First half was edgy. We only sporadically got our game together. There were a few nice patterns of play as we worked the ball out to the wings, but the final ball was never good enough. We did create the odd scramble in their box though.
We might have had more of the play, but Saints had the two nearest things in the first half, both more or less out of nothing following a lack of concentration.
Weatherson was given too much room and hit a dangerous cross into the box which Palenik deflected onto the bar. McInnes was closed down too quickly to score from the rebound. Then we again dozed off on the left (Dickers didn't have one of his sharper games) as Saints broke and Weatherson managed to get the ball across to Stewart whose shot was blocked excellently, not sure by whom, Palenik of MacKenzie.
So 0-0 at half time. We'd been marginally the better side on the balance of play, but defensively we'd not been impressive and could easily have been behind.
Saints scored a minute into the second half. Rutkiewicz, just inside his own half, launched a fierce cross-field pass that sailed over Worrell for Sheerin to chase after and hit a first time cross into the box for Stewart to stab home on the volley from 6 yards at the back post giving Ludo no chance.
It was a very good goal, but it stemmed from a Hollywood pass of the sort that Saints had tried repeatedly in the first half. It had never looked like working before the goal, and it never looked like working afterwards. So, brilliant &/or a fluke; you take your pick.
That really galvanised us. Robertson and McDonald really came onto a game and took over the midfield. Swankie wasn't having one of his better games, but still looked dangerous. Surprisingly, Daquin was causing serious problems for Lawrie at left back. He skinned him a few times, and Sheerin got booked for pulling him back after he'd beaten Lawrie, who was also lucky not to get a booking for scything Freddie down.
With half an hour to go Saints had a rare attack. When the ball came into the box Hardie and Mackenzie went for it. Mackenzie ended up on the deck, and Hardie was immediately shown a straight red by Freeland. Neither Hardie nor the other Saints players seemed terribly surprised, and the Saints fans up that end were muted in their criticism of the ref. The radio said it was for elbowing.
So predictably, we completely took over. We had wave after wave of attacks, and missed cha nce after chance.
Swankie broke into the box on the left and criminally overhit his cross when Zemlik was unmarked and ready to bury a header. Davidson headed a simple chance over. Swankie chipped Main who'd come charging out to the wing for a ball he was never going to get. The ball drifted just wide, but Zemlik managed to screw it back into play for Davidson whose shot was charged down. Davidson then missed a good chance from a corner, shooting wide when he should have scored.
It was starting to look like we just weren't going to do anything then Swankie's deep corner was headed back into the goalmouth by Mackenzie, touched back to Daquin whose rising shot from just inside the area took a slight deflection on its way into the top corner in front of the travelling support.
The Saints fans had lost their voice and the large Dee support was roaring the team on for a winner. Loads of pressure, but we just didn't create enough good chances after the equaliser.
Palenik nearly scored following a corner when he stabbed at the ball in the 6 yard box and Main pulled off a fine reaction save to keep the ball out.
That was that, except for Zemlik getting a second yellow for using his elbows in the last minute. It was on the far side, so I couldn't tell, but he was a bit unlucky with his first, for diving, given that Freeland had earlier just spoken to Saints' McDonald for an earlier identical offence.
Strangely, Rae sent on O'Brien and Sturm for the last couple of minutes. I could see why he'd not used the subs earlier, since we were dominating the game and creating plenty of chances but I didn't see the point in disrupting things right at the death.
Freeland didn't have one of his worse games, though he was handing out some poorly judged, soft bookings, especially on Swankie who was unlucky and Daquin for over-celebrating. Bollocks, he just celebrated in front of our own fans. Nothing excessive or provocative.
In summary, we really should have had the three points. We had Saints by the throat for nearly all of the second half. I suppose it's a worse result for them, but when the final whistle went you could tell from the reaction of our players that they were very disappointed with the draw. A bit more composure, experience and maturity and we'd have won it. These players can get better. Saints will bring a couple back from injury - only James & Stanic were missing - but I think their team has run its course and too many of them are too old now, whereas our best players are younger, stronger and more skillful.