St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas has dismissed the intervention of a police match commander at Ibrox as a ”storm in a teacup” and hasn’t let it detract from a memorable SPL managerial debut against Rangers.
The Northern Irishman masterminded a highly impressive Saints performance on Saturday, which secured a point for the Perth men.
Lomas said: ”I don’t want anything to take away from the players’ efforts against Rangers. They were magnificent.
”There were reports that I had been cautioned by the police over a gesture during the game but that simply wasn’t the case. I find it all very disappointing.
”I didn’t even speak to a police officer at the weekend, although referee Euan Norris told me the match commander had insisted he include an issue with some of my language and a gesture in his report.
”I find it hard to believe, to be frank, and I would be very disappointed if it went any further with the football authorities.
”I don’t recall any gesture but it certainly wasn’t directed at anyone in particular or designed to be offensive. It was probably down to frustration with myself or a player as much as anything. The fourth official Craig Thomson certainly seemed to accept that and it wasn’t directed at a referee who handled the game very well.
”I was just delighted my lads didn’t go to Ibrox, roll over and have their tummy tickled.”
He added: ”It is remarkable to be coming away from a venue like Ibrox being a bit disappointed with a draw. The lads put in a superhuman effort and they have set a benchmark for themselves in my first game in charge.
”If I was going to nit-pick I might have looked for a wee bit more composure in the opposition box but that is the hardest thing when you have put in so much both mentally and physically.”
Lomas will keep training light for his Ibrox heroes in the first part of the week as thoughts turn to the visit of Hibs on Saturday.
He said: ”It was a great point for us in Glasgow but it will be an even better one if we follow it up with a win at home this weekend. The lads have enjoyed their weekend and they should be proud of their feat. But now it is time to put it to bed, go again and build on the confidence they should take from yet another good performance away from home. They should believe in themselves even more.
”But no one will be thinking too far ahead. In my experience that’s when things go crash, bang wallop.”
Lomas revealed fate may have played a part in Saints’ success as he had planned to play striker Cillian Sheridan before he was ruled out with a recurrence of a hamstring problem on Friday.
The Irishman could be back for the Hibs match but skipper Jody Morris is already a doubt after he was withdrawn in the closing stages at Ibrox, also with a hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, Lomas revealed that he will be making moves to secure fellow midfielder Kevin Moon on a long-term contract.
He said: ”I want Mooner here. I know he has had niggling injuries in the past and maybe we have to look at how we handle him. But he reminds me of a younger version of Jody Morris.
”We are in the process of sorting out a new contract and I don’t envisage any problems. He has a great engine and he is a local lad. He is going to be an integral part of the team going forward.
”Mooner just has to believe in himself a bit more and performances like the one he put in at Ibrox should help. He snuffed out Steven Davis, who is arguably the most influential midfielder in Scotland.”
Photo Kirk O’Rourke/PA