{"id":16226,"title":"All Too 'Well","description":"Fresh from an eventful deadline day that included the signings of Jordan Jones, Alex Gogi\u0107 and the departure of Jamie McGrath, St Mirren welcomed fourth-placed Motherwell to the SMISA Stadium on Tuesday night. Since losing talismanic striker Tony Watt to Dundee United, Graham Alexander\u2019s side have felt like a team struggling with their own footballing identity, picking up only a single point from three disappointing, tactically disjointed displays this side of the winter break. Upon seeing Saints\u2019 new boy Jones start in an attacking 4231 \u2013 fan\u2019s confidence of a fourth win on the bounce for the Paisley side was high","content":"

By Andrew Christie<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\"\"Fresh from an eventful deadline day that included the signings of Jordan Jones, Alex Gogi\u0107 and the departure of Jamie McGrath, St Mirren welcomed fourth-placed Motherwell to the SMISA Stadium on Tuesday night.<\/p>

Since losing talismanic striker Tony Watt to Dundee United, Graham Alexander\u2019s side have felt like a team struggling with their own footballing identity, picking up only a single point from three disappointing, tactically disjointed displays this side of the winter break. Upon seeing Saints\u2019 new boy Jones start in an attacking 4231 \u2013 fan\u2019s confidence of a fourth win on the bounce for the Paisley side was high.<\/p>

Ultimately the contest was one that felt every inch a side with two home wins all season hosting a side with two away victories in that same time period\u2013 the 1-1 draw a fair reflection on what was a frustrating night for both managers. More so, undoubtedly, for Jim Goodwin, having had some extra preparation time afforded to him by Storm Malik cancelling Saturday\u2019s tie at Dundee. In the end, Ross Tierney\u2019s 91st-minute equaliser was another in the increasing portfolio of St Mirren failing to see out a game.<\/p>

A Game Short on Quality<\/strong><\/p>

Broadly, Graham Alexander set his visiting side up to stifle St Mirren \u2013 soaking up periods of pressure in a 541 system while looking to release long balls for Kevin van Veen to feed off. Saints started the sharper of the two, however, and but for a bit of (understandable) rustiness in Jones\u2019 game, we might have found ourselves with more to show from the opening stages of the contest.<\/p>

The turning point of the half came 23 minutes in when number 9 Eamonn Brophy limped off with an ankle injury.<\/p>

\"\"
Losing our attacking focal point was a blow we never really recovered from. A lack of attacking options on the bench (Kristian Dennis having departed for Carlisle the night previously and Curtis Main not in the squad) meant a system shuffle and debutant Alex Gogi\u0107 coming on to allow Conor Ronan to move higher up the park; Jones and Kiltie playing just off him.<\/p>

Without the movement of Brophy, we were unable to put together any real cogent attacking play \u2013 the game plodding along rather unremarkably until midway through the second half and the introduction of striker Lee Erwin. While questions remain about his ability at this level \u2013 his presence (a 59th-minute substitute for Jay Henderson) allowed St Mirren to revert to their more natural 4231 shape and saw us open up a bit and create some chances, with Richard Tait and Ryan Flynn both denied brilliantly by Motherwell keeper Liam Kelly.<\/p>

Gogi\u0107 Debut<\/strong>\"\"
The high point of the game for me was the debut performance of Alec Gogi\u0107. In the 67 minutes the on-loan Hibs defensive midfielder played, he recorded 5 duels won, 2 clearances, 3 aerials, 2 accurate long balls and 8 ball recoveries.<\/p>

The Cypriot international chipped in well in attack too, managing 2 shots, 3 passes in the final third, 1 key pass, and 1 headed goal off the most beautiful baldy midfield napper since the one sported by our very own manager in his playing days.<\/p>

An impressive debut from a player who has the potential to become a cult hero in Paisley.<\/p>

Familiar Frustrations<\/strong><\/p>

Despite the feeling of two points lost as Ross Tierney\u2019s shot hit the net in added time, a draw was probably a fair representation of the piece overall.<\/p>

