Football Turns Ugly

Last updated : 29 March 2012 By Ed_Scottishfitba

stjohnstoneSt Johnstone manager Steve Lomas will take an ugly three points over top class performances as the season approaches its end. Saints win over Inverness last night too the Perth side to fourth place in the SPL thanks to Francisco Sandaza converting a 40th-minute penalty. The win made it six games unbeaten for St Johnstone as they chase a European place next season. Lomas hailed the attitude of his players in claiming all three points, even if the display they turned in was more gritty than polished. 
 
Lomas said: "I said to the players before the game that it is matches like the one against Inverness where real men stand up and be counted. It's all right raising your game to play the Old Firm, but coming to a place like Inverness on a Wednesday night and getting a result is equally important and I thought we showed what we are all about. At this stage of the season performances are irrelevant. It's all about the result and grinding it out. However, we now have to recover from the Inverness game quickly because we've got to go to Parkhead on Sunday."
 
Meanwhile, Lomas' opposite number, Terry Butcher will be making  changes ahead of Sunday's visit of struggling Hibs to Inverness. Observers saw an increasingly frustrated Butcher in the technical area as his team disobeyed orders and punted long, high balls to lone striker Billy McKay - a tactic in complete contrast to their efforts last weekend when they beat Aberdeen 1-0 at Pittodrie. He said: "I've been criticised by the crowd for the amount of high balls we played against St Johnstone, but I never told them to do that. That would be fine if we have a six foot six striker upfront, but we have a dwarf in Billy McKay, who needs the ball either played into his feet or into space. It should be so much better, so there will be changes for Sunday"