Source: Team_Talk
Johansson deal delights McInnes
Saints boss McInnes feared he had missed out on signing his former Rangers team-mate Johansson after watching the striker help his new side reach the semi-finals of the competition.[LNB]Johansson was a surprise starter in Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the Terrors after wrapping up the formalities of a deal until January just hours earlier.[LNB]The 34-year-old, who was released by Hibernian last month, had been training with Saints in a bid to maintain his fitness for Finland's World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Germany.[LNB]But when Johansson marked his 100th cap with a goal against the latter nation two weeks ago, McInnes began to panic.[LNB]He said: "When he scored against Germany, I started to fear the worst and I thought that somebody else would come and take him.[LNB]"He had a few token offers but nothing concrete."[LNB]McInnes opted to offer Johansson a contract because of injuries to fellow forwards Peter MacDonald, Andy Jackson, Steven Milne and Collin Samuel.[LNB]"My situation with strikers has kind of deteriorated, with Peter MacDonald not quite ready," McInnes said.[LNB]"Jackson's out long term, Milne's out, and with him and Samuel out - and Fil Morais out on Saturday - our attacking options were very limited."[LNB]Of Johansson, who showed flashes of the ability on Tuesday night that prompted Charlton to pay £3.25million for him nine years ago, McInnes added: "Credit to him - he's a top professional. There's not a bit of body fat on him.[LNB]"He's worked extremely hard to keep himself fit, he's mixed with all of the boys and you ask him to do something and he'll do it.[LNB]"He's got a great mentality and I thought he did well for us."[LNB]Own goals late on from Sean Dillon and Darren Dods last night ensured Saints reached their fourth major semi-final in four years.[LNB]McInnes said: "I said to the players, young and old, 'There's not many opportunities in your career you get to semi-finals and finals, so go and make the most of the opportunity'.[LNB]"That'll do us the world of good confidence-wise, beating a top side like United."[LNB]Opposite number Craig Levein had no complaints about the result but revealed striker Danny Cadamarteri was adamant he should have had a penalty while the game was still goalless.[LNB]Levein also felt goalkeeper Steve Banks was "taken out" in the build-up to Saints' second.[LNB]But he added: "It's frustrating that we scored two own goals, that's what's frustrating."[LNB]Levein admitted he had gambled by playing defender Andy Webster, who had to be substituted at half-time because he was still feeling the effects of his recent flu bug.[LNB]"He's had the flu and he felt washed out," said Levein, whose side pulled a goal back through Prince Buaben.[LNB]"He's obviously not fully recovered, so I was taking a little bit of a gamble - I knew that - but I was hoping he would be all right."[LNB][LNB]
