Cowdenbeath 1 - 1 St Johnstone: Mackay return boosts Saints ahead of Europa tie

Published on 23/07/2012 00:17

St JOHNSTONE were given a boost ahead of the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie against Turkish side Eskisehirspor at McDiarmid Park on Thursday night when captain Dave Mackay played in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Cowdenbeath.

The defender missed out when the Saints lost 2-0 in the opening European encounter through injury, but he was fit enough to be included in an experienced line-up against the Blue Brazil.

David Robertson, Steven Anderson and Kevin Moon also featured, but it was new boys Tom Scobbie and Nigel Hasselbaink who combined to open the scoring on 36 minutes.

Scobbie crossed from the left and Hasselbaink bulleted home a header from eight yards.

The lead was not held for long as Marc McKenzie equalised just before the break when he picked the ball up ten yards inside the Saints half before advancing and firing home a rocket shot from 35 yards.