FORGET St Johnstone. This was more like the St Andrew’s Sporting Club. Another day in Scottish football, another unseemly kerfuffle. At this crash, bang, wallop rate, Tommy Gilmour will be coming in to promote it. Stick Richard Foster, Danny Swanson, Jim Duffy and Neil Lennon on the bill and you could probably sell out the MGM Grand.
This was an astonishing spectacle, one which caught most folk on the hop. No wonder. The first half had been about as eventful as the Lanarkshire & District Paint Drying Championship but things certainly got going as the players trudged off the pitch at half-time.
The full-bloodied battle between the St Johnstone duo of Foster and Swanson, and the general melee that ensued, resembled something you’d see in a saloon bar in the Wild West and eventually led to the pair being sent off. The ramifications will possibly be far more severe. St Johnstone have already launched a “full and thorough” investigation while both been suspended until further notice.
As all and sundry seemed to get involved in the escalating hostility, Darian MacKinnon found himself embroiled in something of a heated exchange with St Johnstone manager, Tommy Wright, amid much shoving, finger-wagging and cursing.
MacKinnon admitted that he had never seen anything quite like Saturday’s bamboozling skirmish. “Not even in the juniors,” he said with a chuckle. “It was bizarre to say the least. But you can’t do that.
“If you are going to do it, do it behind closed doors. It’s not a good example for anyone, and I’m someone who likes a wee scrap now and again.
“They [Foster and Swanson] were shouting at each other all game. They were shouting about taking the ball in and defending but I never saw that coming. Did you?”
Well, no to be honest. “It’s not usually like that with St Johnstone,” continued MacKinnon. “Even their manager was having a go at me. Even when I was coming out for the start of the second half he bumped into me and was trying to get me into trouble. It’s not usually like Tommy.”
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