation for denying opponents from 12 yards out.
“He will be getting an England call-up,” he joked.
“He saved a penalty from Nigel Hasselbaink at McDiarmid and another from Macca (Steven Maclean) this week. They could even just bring him on for the penalty shoot-outs!
“When it’s a penalty you fancy your player to score but I knew Ben had a great record of saves.”
Meanwhile, St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas will be hoping that new loan signing Marcus Maddison will be out to prove himself at McDiarmid Park.
The 19-year-old winger, released by Newcastle on deadline day, has penned a deal which will see him with Saints until the end of the season.
Maddison, who can play on either flank, becomes the third player from clubs in England’s top flight to seek pastures new in Perth.
“It is good to have a few new faces in because we were taking risks with players coming back from injury and asking them to go back in before they were ready,” said Lomas.
“This gives Marcus a chance to play his way into a longer deal by impressing us between now and the summer.”
Maddison was listed as a trialist in Saints’ 5-1 win against a Dundee United side in a bounce game, and scored one of the goals.
On-loan Swansea man Gwion Edwards scored in the Saints U-20s 2-0 win over Hearts on Tuesday and is likely to be vying for a spot in the squad to face Ross County on Saturday.