MISSING IN ACTION

St Johnstone star Middleton hopes blown chances won’t cost survival

ST JOHNSTONE winger Glenn Middleton insists the Perth men must quickly learn the lessons from a master class in profligacy if they are to secure their Premiership future at McDiarmid Park tomorrow evening. Had the first leg of their Premiership play-off at Inverness Caley Thistle on Friday night taken the shape of a boxing match, the referee would undoubtedly have waved the bout over at half-time, such was the visitors’ superiority in all departments of the game.

But despite having managed to produce 24 shots in the course of 90 minutes, Saints were left to reflect on some woeful finishing that resulted in only seven of their efforts being on target.

It remains to be seen which of the sides will benefit most from the psychology of an encounter that produced the most unlikely of 2-2 draws. But Reece McAlear’s two goals in the latter stages of a tie that will recommence at McDiarmid Park tomorrow may have left troubling question marks in the minds of the Saints players.

It is also likely that their rivals will believe anything is possible after rescuing their Premiership dream from the wreckage of a performance that left much to be desired for the best part of 70 minutes.

Callum Hendry was especially guilty of profligacy but he was not the only one. Indeed, the team as a whole adopted a somewhat cavalier approach once Shaun Rooney and Melker Hallberg had provided them with a two-goal cushion after just 24 minutes.

The result certainly leaves the tie still in doubt and Middleton conceded: ‘They’ve got the momentum. We controlled the game in the first 45 minutes but you are not going to win the game in the first half and they stuck in there.

‘Monday will be the same and we have to stand firm in the tough moments and hopefully we’ll come through.

‘We should really have stuck away a few more goals but we can’t change that now. We have to take confidence from showing for the first 60 minutes how well we can play and carry that out for 90 minutes next time.

‘We made several bad decisions but they defended well at times and their goalkeeper also made a few good saves.

‘It is never going to be a perfect display but when it comes to the second leg we know we have to take our chances.’

Just 12 months on from the most successful season in the club’s history, St Johnstone face a test of nerve as much as anything in their quest to ensure that much of the shine is not taken off their remarkable Scottish Cup and League Cup double triumph.

Middleton is also keen to end his loan spell on a high before returning to parent club Rangers, where he hopes to develop his career further and add to his Under-21s international honours.

‘This is massive and I’m desperate to help in any way I can,’ he said. ‘Monday is a huge opportunity to stand up and show what I am capable of.

‘It has not been the best of seasons. But, at the same time, we have an opportunity to turn the situation around and make things a lot more positive.’

Perth boss Callum Davidson reflected somewhat ruefully on what might have been after being forced to endure a rollercoaster ride of emotions in the past 12 months.

‘For 60 minutes I thought we were good and should have taken the tie away from Inverness,’ he said. ‘But you get punished when you don’t take your chances.

‘We lost a bit of impetus after Inverness scored and allowed them back into the game. Now we move on and make sure we perform on Monday.’

While many will view the return leg as a test of the home team’s mental strength and resolve, Davidson remains pragmatic.

He added: ‘We need to look at what we can do better. I have been in football long enough to know situations can change quickly.

‘When you have four or five chances when you are basically two-v-two, we have to do better. But we are still in the game going into a home tie all square.’