Those were the days

Whenever the subject comes up to pick out your 5 best former players or 10 games from past there is always one or two that spring to mind straight away. It’s after that the problem begins - “Can’t leave him out” or “But…..both these games were crackers” you start to say to yourself.

So here goes - my own personal favourite Saints games from the past. I am going to plump for five of what i reckon to be the very best.

In 5th place is DUNDEE UNITED 1 SAINTS 2 from the autumn of 1990. Saints had started the season well enough on their return to the top tier after a 6 year absence, but The Arabs were flying, sitting on top of the League and were hot favourites to take the 2 points on offer. And bear in mind this was a very decent United side, back when The Tannadice outfit and Aberdeen were a decent and constant challenge to The Old Firm, not the United side of today.

Saints stormed into a 2-0 lead, through goals from John Inglis and Stevie Maskrey. Both goals came at the end where The Saints fans had packed the terrace. As an 8 year old this was an entirely new experience for me. A local derby and a big noisy crowd, it was simply a fantastic day. United did pull one back in the second half, but despite a bit of pressure Saints held on gallantly to record a famous victory.

In at 4th is DUNDEE 1 SAINTS 5 from 1996. It was a midweek Challenge Cup tie at Dens and the travelling Saints fans were housed in the old Provost Road end. Resplendent in their teal and magenta away kit Saints got off to an absolute flyer and by half - time The Dee were already out the cup, pumped on their own patch. The exact details of the match escape me but Saints were 3 or 4 up by the half hour mark and probably could have won by even more had they not taken their foot off the gas in the second period.

In 3rd place has to be SAINTS 2 RANGERS 0 from January 1998. Saints were doing well on their Premier League return in 1997/98 but no one really expected an upset here. Saints had failed to beat the Ibrox side on so mamy occasions since a famous win in the very early 70’s. The home side though proved too hot for Rangers to handle and goals from O’Boyle and O’Neil saw off a Rangers side packed with stars. (Kids, at one time Rangers did have some good players).

In second place is SAINTS 3 MONACO 3 in The Uefa Cup from 1999. Such a proud moment, and although we had lost the first leg in the principality 3-0 and were effectively out of the competition, we did ourselves proud against a star studded Monaco side.

In first place and unlikely to ever be dislodged is SAINTS 7 DUNDEE 2. New years day 1997. Saints were on a hell of a run at the time and already top of the pile. Dundee though were near challengers and were expected to provide a stern test. They did - for 45 minutes. Locked at 1-1 at half -time, most people in the ground probably thought it was about right, and given our stance at the summit, would probably have taken the point. However then came a second half performance that is unlikely to ever be bettered by any Saints side, any time. And it was not just that they whacked a further six past the hapless Billy Thomson in that second half, each and every goal had a certain quality. Leigh Jenkinson scored two delightful free - kicks with his left peg, Stevie Tosh put a header through the ‘keepers legs. Just brilliant, never to be forgotten and anyone that was there will tell you it’s not likely to be bettered.

Saints V Rangers to be broadcast live on BBC

Saints Homecoming Scottish cup game will now be played on Tuesday 16th January with an 8:05 pm kick off at McDiarmid Park.

The game was the second draw to be picked out the hat at Hampden Park on Monday afternoon.

Ticket sales to be announced soon.

Saints extend lead to 4 points

Saints have extended their advantage at top of the table thanks to a 1-1 draw at dens park and also extending their unbeaten run to 10 games.

A few changes were forced in the starting line up with Kevin James replacing the missing Stuart McCaffery. Kevin Moon took the place of suspended Martin Hardie but Jody Morris kept his place in the starting 11.

The game was to very hard fought match indeed with the referee making some very decisions and becoming a useful 12th man to the home side. But with the Perth camp keeping their cool and profesionalism about them the pulled infront after a great stop by Alan Main denying the Dee. Main took the ball and punted it right up the field where Derek Holmes dummied the ball to Liam Craig where he unselfishly passed a header to milne to alow Savo to hit home his 7th Goal of the Season. The ex dundee hitman making his mark at his old club and causing an erruption with the 2,000 strong away fans.

Kevin James almost cost us on the blink of half time where his lack of match fitness or decission making casued him to be tackled by a striker but thankfully Alan Main once again came to the rescue showing he can still cut it in the SPL.

In the 2nd Half saints came out hoping to hold onto their lead but Dundee had other plans as they came out more aggressive and hungrier for a goal and made a dent in Saints expectations to further themselves away from the 1st division pack when Paton ran up the right wing and crossed in a pacey low drive where Courier was able to tap it in from close range.

The game was still action packed and had either side of the 6,500+ fans on the edge of their seats when both keepers had to pull out remarkable saves to deny their opposition. But a point is a point and Saints will be happy to be sitting top of the table clear by 4 points.