A dull first-half looked set to finish goal-less before the game swung on two incidents involving Brechin midfielder Grant Johnson. First he conceded the penalty that ended up separating the teams. Then he was sent packing for a second yellow card just minutes later.
Saints came out all guns blazing for the second-half but couldn’t grab the killer goal – and they came painfully close to letting two points slip away when, out of nowhere, Brechin won a penalty. Had McEwan not blazed it over the bar Saints would have been left with a point from a game they should have had wrapped up long before.
Given that Brechin barely threatened stand-in keeper Chris Smith throughout the game, this would have been nothing short of a travesty. But one-nil is never a safe score and Saints would only have themselves to blame for failing to take advantage of their extra man.
After labouring in the first–half they dominated their depleted opponents in the second and Gus MacPherson was unhappy that they failed to finish off the string of chances they created. Overall, it was not the most convincing of performances but as the manager said, the important thing is that the team managed to pick up three points – which put them into third spot in the table, three points behind leaders Ross County. And coming off the back of two wins away to St Johnstone, fans can be happy that the team have made a very good start to the season.
Saints were forced to make one change from the team that managed back-to-back wins in Perth this week – Craig Hinchcliffe injuring his knee in the warm-up and being replaced by Chris Smith. Brechin lined up with FOUR ex-Love Street men in their squad – Scott Walker, Ally Mitchell, Alex Burns and sub keeper John Hillcoat – along with a few other familiar faces including Craig Nelson, Gary Bollan and ex-Inverness hitman Paul Ritchie.
The first-half was pretty much starved of action. As expected Brechin made life difficult for the home side, sticking to a rigid 4-4-2 formation, getting men behind the ball and looking to hit on the break. This meant Saints were required to be patient while they tried to break their opponents down.
They had the majority of the ball and forced seven corners before half-time but couldn’t create any more than a handful of half-chances. Lappin, Mehmet and Broadfoot all came close but keeper Nelson didn’t really have a save to make for most of the half.
The breakthrough came on 39 minutes. David van Zanten made a surging run into the box from the right hand side but was dumped to the deck by Grant Johnson. Referee Stuart Dougal, perhaps hoping for a quieter afternoon than he had last week, pointed straight to the spot and booked the Brechin man for his tackle. Stewart Kean stepped up to blast the penalty high into the centre of the net and notch his third of the season.
And Saints received another boost minutes from the break when Johnson received his second booking for a foul on McGowne and disconsolately trudged up the tunnel.
The second half was much more open from a St Mirren point of view as they chased a second goal. Brechin spent most of the second 45 penned back in their own half as Saints totally dominated but couldn’t find the net. Broadfoot nearly got it on 53 minutes when he went one-on-one with Nelson after a delightful one-two with Kean but the keeper got enough of a touch to keep it out and Murray just failed to scramble the rebound over the line.
Stewart Kean was a constant thorn in the flesh for the visitors and three times came close himself. And John Potter was inches away from his first goal for the Club when he headed just over on 70 minutes.
But the visitors nearly snatched a point completely against the run of play when they won a penalty of their own ten minutes from the end. Sub Stuart Callaghan twisted and turned in the box, went down under a challenge from McGowne and Dougal pointed to the spot for the second time. Thankfully, Craig McEwan let St Mirren out of jail by blasting the penalty into the Caley stand – and that was to be the last – and only – threat the visitors posed.
Foster's Man of the Match: Striker Stewart Kean was a constant thorn in the side for Brechin today and was involved in all Saints’ good moves in the second half.
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Saints never managed to scale the heights of last weekends win in Perth, but still recorded a crucial victory as they overcame a dogged Brechin City side by a solitary Stewart Kean strike.
It's the third win inside a week for the buddies and so we cannot be too harsh in our review of what was a fairly dismal ninety minutes.
Brechin themselves have to shoulder much of the blame for that however as they came to Love Street and set their stall out right from kick off.
With ten men behind the ball we had visions of the recent struggle against Stranraer being repeated but in all honesty Brechin looked a far more impotent side than Neil Watt's team of a fortnight earlier and Ian Campbells men look a sure fire bet for the drop based on this encounter.
With 41 fans following the visitors to Paisley it is rather difficult to see what Brechin bring to the first division. Not often you find yourself wishing that Morton would hurry up and get promoted. What we wouldn't give for a decent atmosphere at St.Mirren park.
