Source: FOOTYMAD
Draw Not Enough For Lennon
Another penalty award which did not go down well. Danny Lennon was looking to get more than a single point from the trip to Easter Road on Sunday. The point helped the Buddies get closer to SPL survival but Lennon felt they deserved more. The opening goal came from the home side as Akpo Sodje scored his third goal in three games after 26 minutes. However, just 13 minutes later the visitors were awarded a penalty when Victor Palsson was penalised for fouling Paul McGowan. Craig Dargo scored from the spot and the visitors held on in a quiet second half to move 10 points clear of bottom club Hamilton, who play their game in hand tonight against Aberdeen. Asked whether he was disappointed to head back to Paisley with only a point, Lennon said: "Very much so. I'm disappointed with the goal we conceded. I think my two centre-backs were enjoying the way we were playing, we made a small mistake and were punished for it. The players stuck with their game plan, knocked the ball about well and over the piece I felt we had the better chances." Lennon did not get a decent view of the penalty award but his players insisted the referee got it right. The Buddies manager went on: "I was quite surprised when we got it, but the boys in the dressing room certainly seemed to think it was one. I don't know what he's given it for, but we'll take it. We're another point better off. Although we've played a game more, I'd rather have the point." As well as showing flashes of quality going forward, Saints' battling quality was epitomised by midfielder Jim Goodwin, whose running feud with Hibs midfielder Victor Palsson continued from the 2 February game between the sides. Lennon added: "That's Jim Goodwin's quality. That's the type of game that he loves - he's an aggressive type. He's an honest hard-working man and wears his heart on his sleeve." Goodwin, himself, said: "There was a bit of bite in the middle of the park, but I enjoy that, especially with a young kid like Palsson, who thinks he knows it all. He had a lot to say for himself last time. It was a really good battle and what happens on the park stays on the park. It was a bit of banter in the end." Palsson was subbed after 56 minutes to be replaced by Ian Murray and shared a parting word with Goodwin. The Saints midfielder added: "I had a bit of crack with him but he wasn't too pleased - I just said 'All the best, Victor'." Hibs manager Colin Calderwood said: "He (Palsson) would have been coming off one way or the other - stretchered off, sent off or substituted. We took the easiest option. I thought he competed well against a good pro in Jim. The two of them went at it in a good way." After dropping the two points yesterday, Hibs now face an uphill struggle to reach their target of finishing top of the bottom half of the table. They sit eighth, one point behind Inverness having played two games more. Calderwood added: "I don't think we deserved any more (than a draw). A moment of quality gave us the goal, but they were certainly in the ascendancy after a 10-minute bright spell. Credit to them. As contentious as the penalty may have been, they deserved a goal for the way they played. It was not a cast-iron penalty, but we have to accept it." Despite being known for having a quiet demenour, Calderwood also had an animated conversation with fourth official John McKendrick midway through the second half, at one point throwing his notes down in disgust inside his technical area. Calderwood revealed it was about a second-half offside decision, which went in St Mirren's favour. He added: "He claimed it wasn't offside when it clearly was. We've got the still (image), we'll send it to him and that'll be it."
