A video clip released by St Johnstone’s social media team gets up close and personal with the disaster that was the visitors late equaliser in the Scottish Cup tie on Sunday.
From close range, the goalmouth situation is very clear.
Steven Gerrard will be horrified with the extent to which, both Allan McGregor and Borna Barisic, were over-occupied and pinned by Chris Kane.
It makes it all the more frustrating that he should’nt have been on the pitch by that stage, given his aggressive barge on Connor Goldson after he had already been cautioned.
This was one of several incidents ignored by referee Alan Muir.
It has been well-documented that Saints keeper Zander Clark was given far too much space – he was basically ignored.
That soon changed as his contact on the corner was bundled in by Kane to send the game into penalties.
Now see this. This is football.
The hunger, the desire, the fight, the passion, that never say die attitude.
Don't let anyone ever try and tell or show you different!
Perth St Johnstone underestimated since 1884 💙#SJFC pic.twitter.com/zcNBiTfWBN
— St. Johnstone FC (@StJohnstone) April 26, 2021
Lessons
The analysis of this whole incident will have Gerrard and the coaching staff fizzing.
Several players are found wanting in the full build-up to the goal, culminating in the situation with McGregor and Barisic.
To his credit, the Gers number one had already pulled off a fine save to deny Michael O’Halloran.
He has been majestic this season with save after save, often defying belief as personified in Prague.
However, this time he is too pre-occupied with Kane and doesn’t command the box.
With Clark standing poised on the six-yard line, reponsibility and reaction was posted missing – going beyond the set marking instructions.
The shoot-out defeat just compounded the misery as Scottish Cup heartbreak lingers.
Words will have been said, lessons learnt.
With three game remaining, an ‘invincible’ tag is all that is left to play for.
At this stage, given what happened on Sunday, it doesn’t carry the same weight.
Three games to go – goals, wins and pride is up for grabs.
Hopefully, it is a sprint right through and over the finish line on ‘trophy day’ and not another stumble or two.
Rangers are worthy Champions – it’s time to send a reminder.