St. Johnstone Triumph in League Cup Final!

St. Johnstone vs Livingstone, the chance for players from either side to become legends. Who would stand up and rise to the occasion?

Line-ups

Referee - Don Robertson

Livingston

Manager - David Martindale

Formation 4231/4411

Starting 11

R. McCrorie

N. Devlin

E. Ambrose

J. Guthrie

J. Serrano

J. Mullin

S. Lawson

S. Pittman

J. Holt

M. Bartley

S. Robinson

In what was a baffling tactical decision, Martindale decided to play 34 year old defensive midfielder Marvin Bartley in a rather unusual left midfield position. Bartley was only recently back from injury and isn't getting any younger and while it was pretty clear this was an attempt to stop Shaun Rooney's marauding runs forward, Hampden is a big pitch which would mean a lot of running for Bartley, would the tactical switch pay off? The rest of the team was virtually as expected, although it did see a return for Ross McCrorie in goals for Polish stopper Maksymillian Stryjek who had been playing of late.

St. Johnstone

Manager - Callum Davidson

Formation - 523

Starting 11

Z. Clark

S. Rooney

J. Kerr

L. Gordon

J. McCart

C. Booth

A. McCann

L. Craig

D. Wotherspoon

C. Kane

C. Conway

Davidson reverted back to his trusted 523, which was used in the 3-0 Semi-final victory over Hibernian, with the 532 from last weekends thrashing of Motherwell, and Guy Melamed along with it, being dropped for the trip to Hampden. The major talking point before the match was that St. Johnstone legend Murray Davidson would miss out through injury, just as he did in 2014. Gut wrenching news for 'saints' fans not just because he is one of St. Johnstone's key players but also on a personal level as nobody deserved to play more on Sunday than the 32 year old.

The Match

First Half

It was a cagey start to the match and St. Johnstone gave away some early free-kicks, allowing Livingston to have a little bit of early pressure, although to no avail. The game battled on with lots of niggly fouls and clashes between the teams. A Shaun Rooney ball into the box was just cut out by the Livingston defence before it became a threat.

The first real chance of the game came for 'Livi'. Good hold up play from Robinson helped the ball onto Josh Mullins, with his excellent first class setting him up for a shot on goal with the outside of his foot which looked to be nestling in the side netting. A big hand from Clark and he firmly denied the effort, a big let off for St. Johnstone.

Then in the 31st minute St. Johnstone won a corner after the ball went out via Bartley. Craig Conway stepped up from the right and his whipped delivery was met in the air by 6'3 Rooney, who powered away from his marker, meeting the ball in the air and heading it goal wards with purpose. McCrorie could only get a slight touch as the ball nestled in the net via the post. Rooney had his side in front, once again from a set piece with his 3rd goal of the League Cup campaign, his 3rd in his last 4 matches and in his sides 3rd ever League Cup Final.

The first half petered out with plenty of stoppages, mainly fouls and the odd throw in but very little action. Going into the break it would undoubtedly be Callum Davidson who would be the happier of the two with the first half performance, but there was still plenty of time to go for David Martindale's men.

[Wotherspoon and Holt challenge for the ball -Image: Sky Sports]

Second Half

The teams came out for the second half and St. Johnstone looked like they wanted it more than their opponents. Some nice passing now that the Perth side could actually get the ball on the floor and Wotherspoon was first to have a crack at doubling the lead, his 48th minute effort being easily saved.

'Saints' won 4 corners in quick succession as pressure mounted in the team in yellow, who were desperately defending to prevent a second goal. Efe Ambrose looked to have brought Kerr to the ground in the penalty box but the referee waved play on, crisis averted for Livingston. Centre back Jamie McCart stepped up and headed another St. Johnstone effort which nearly put his side 2 goals to the good if not for an Efe Amrbose intervention.

