(Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group via Getty Images)
Conor McCarthy reckons St Mirren might have lost the weekend tussle with Kilmarnock earlier in the season – but the 1-1 draw shows Paisley progression.
The Buddies prevented Killie from finding the net again after going 1-0 behind before being gifted a goal thanks to Danny Rogers’ goalkeeping error in stoppage time.
Rogers made an error. (Photo by Roddy Scott/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The Buddies didn’t play to their full potential and McCarthy said that the team were glad to get a point out of the game: “I think as a group we are very happy with the point. I think from the first whistle we weren’t at the races and it’s good to get a positive result.
“When we got in at half time there was a few harsh words said to each other and we came out in the second half and really passed the ball well. We probably didn’t work the keeper enough but that’s something we can improve on.”
The defender was unlucky to not get on the scoresheet himself. The Irishman fired a header just over the bar late in the game before the Rogers error and on a different day the Buddies may have grabbed three points.
Could have been three points on another day. (Photo by Roddy Scott/SNS Group via Getty Images)
McCarthy was disappointed not to hit the back of the net but says he will improve his eye for goal: “To be honest, my eyes lit up and I was thinking about a goal before I even leapt but you need to score those ones.
“It’s something I need to add to my game because it was a golden opportunity to add another goal to my tally this season.”
The point in Ayrshire means St Mirren have only lost twice in their last nine Premiership fixtures and McCarthy says the improvement in the squad has been vital to the good results: “Of course, a point is better than a loss.
Taking a point. (Photo by Roddy Scott/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“For us to take a point even though we weren’t at our best shows the character of this group. Earlier on in the season we may have lost this game, but we dug in until the end and that obviously proved crucial.
“The manager alluded to it all week that we are on a decent run of form. I know we lost to Rangers 2-0, but we thought we played well in the game so to start the game the way we did and then come out with a point is great for us.”
The point puts Saints up to seventh in the league with three games in hand over Dundee United if their appeal against the COVID sanctions is successful.
Looking up. (Photo by Roddy Scott/SNS Group via Getty Images)
With the Buddies sitting slightly more comfortable, McCarthy is looking ahead to the next run of fixtures: “In this league you are made to work for your points, and we were certainly made to work here and hopefully we can carry this momentum forward going into a really busy month in January.”
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