FOR A keeper who was at fault for one of two goals conceded to be his side’s man of the match takes some doing.
However, from a St Johnstone perspective, there was no one else in blue against Aberdeen on Saturday more deserving of the accolade than Alan Mannus.
Without him, the scoreline could have been of embarrassing proportions for Steve Lomas’s outfit, who looked like they would be blown away by the Dons attack at a gale and rain-lashed Pittodrie.
It was testament to the Aberdeen ground staff that the game went ahead at all in atrocious conditions that showed just whysummer football is such an attractive prospect.
Aberdeen, though, adapted better and while they did not score in the first half when the elements seemed to be to their advantage, dangerman Niall McGinn hit a double in the second 45 to secure all three points.
The first came when he struck a 22-yard free-kick round the St Johnstone wall to beat Mannus at his near post and the second when he was sent straight through on goal by sub Jamie Masson with the St Johnstone keeper having no chance.
Mannus was quick to hold his hands up to accept blame for the Dons’ opener but he insists Saints will bounce back strongly when they play Dundee United in the Boxing Day Tayside derby.
He said: “The lads were kidding as we went out that it was the sort of day that they were glad not to be a keeper.
“But you are going to get games where the weather is like that.
“I think the game should still have gone ahead we have no complaints about that.
“We aren’t blaming the result on the weather or anything like that. Both teams had to play in it and Aberdeen coped with it better than we did.
“I was disappointed with the first goal. I think he maybe used the wind to bring the ball back in a bit.
“Obviously, it is my responsibility when the ball goes around the wall and beats me at the near post. I maybe should have had the wall a bit further away.
“It bothers me and the result as well. I think at the end of the day, though, that Aberdeen deserved it.
“We didn’t really have any shots and didn’t trouble (Aberdeen goalie) Jason Brown. We just weren’t good enough.
“We have drawn too many games recently and we have to get back to winning ways.
“It’s important come Wednesday in what is a big game for us at Dundee United.
“If we play to the level we are capable of then we will bounce back from this loss at Aberdeen.”
Saints boss Lomas paid tribute to the contribution of Mannus for keeping the score to a respectable level but he insisted the game should never have gone ahead.
He said: “All credit to Aberdeen in the second half. They got it forward better than us but the conditions were farcical today.
“I don’t want it to sound like sour grapes but that wasn’t a game of football today. I feel sorry for the fans who had to pay to watch that.
“Alan Mannus was brilliant and it could have been a lot worse if he hadn’t pulled off four or five great saves.”
Dons boss Brown also doffed his cap to Mannus after quietly pointing out that the conditions were the same for both sides.
He said: “That was a good Christmas present for the Aberdeen support.
“We probably should have scored more but for the superb goalkeeping of Alan Mannus.”
nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk