Source: Team_Talk
McInnes: Saints went back to basics
Saints roared into the last four of the Co-operative Insurance Cup after two late own goals sparked a dull quarter-final tie to life at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday night.[LNB]First Sean Dillon headed into his own net 18 minutes from time before Darren Dods deflected Liam Craig's free-kick past Steve Banks four minutes later.[LNB]Prince Buaben's first goal in Scottish football set up a grandstand finish but Saints deservedly held on.[LNB]McInnes was forced into six changes as a result of illness and injury, with star midfielder Jody Morris still being sick at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon and Collin Samuel suffering a heavy knock in training on Monday.[LNB]A delighted Saints boss said: "You're concerned that you've got that many changes. Three were forced upon us.[LNB]"You're worried about that lack of cohesion that's in the team so we just tried to keep it pretty basic just to start the game with.[LNB]"I thought our attitude and approach to it was spot on in the early part of the game."[LNB]Those early skirmishes saw Saints twice go close through the recalled Kenny Deuchar and Jonatan Johannson, who made a surprise debut after wrapping up the formalities of a deal until January earlier on Tuesday.[LNB]But the hosts had to wait until extra-time was looming before ending the stalemate.[LNB]"It's great to score two goals from set-pieces; we work hard on them, said McInnes, who then watched his side cling on in the final 10 minutes.[LNB]"They pushed us back, like all good sides do.[LNB]"Apart from the one time, we managed to withstand it.[LNB]"We showed the right qualities in the last 15 minutes or so."[LNB]On reaching another Hampden semi, McInnes said: "The chairman likes a cup run and the supporters will enjoy that."[LNB]Explaining the signing of former Rangers team-mate Johansson, McInnes said: "We actually got it done yesterday; we're pretty pleased with that.[LNB]"Jonatan has been training with us for the last month or so and he's been keeping himself fit for the two international games which were a couple of weeks ago.[LNB]"He got his 99th and 100th cap for Finland and scored against Germany.[LNB]"We took in both games and he did very well. And obviously, being on our doorstep, the fact that I played with him and he was a friend, I was hoping there was a possibility we'd get him in the door."[LNB]United boss Craig Levein had no complaints with the result but revealed striker Danny Cadamarteri was adamant he should have been awarded a penalty while the game was still goalless.[LNB]The striker tumbled over under pressure from Saints skipper Kevin Rutkiewicz, who was making his first appearance of the season after injury.[LNB]"They said it was an absolute stonewall penalty kick," said Levein[LNB]"Strikers don't go down in the box when they're through on goal. He said he couldn't believe it."[LNB]Levein also believed goalkeeper Steve Banks was "taken out" for the second goal but added: "I didn't think we did well enough to win the game, in all honesty.[LNB]"Last 10 minutes - maybe 15 minutes - we showed a little bit more urgency.[LNB]"But you sit here and you take your medicine. I thought St Johnstone caused us problems all night long, putting the ball in the box."[LNB]He added: "That's what beat us tonight; we didn't deal with balls in the box."[LNB][LNB]