Now it was just past the hour mark and Martindale threw Sibbald on for Lawson, a clear effort to try and get some more bodies forward. 5 minutes later and a double substitution of Reilly and Forrest, more forward options on to test the St. Johnstone backline. Another 6 minutes passed with relatively nothing of note occurring before Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (JET) was thrust onto the field to try and get the equaliser as the clock ticked on. Livingston were trying with all their might now to get bodies forward

St. Johnstone on the other hand were the complete opposite, with very little action in terms of substitutions. The first and only sub of the game for Callum Davidson was 2014 cup hero Stevie May on for veteran winger Conway in the 77th minute.

Livingston were lumping the ball into the box hoping for a knockdown or a lucky bounce to fall and level the game. However, the St. Johnstone back 3 were more than equal to every single one, Gordon, McCart and captain Kerr won everything in that box as well as Booth who made a crucial tackle in the game to deny a chance as well as a generally solid display down the left hand side.

Now St. Johnstone were looking better and better as we entered the final moments of the match, Livingston's attackers didn't get any change out of their opponents and only one team looked like scoring and it was St. Johnstone. McCrorie saved well from a close range Rooney shot after a McCann cross to feet. Kane almost found himself the recipient of an open goal but the ball bounced off of the number 9.

St. Johnstone managed to control the game and Livingston didn't even manage to threaten Zander Clark once in the second half in the 'saints' goal. Only 2 minutes of added time and as the clock ticked down it was closer and closer to a dream becoming reality for St. Johnstone. 91:53 and Shaun Rooney won the ball and ran down the right hand side. St. Johnstone fans in unison jumped out of their arm chairs as surely that was game over. It was. ST. JOHNSTONE WN THE BETFRED CUP.

Key Talking Points

The Managers

today depicted two polar opposite managers. Not just in their outfits for today, with Davidson wearing a smart suit while Martindale opted for a rather more modest tracksuit. Although both are in their first seasons as managers beyond that they share little in common. Davidson stood on the side line calm and un moved for a large portion of the match, laid back. Whereas Martindale was animated, up and down the touchline shouting at his players through out.

Asides their characteristics there were also a few tactical notes to take. Davidson played his way without change and the team continued in their usual fashion for most of the game. Martindale played Marvin Bartley on the left flank, in attempt to thwart the threat of eventual match winner Rooney. Bartley simply couldn't deal with Shaun Rooney as Hampden is a big pitch and the right back is a very powerful opponent. In the latter stages attackers were thrown on but the game plan and play style remained the same, which led to very little threatening of the St. Johnstone goal.

Martindale is certainly a decent coach, with many positive attributes - you don't do as well as he has by accident - however he simply got it wrong on the day, and his counterpart got it oh so right.

[Callum Davidson kisses the League Cup - Image: @SNS]

St. Johnstone success

This was St. Johnstone’s second national cup success of the last 7 years (and in their entire history) which has made them the 2nd most successful side in Scotland over the last decade. This is a remarkable success for a club of a modest stature, with the lowest wage bill and net spend in the entire Scottish Premiership. Callum Davidson follows in the footsteps of his predecessor Tommy Wright by winning a trophy in his first season, albeit in very different circumstances with very different teams. St. Johnstone have now won both the League Cup and Scottish Cup taking their trophy haul higher than any club not named Celtic since 2011.

Shaun Rooney

The 'Bellshill Cafu' as he is known to many in Perth, Shaun Rooney produced yet more heroics for 'saints' after coming up with the goods in the Quarter and Semi final victory's. Shaun Rooney has had a remarkable resurgence after battling with Millwall loanee McNamara at the start of the season, whose excellent form kept the new signing out of the side for long periods. Since he stepped into the starting 11 he has been irreplaceable and what a player he looks to be. On Sunday he wrote his way into St. Johnstone folklore with his goal and it has since been suggested that he should start for Scotland at the Euro's. A bold claim although one which I personally agree with.

[Rooney with the trophy - Image: @StJohnstone]

That concludes what was a monumental final, despite not being a great game it was huge for Scottish football and is the first domestic trophy in not to be won by Celtic since 2016. One to be remembered for the result, perhaps not the performance, in Perth for many years to come.

[Apologies this is out so late, as a St. Johnstone fan myself Sunday and Monday were both spent celebrating, I have tried to remain as impartial as I possibly can at my wee team winning their second trophy in 7 years. If it's a little biased, ah well]