A storm swept through Perth on Tuesday night as rain and wind battered the town into submission. Most people wisely decided to stay indoors for their own health and safety, while those who had to venture out took to the pavements and roads reluctantly and with the utmost caution.
Amid all the mayhem, however, a game of football took place between St Johnstone and Aberdeen. It was farcical that the fixture went ahead even though the surface was playable.
Surely Scottish football should realise that it is ridiculous to ask any fan to leave his or her cosy armchair to sit on a cold seat on such a horrendous night, never mind pay for the ”privilege”.
The summer football campaign must have earned some new recruits.
It was also absolutely no surprise that this was the club’s lowest-ever league attendance at McDiarmid Park, with the 1,607 figure ‘beating’ the 1,770 who watched a game against Clyde in 2005.
It was fog that claimed the original Saints v Dons fixture on November 7, with Sky left having to fill a hole in their schedule. Last night the cameras rolled but they were broadcasting pictures of sparsely-filled stands to the nation.
Goals from Scott Vernon (14 minutes) and Ryan Jack (79) a shot from the halfway line to punish a blunder by home goalie Peter Enckelman gave the Dons their first away success of the SPL season, while Saints grabbed a late consolation through a Marcus Haber header. The real winner, though, was the weather.
St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas said: ”I couldn’t fault the lads for commitment and effort in difficult conditions. The wind was swirling and it was slippery underfoot. It probably made for an exciting game to watch in those conditions.
”But we have no excuses. I have no problem with the game going on because it was the same for both sides. You have to get on with it.”
Dons gaffer Craig Brown added: ”We have played better and lost games, although there were pleasing things like the second goal from Ryan, which was a very difficult thing to do.”