St Mirren steal back honour on derby day

MORTON 2

Bannerman 19; Hopkin 29

ST MIRREN 3

Cameron 55; Lappin 78; Yardley 115

EXIT Tom Hendrie, enter Mark Yardley to kill this intoxicating derby masquerading as a cup-tie and permit St Mirren to ease some of their own pain and inflict plenty on their mortal enemies.

Five goals, two red cards, a successful fightback, extra-time and an abundance of enmity emanating from the packed Cappielow stands - this match had it all, and provided a much-needed boost for the beleaguered Paisley club, and did no harm to the chances of John Coughlin, assistant to Hendrie, filling the shoes of his close friend in the long term.

Admitting that it had been "a hell of a week", Coughlin was understandably delighted with the players, the fans and the outcome.

"I’ve gone through every emotion," he said. "I just asked for character and all the usual football clichs. At 2-0 down I was thinking about getting on the bus. Last night Tom wished me all the best, and that was a gesture. He said he would be supporting us. The players have had a lot to take in these past couple of days."

Asked for his own views on his chances of winning the managership, Coughlin said: "If there is somebody better, then they will have to employ him." On matchwinner Yardley, a late second-half substitute, he observed: "How many times has he done it? Opposition fans make a grave mistake when they give him stick. He always answers them back."

Were it needed, evidence of the fact that this was derby day was hammered home upon disembarking the train. Demarcation lines, with the help of police on horseback, were firmly established. "St Mirren this way, Morton that way", or as one visiting supporter alternatively put it, "Us this way, scum that way". Ah, the derby.

Students of this ancient contest would place the Renfrewshire derby up there behind the Old Firm and Edinburgh loathe-fests, or possibly ahead. St Mirren are marginally ahead of Morton in the statistics, but then you’re only as good as your last derby. Hate has festered since the 19th century, and Alex Ferguson relished these meetings in the mid-1970s, doing his bit as St Mirren manager to promote mutual disrespect. Even when neither team had much to shout about (but did) the derby had always maintained its potent brew. Only a few years back the Paisley Panda got into trouble producing a giant air- freshener, and on another occasion a bar of soap and a brush before Morton fans, and rather upsetting the people of Greenock.

Yet St Mirren came to Morton’s aid in 2000, supporting them when the Cappielow club were close to hitting the wall. Friends like these, but not yesterday.

Morton had slammed two goals past St Mirren in the first half-hour. "See you next year!" sang the Morton fans. It is not beyond the realms of possibility. Morton would require promotion from the Third Division, which they are capable of, and St Mirren relegation from the First - which they are not immune to, coming fairly close last season.

Whose job it will be ultimately to ensure St Mirren get back on the right track is yet to be answered. Hendrie left "under protest", and will agree the make-up of his severance package early in the week. Whatever his feelings, he left as a consequence of poor results, his final match in charge being last weekend’s humiliating humping by Inverness.

Club chairman Stewart Gilmour said Hendrie’s removal was "regrettable", but match statistics tell the story.

Coughlin had put his hat in the ring for the available position, and there have been several other notes of interest in a club who, under Hendrie, reached the SPL in 2000 only to be relegated one season later, and struggle thereafter.

Life was made difficult for St Mirren yesterday; Morton made sure of that. But there is renewed optimism around Cappielow under the active chairmanship of Douglas Rae and manager Dave McPherson, who has been given a bit of money to furnish the team.

His Finn, Jani Uotinen, was clattered by Ricky Gillies in the first minute to remind him that this match mattered. It mattered to David Hopkin, back home in Greenock after his years in England. Hopkin went in on the St Mirren goalkeeper in the first attack, but Chris Robertson snuffed out the danger.

Martin Cameron of St Mirren was unlucky to hit a post, but it was Morton who assumed the lead in the 18th minute from a free-kick. Marco Maisano laid off to Scott Bannerman, who blasted high from 25 yards into the top of the net.

St Mirren were still reeling when Hopkin made it 2-0, everyone but he missing a Derek Collins cross, Hopkin stroking the ball back into the far corner. For celebrating before foaming St Mirren fans, he was booked by the referee.

Hopkin went off at half-time with an ankle knock, which manager McPherson and many others felt was a significant blow. A Martin Cameron header got St Mirren back into this cup-tie to set off jangling nerves among the home fans and spur on the away support. Junior Mendes went down for a penalty that was not given, and was booked, then Yardley entered the fray. Simon Lappin levelled for St Mirren, taking one touch from a Hugh Murray free-kick before shooting low into the corner, and before the 90 minutes were up, the derby produced its first red card, St Mirren’s Brian McGinty receiving a second yellow for a clumsy tackle on Morton sub Phil Cannie.

Marco Maisano followed in extra-time after an apparent elbow on Gillies, but the outstanding act of the second period was Yardley’s goal. In a demented dance with the ball through the box past several Morton players, with a poise belying his considerable bulk, Yardley waited and waited, then pulled the trigger with keeper Coyle getting a touch, but the ball spun into the far corner.