MX23RW : Tuesday, April 16 13:31:24| >> :600:366597:366597:
[monks data]
St Mirren logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 1
Aug 1, 2020 at 3pm UK
The Simple Digital Arena
Livingston logo

St Mirren
1 - 0
Livingston

Tait (30')
McCarthy (13'), MacPherson (79'), Tait (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Kouider-Aissa (84'), Ambrose (90+1')

Jim Goodwin lavishes praise on St Mirren defence

Jim Goodwin lavishes praise on St Mirren defence
© PA Photos
Full-back Richard Tait scored the only goal of the game against Livingston on his Saints debut.

Jim Goodwin praised his "warrior" St Mirren defence after their hard-fought 1-0 Premiership win over Livingston.

The Buddies boss gave debuts to goalkeeper Jak Alnwick and defenders Joe Shaughnessy, Marcus Fraser and Richard Tait, and it was the latter who ultimately gave Saints three points with a bullet header on the half-hour mark from a Jamie McGrath cross.

Livingston responded, especially after the break, but the new-look St Mirren backline held firm and indeed the home side came close to adding to their tally with a couple of chances later in the game.

A delighted Goodwin said: "We had to stand up and be counted and every player out there put in a shift for the team.

"Defensively we looked fantastic and we'll improve on the attacking front.

"We knew going into the last 15 or 20 minutes if the score stayed 1-0 they would chuck everything at us and they did that.

"Jak Alnwick made some great decisions, caught a couple and punched at the right times.

"Joe and Conor (McCarthy), Joe in particular the ball was like a magnet to him. Then there were Marcus and Taits in the full-back positions.

"It's the most comfortable I think I've felt throughout my short managerial career on the sidelines when balls were going in the box.

"I've got four real warriors at the back who enjoy defending and Sam Foley in there in front of them who's very disciplined as well  and a really composed goalkeeper. So it is a great start, 1-0, and clean sheet.

"I'm just delighted we got the first points on the board in the opening game of the season."

Livingston boss Gary Holt was unimpressed with his side's work-rate before the break.

He said: "In the first game you want to put down a marker and I don't think we done that.

"In the first half I didn't think we got in with the hard work, the sleeves rolled up and get in about them.

"I think we tried to play football first and foremost, let the talents show rather than putting in the hard graft first.

"The second half was a marked improvement from the first half. But we need to be at it from minute zero.

"We can't come in at half-time thinking we play football – no we are grafters.

"We work hard and within that you get to play. I have always said that and that's something we will have to get right.

"Forget what went on, forget what's happened in the past and get back to what we are good at.

"I can take losing games. I can almost understand it and accept it as long as you are doing the right things and I don't think in the first 45 minutes we did."

ID:408762: cacheID:408762:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4181:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aberdeen's Dean Campbell in action with Rangers's Ryan Kent in the Scottish Premiership on August 1, 2020
Read Next:
Scottish Premiership roundup: Rangers start campaign with an important win
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers32242672234974
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee321010124454-1040
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!