ST JOHNSTONE now need nothing short of a miracle to remain in the Premier Sports Cup as the Perth outfit once again failed to beat lower league opposition.
Callum Davidson billed Saturday’s showdown with Queen of the South as a must win following Tuesday’s draw with Annan Athletic at McDiarmid Park.
Annan ended up taking the bonus points via penalties and Queens landed the same in Dumfries, but they could have easily taken the three points with two big chances going by the wayside in the second period.
Davidson’s team are now up against it to qualify out of Group F, and he admitted that his side’s performance was one of the worst during his two-year tenure.
Asked for his initial reaction, the Saints boss said: “I probably can’t repeat it. It was not good enough. From the first minute I asked them to compete, you have to do that when you come here.
“You have to do the nasty side of the game. We gave them a really poor first goal and they get a foothold in the game.
“At that point we were not good enough. I asked them to play forward, be positive, and go and take people on and try to create and score goals.
“For me we didn’t do that. The first half was probably the poorest since I have been here.
“We have four or five boys coming back from injuries and suspensions. The ones playing today had chances to stake their claim for a place in the team. For me they were miles off it.”
Queen of the South twice led through goals from Lee Connelly and Ruari Paton, but twice Saints new boy Jamie Murphy managed to haul his team back into the game.
The former Rangers and Hibs man produced two impressive finishes after coming on early for the injured Ali Crawford and Davidson says his new signing was the only player in his team with pass marks.
He continued: “We have probably nine out injured at the moment. It is a blow to lose somebody like Ali. Jamie Murphy came on and he was actually the only person who I can give pass marks.
“I thought he was excellent and epitomised what I want when he got on the ball. He drove forward and tried to create things. If it wasn’t for him we would not have got back in the game.
“It wasn’t good enough. They need to take a look at themselves and I need to take a look at myself.
“I need to see what I am doing and make sure it is right. We haven’t been beaten, but we haven’t done the basics well enough.
“We lose our first goal from a corner because we don’t clear our lines. For me that is basic football no matter who you are playing.
“Lessons have to be learned very quickly. Because when we move up levels we can’t give teams opportunities like that.”
New arrivals are clearly needed at McDiarmid Park to boost the current squad and Davidson now seems determined to bring fresh faces in.
He explained: “I think the board are trying really hard. These games are giving me an opportunity to see where the squad is.
“As I have said today I am not particularly happy with the performance so I will be looking to see who is there, if the funds are there.
“I think when we get Graham Carey fit, obviously Jamie Murphy fully fit too. We have Drey Wright coming back, Liam Gordon, Dan Cleary, Cammy MacPherson. We have a few boys to come back.”
Queen of the South manager Wullie Gibson was delighted to gain the extra bonus point but he felt his team deserved the win.
He added: "It obviously is a good win. It is in our hands now. We cannot get too carried away, but to dominate against an SPL team is pleasing.
"We will take the two points. There was a great opportunity with wee Lee to kill the game off near the end and at 3-1 we would have been a great position.
“But we got the bonus point and we will see where that takes us."
