Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
Youngest Player: | Richard Hastings (22 years 359 days) |
Oldest Player: | Mark McCulloch (2001 years 278 days) |
Average Player Age: | 29 years 97 days |
Domestic Players: | 10 (90.91 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
Youngest Player: | Richard Hastings (22 years 359 days) |
Oldest Player: | Dennis Wyness (2001 years 278 days) |
Average Player Age: | 29 years 97 days |
Domestic Players: | 13 (92.86 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
St Mirren were clapped onto the pitch as First Division champions by the Caley Thistle players but the respect ended there.
Saints looked sharp in the first few minutes but the home side took control and could have won by more than five. Barry Wilson should have scored in 8 minutes when an error by Paul Rodden left him one-on-one with Ludovic Roy. He chipped over the keeper and the bar. The St Mirren defence held out under pressure until the 25th minute. Wilson turned a defender down the right and sent a low pass to Davide Xausa unmarked at the back post. He trapped the ball and tapped it in with Roy stranded.
In 35 minutes Paul Sheerin took a corner on the left, Bobby Mann headed on and Mark McCulloch volleyed home for number two. A minute later a Rudden cross-field pass was knocked on by Wilson and he chased it with Roy - the ball broke loose, Wilson was first to his feet and he stroked in for 3-0. With a minute of the half left Caley Thistle had a series of chances to make it 4-0. Richard Hastings powered in on Roy but the keeper dived at his feet. It fell to Denis Wyness who headed goalwards with Roy scrambling back. A defender headed off the line and Hastings' follow-up shot went past the post. The second half was much like the first with Caley Thistle dominating and St Mirren challenging rarely. The home side scored two late goals to complete the rout. In 84 minutes substitute Martin Bavidge took a pass from Dennis Wyness and sent a low ball into the net from 20 yards. A minute from time Mark McCulloch made it a record-equalling 5-0. Wyness sent a pass from the right across the 18 yard line and McCulloch hit it low past Roy. At the final whistle the Saints fans decided not to let this defeat spoil the party and they invaded the pitch and stayed until their championship-winning team came back out. For Caley Thistle it was a great end to a satisfying season. Division One proved harder than many had anticipated but the team adapted well after a bad start and finished a very creditable sixth. Ross County will join them in Division One next season so the local derbies will return.
Match report written by Ian Broadfoot