Saints boss won't blame goalkeeper

Graham Ruthven • Published 16 Dec 2011 09:30

ST. JOHNSTONE boss, Steve Lomas refused to blame his goalkeeper, Peter Enkelman after a glaring mistake contributed to Saints' second consecutive defeat under their new manager.

The Finnish keeper was at fault for Aberdeen's second goal in a 2-1 win over the Perth side at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday night, with Ryan Jack scoring from the halfway line after Enkelman's dismal clearance 30 yards out of his goal.

Scott Vernon had given the visitors an early lead, with Enkleman again at fault after spilling a long range Jack drive, and Jack's sensational 40 yard striker had doubled his side's advantage.

Marcus Haber headed in from Chris Millar's corner in injury time at the end of the match but the Dons held out for a valuable win which lifts them clear of the foot of the table.

However, Northern Irishman, Lomas denied that the keeper had cost his side the match, instead blaming the torrential rain and strong wind that had threatened to postpone this fixture for a second time.

He said: "It was difficult out there. The bad conditions made it easy to make mistakes, and unfortunately that happened out there, it was that sort of game. Peter has held his hands up. We win together, we lose together."

Lomas praised his side's effort and will now have to lift his players ahead of Sunday's SPL home clash against second placed Celtic.

He added: "I couldn't fault my players' commitment. I thought we put in a tremendous level of effort, but unfortunately it just didn't happen for us tonight. We've just got to regroup ahead of Sunday's game.

"I thought the lads put so much into the game. I think a draw would have been a fair result. I asked the boys for commitment and desire and I definitely got that. But we've got to look at making better decisions in the final third. Too often we chose the wrong pass or cross.

"In all fairness to Aberdeen, they defended well and we found it difficult to get the ball through their back line. At the end, they were hanging on."

Lomas was undefeated as St. Johnstone manager heading into Saturday's home game against Motherwell but after a 3-0 defeat followed by Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat to Craig Brown's side, the Northern Irish boss is under threat of completing a three game losing streak within the space of a week with Celtic travelling to McDiarmid Park this weekend.

The result leaves St. Johnstone still in fourth place in the SPL table but Saints now sit seven points adrift of Motherwell in third place having played a game more.

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This article appeared in Strathallan Times 15 Dec 11

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