ST JOHNSTONE manager Tommy Wright could barely contain his frustration after Murray Davidson forced him into an early substitution during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hibernian in Perth.
The midfielder was taken off at half-time due to illness, having assured his manager he was fit to play. Davidson suffered concussion last time out against Celtic, where he was also an enforced substitution, but has since suffered a bout of sickness.
However, after labouring during the first half, Wright was left fuming with the midfielder.
He said: “Murray said he was fit, but he has been ill. I’m not happy he went off after 45 minutes. You can’t tell your manager you are fit and then have to come off after 45. We had make a forced substitution again and I’m not pleased with that.”
Davidson’s withdrawal proved a blessing in disguise for Saints,
as replacement Liam Craig found space down the left to deliver a teasing ball for Michael O’Halloran to slide home his fifth of the season shortly after the break.
That goal was soon cancelled out by Paul Paton when he turned a Simon Murray cross into his own net.
Wright was frustrated at his inability to change the game from the bench after using up an earlier substitution. “He [Craig] did well,” Wright said. “But you waste a sub on someone. Last week was different, that was an accident, but when a player declares himself fit he should be able to do 90 minutes.
“There were a couple of things that displeased me but the main thing is we got a point and we’re still unbeaten.”
St Johnstone sit third in the Ladbrokes Premiership table, having missed the chance to go top, but for Hibs it was a case of another two points dropped after dominating much of the match.
“I don’t think we’re getting what we deserve at he moment based on performances,” said manager Neil Lennon. “That’s two games away from home where we’ve completely dominated the game and the football is good, the style is good.
“We had some outstanding performances. [Efe] Ambrose,
[Paul] Hanlon, the two full-backs played well. John McGinn was different class. To come here and play like that was unbelievable. [Martin] Boyle had a fantastic game as well. He’s a terrific little player and is getting better and better.
I’m happy despite not winning the game.”
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