Source: Team_Talk
Jackson claiming comeback goal
uckless St Johnstone striker Andy Jackson insisted there was no way he would give up the goal he scored in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Aberdeen.[LNB] The strike would be Jackson's first SPL goal after more than two years of injury hell.[LNB]The 22-year-old came off the bench to help his side rescue a point against the Dons in Perth.[LNB]But while he was claiming the 88th-minute equaliser, the effort was officially credited as a Stuart Nelson own goal after taking a decisive deflection off the goalkeeper.[LNB]"Never!" Jackson exclaimed upon learning of the award.[LNB]"Before I went to hit it, it actually hit a bobble and hit off me.[LNB]"It's my goal anyway - I'm claiming it."[LNB]Saturday saw Jackson's first appearance at McDiarmid Park for more than a year, with the forward finally over the health and fitness problems that have dogged his fledgling career.[LNB]It began two years ago when he was hospitalised with a bowel problem, for which he still takes medication.[LNB]He then tore his Achilles tendon before suffering an horrific knee injury which included snapping his lateral ligament.[LNB]Despite repeated setbacks, Jackson never doubted he would eventually become an SPL player.[LNB]"Hopefully, that's my injuries out the way - maybe I've got them out the way at an early age," he added.[LNB]"It's been a long two years but I'm delighted to be back.[LNB]"The fans were brilliant when I came on.[LNB]"When I scored, they were singing my name."[LNB]Manager Derek McInnes did not mind that the goal had been credited to Nelson, claiming the goalkeeper would deserve it for persistent time-wasting.[LNB]Echoing the sentiments of Falkirk boss Steven Pressley following the Bairns' defeat at Pittodrie last week, McInnes said: "I couldn't be more delighted with that as well, because he was annoying me.[LNB]"I thought it was poor how long he was taking at kick-outs.[LNB]"If Jackson scored, great for him; and if it's the keeper's own goal then I'm not too disappointed with that either."[LNB]McInnes hailed the impact of Jackson, who came on in the 71st minute.[LNB]Revealing he decided to put the forward on the bench after his performance in a midweek friendly against Motherwell, McInnes said: "Nobody's more pleased for him than the rest of the squad and myself.[LNB]"He's had a really hard time with injuries.[LNB]"He's had a frustrating time on loan at Arbroath - it never worked the way we wanted it to.[LNB]"We had to come back and pick him up but he's picked himself up today and he deserves a lot of credit for that."[LNB]Saturday was the second straight game Saints have snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat and McInnes added: "We've not played anywhere near like ourselves in the last two weeks but we've still not been beaten."[LNB]Opposite number Mark McGhee accused his injury-hit Dons of switching off for the Liam Craig free-kick that led to the equaliser.[LNB]"Particularly coming as stretched as we were in terms of the squad and injuries, there was good attitude, there was decent performances and there were one or two very good performances within it," said McGhee, whose side led for 72 minutes through Steven MacLean's opportunist effort.[LNB]"If anyone deserved to win, it was us.[LNB]"But we didn't defend the free-kick very well, maybe not as determinedly as we should've done at that stage of the game.[LNB]"People get tired, people's brains get tired and that's something that we've got to improve on."[LNB]McGhee, whose side have now mathematically confirmed their SPL status, also revealed Nelson played instead of Jamie Langfield as he had decided to rotate his keepers for the remainder of the season.