Saints sprang only one selection surprise as Hinchy was replaced by rookie stopper Chris Smith after the buds no 1 was injured in the pre-match warm up. Everyone else was as you were from Wednesday night.
And so to the first half, one which St.Mirren dominated completely for the entire 45 minutes.
The breakthrough came on 39 mins when the impressive David Van Zanten played a neat one two to burst into the box where he was crudely brought down. Stewart Kean stood up and slammed home his third goal of the season to give the buds the lead.
A couple of minutes later and City were down to ten men when Grant Johnston was sent for an early bath by Neil Lennon fan Stuart Dougall.
The offence was a double yellow card, with Johnston having been booked for the tackle which led to the penalty and then again for putting in an innocuous looking challenge on skipper Kevin McGowne.
Half time - one nil to the good and playing against ten men. The second half was a period of yet more Saints dominance as one would expect.
Keano could easily have had a hat-trick, whilst Kirk was at the heart of most of our attacking moves and was denied a goal himself by a smart save from keeper Nelson.
Corcoran came on, McGinty came on, but still Saints couldn't kill off the game and with eight minutes remaining Brechin somehow found themselves unbelievably with a golden chance to grab a point !
The visitors had broken upfield for the second time in the match and as they headed into the box a challenge by McGowne saw Dougal point to the spot to send the 41 visitors into ecstasy.
Full back McEwan spared the blushes of Saints however as he screamed the kick miles over the bar and right up to the back of the Caley Stand. Think Beckham and you're on the right track.
And so full time. Three important points which see Saints climb to third in the table. Best for the home side for me was Van Zanten and Shuggy but in truth many of the team failed to get out of second gear in this one.
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A Stewart Kean penalty was all that was needed for Saints to see off Brechin on Saturday, but only thanks to Brechin missing a penalty themselves in the second half. Saints dominated for most of the game but, as per usual, couldn't find a goal to make the points safe. Make no mistake, this was a far better performance than against Stranraer a fortnight ago. Chances and openings were created this time, we were simply unable to take them due to poor finishing or some decent defending from Brechin. We still need another striker in though, and probably a creative midfielder as well.
Gus MacPherson went with the same lineup that saw off St. Johnstone twice in four days, or at least that was the plan. However, goalkeeper Craig Hinchcliffe has been carrying a knee injury for ten days or so, and it flared up during the pre-match warm up. Result? Chris Smith replaced him in goals and Saints had the benefit of just four subs.
As expected, Brechin came to Love Street for a point, though they did have a few chances in the first half. For some reason, former Saint Ally Mitchell chickened out of a header he could easily have made and danger passed, whilst a waltzing run from another Brechin player strangely ended with no shot being made.
In the main, though, it was all Saints, with Simon Lappin, Kirk Broadfoot, Billy Mehmet and Stewart Kean all going close during the first forty five minutes. However, it took until five minutes before half time for the breakthrough to come. David van Zanten surged into the box and was crudely hacked down by Grant Johnson for the stoniest of stone wall penalties. Incredibly, it was Saints first penalty since late November 2004 (I think), and Kean gave Craig Nelson no chance with his spot kick.
Things were to get worse for Brechin and for Johnson. Just before half time, Johnson brought down Kevin McGowne whilst lying on the ground. It was a stupid tackle at the best of times, even worse when you're on a yellow card, and Stuart Dougal promptly sent the Brechin man off.
With only ten men and a goal behind, Brechin couldn't afford to sit back in the second half and Saints dominated for the majority. Chances were created but couldn't be taken, Broadfoot, Kean and sub Brian McGinty all failing to take advantage of decent openings.
For the final fifteen minutes, Brechin pushed a bit more and got their reward with ten minutes to go. Sub Paul Ritchie turned in the box and was flattened by McGowne for another stone wall penalty. Fortunately, Ritchie didn't take it. That honour fell to Craig McEwan, and he copied such greats as David Beckham and Johnny Wilkinson by firing his kick miles over the bar. Both sides threatened after that but failed to do anything, Kean coming close to adding to his tally in the final minute but his volley was just wide.
So a welcome three points at home then, but not very convincing one more. We played well and created chances but just couldn't take the chances when they came, something we'll need to start doing. Hopefully by the time we next have a league match in a fortnight we'll have a few new players in.
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