Scottish football’s latest diving controversy is unlikely to occupy the same amount of column inches as recent high-profile cases but it did raise interesting questions about apportioning blame and lack of accountability, thereafter.
Dave Mackay, the St Johnstone right-back, was furious at what he perceived was McGinn’s underhand attempt to win the penalty that gave St Mirren a 32nd-minute lead in this 1-1 draw and accused the midfielder of being a cheat. It was one of those refereeing decisions made for video technology coming as it did amid a throng of players.
Asked afterwards if he was a ‘bit annoyed’ by the incident the defender, who arrived from Livingston during the summer, did not hold back.
“A bit annoyed? He conned the referee, it’s as blatant as that. I saw him coming into the box and I didn’t want to commit to the challenge – I stepped forward then pulled out of it and he just kicked me, just like Robert Pires used to do – run past you, then kick you and go down.
“I went over and had a word with him but he didn’t say a word and that just proves to me his guilt – it’s blatant cheating in my opinion.”
McGinn’s silence set a trend for the afternoon and his subsequent actions did little to dispel the belief that Mackay had a point. Until then any allegation of cheating had been a matter for conjecture but, given the chance to clear his name, the St Mirren midfielder failed to turn up for a post-match press briefing and seemed to confirm his guilt. Furthermore, it allowed Mackay the chance to vent his frustrations without fetter.
“It’s disappointing to see a young Scottish player doing that – he’s a good young player and there’s no need for him to do that,” he added.
“I don’t think it’s a problem generally in the Scottish game – it just seems to have happened so soon after the Eduardo incident against Celtic – it’s happened a couple of times this season but I don’t think it’s a major problem.
“He kicked me on the shins and flipped over and it’s very disappointing but I’ll forget about it and move on. He’s obviously trying to gain an advantage for his team but in my opinion it’s just cheating and I sure we’ll see that on TV replays.”
When the furore over the penalty had subsided, Billy Mehmet tucked the ball into Alan Main’s bottom corner to give St Mirren a lead that had not looked like arriving in the 30 turgid minutes that had preceded it.
Gus MacPherson later complained about his side’s inability to create chances but the manager’s team selection – two target men in attack and a narrow midfield which placed great emphasis on his full-backs to provide the width – did not help. Jack Ross, the right-back, did not get the chance to advance nearly enough and David Barron, the left-back, is right-footed.
So with St Mirren labouring, St Johnstone were able to use the sense of injustice from the penalty to galvanising effect.
Four minutes after falling behind they were level thanks to Jody Morris’ exquisite volley and they should have won the game with two good chances. On each occasion, however, Paul Gallacher proved equal to Murray Davidson and Chris Millar’s efforts both of which ended slapping against the crossbar after fine saves.
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