St Johnstone suffered heartbreak at McDiarmid Park after being denied a late comeback level in opposition to Celtic within the cruelest of the way.
The Perth males seemed to have earned a heroic draw when Alex Mitchell fired house in stoppage time to cancel out an Andy Considine personal aim.
However even additional into the time added by referee Euan Anderson, Giorgos Giakoumakis got here on the far submit to make it 2-1 after Drey Wright suffered the harm on the worst doable second and left Alexandro an enormous house. Bernabei to cross.
The truth that away followers (and Celtic gamers) had been celebrating as if that they had simply gained the title tells you all concerning the high quality of the struggle Saints have put up on this contest.
Speaking factors
The Saints’ second-half efficiency was the large benefit in what became a disheartening spotlight for the sport.
Though they fell behind with an personal aim simply earlier than the break, they upped their sport and carved out some glorious possibilities after the restart.
Stevie Could hit the submit, Connor McLennan shot from shut vary when he ought to have scored and there was a sense a aim was coming.
When the mud settles, Callum Davidson will take this as an indication that his aspect will not be near a relegation battle this season.
Participant rankings
Matthews 7, Wright 6, Mitchell 8, Gordon 7, Considine 7, Brown 6 (Bair 4), Hallberg 6, McGowan 7, Kucheriavyi 7 (Crawford 6), Murphy 6 (Could 7), Clark 6 (McLennan 5).
The star man of the saints
Alex Mitchell once more performed fantastically.
When Abada took on what seemed like your complete Saints squad with a run down midfield, all the house followers knew he would not get previous the final man.
If ever a sliding sort out summed up a participant, this was it.
And if ever a aim was price celebrating, it was the primary for his mortgage membership.
Supervisor underneath the microscope
Few would argue that Davidson gave Max Kucheriavyi his first begin for St Johnstone rather than Ali Crawford.
Eradicating Could – and changing him with Jamie Murphy – was a extra questionable choice.
Whoever Davidson teamed up with, it was at all times going to be a matter of defensive power and staff kind and, as has been the case for many weeks this season, the Perth boss could not be questioned. on this entrance.
You will by no means come near the fan consensus on a supervisor’s substitutions, or their order, however Davidson’s entrance two Ali Crawford and Could almost mixed for a Saints equalizer minutes after being launched.
The person within the center
It was Euan Anderson who despatched off Murray Davidson within the Premiership opener in opposition to Hibs however left Marijan Cabraja on the pitch after issuing an identical, maybe extra harmful problem.
Anderson made the large selections on this one, although.