The worrying aspect of the game, for me, was how reminiscent it was to the types of games we failed to see out around this time last season - games that would eventually cost us a top-six place. Watching Richard Tait fail to clear his lines for the equaliser (how angry can you get at a man whose cats you follow on Instagram though? Probably \u201cnot very\u201d and \u201cI\u2019m 32, why do you ask?\u201d) had a frustrating familiarity.<\/p>

We have already lost 11 points from winning positions this season and - while the addition of Gogi\u0107 to the midfield should help give us that bit more steel \u2013 must work on our game management to avoid a repeat of last season\u2019s disappointments.<\/p>

Striking Dilemma<\/strong><\/p>

The injury to Eamonn Brophy is one that could prove decisive to St Mirren\u2019s season. While (at the time of writing) the club waits for results of an ankle scan, early indications from Goodwin suggest it could be a lengthy layoff for the striker \u2013 and plans for his absence put in place.<\/p>

To push Jordan Jones or Greg Kiltie up front, as we saw for a spell on Tuesday, is too much of a loss to the midfield, doubts remain over Curtis Main and Lee Erwin and new signing Alex Grieve \u2013 although a promising talent \u2013 is unproven at this level.<\/p>

If Goodwin had been able to get one or two more players out the door before Monday night\u2019s deadline, we may have seen another striker come in. With his hand now played, we may see Jim Goodwin take to the Bartertown of the free-agent market to add some striking reinforcements.<\/p>

Ultimately Tuesday was a disappointing night, but with a trip to Easter Road to face Shaun Maloney\u2019s Hibs awaiting us on Saturday, we will not have to wait long for the opportunity to make amends and put a real marker down in our hunt for that top-half finish.<\/p>","urlTitle":"all-too","url":"\/blog\/all-too\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/all-too\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/miseryhunters.co.uk\/blog\/all-too\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1643900753,"updatedAt":1643901306,"publishedAt":1643901306,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":106606,"name":"Misery Hunters"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0zkqcx2d43po4dzqi9jmr7u4hnf0mvqjbrdsdkzg0kkivtfp.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0zkqcx2d43po4dzqi9jmr7u4hnf0mvqjbrdsdkzg0kkivtfp.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0zkqcx2d43po4dzqi9jmr7u4hnf0mvqjbrdsdkzg0kkivtfp.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":17165,"title":"Humble Peh","url":"\/blog\/humble-peh\/","urlTitle":"humble-peh","division":106606,"description":"The scenes in the away end as Marc McNulty\u2019s bundled a 96th minute winner into the back of the net gave St Mirren fans an agonising taste of what might have been, rounding off a pretty torrid week for the Paisley side. The onlooking home support (including Tony Fitzpatrick in his last game as CEO before retirement) were left ruing yet another performance devoid of any of the characteristics we have previously prided ourselves on. While the 2-1 defeat to Dundee Utd hasn\u2019t mathematically killed off St Mirren\u2019s top six ambitions, it was the latest missed opportunity in a season that has felt full of them","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yrdyfljilwlbgtjw87h6a7qxglhsggcnlwsln9t7sxzzvvtl.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/yrdyfljilwlbgtjw87h6a7qxglhsggcnlwsln9t7sxzzvvtl.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":38046,"title":"The Back Five #11","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-11\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-11","division":106606,"description":"Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie takes a sideways look at a massive week in St Mirren's race for the Top Six.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ksnq6eonkpndsqlth3w4mscwpvdsrk9ximfeprace1zptfox.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ksnq6eonkpndsqlth3w4mscwpvdsrk9ximfeprace1zptfox.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":37584,"title":"The Back Five #9","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-9\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-9","division":106606,"description":"A sideways, irreverent look at the past week in the world of St Mirren FC, with Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/thoyoxksmd1dyrlapdrrepw0nyls0m2gjxkvpwgxr3fye2af.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/thoyoxksmd1dyrlapdrrepw0nyls0m2gjxkvpwgxr3fye2af.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}