Source: Team_Talk
Houston hails smash-and-grab win
Houston had sympathy for Saints boss Gus MacPherson after performing a smash and grab to snatch all three points.But he also believes his players deserve credit for returning to Tayside with the win after coming through the match with a whole host of first-team players missing through injury.Michael Higdon had given Saints the lead before Danny Swanson levelled with seven minutes to go and substitute David Goodwillie grabbed the winner deep into injury time.Houston said: "I'm delighted with the three points but I feel for Gus because I've been on the end of these games before."We tried everything, put three strikers on and with seven minutes going I just couldn't see it happening as it had been a bad afternoon."I hate making excuses but when I mention the names of Wilkie, Webster, Scott Robertson, Kovacevic, Dixon, Sandaza, Cadamarteri - they are all first-team players so we are working with the basics."So to get through that game and having to fill jerseys is a credit to the players. I'll be honest and say I didn't see it coming but I'm delighted with the three points."I just thought it was going to come back and bite us on the backside, the fact that we are so many players down at the moment but I have to give great credit to the guys because we haven't played particularly well and we've come away with the win."The win allowed United to keep the pressure on Hibernian for third spot in the SPL ahead of their visit to Rangers on Sunday and also provided Houston's men with a boost as they prepare to face the other half of the Old Firm next week.He added: "We've stolen it and I can understand St Mirren, they will be disappointed. But we are at Celtic Park next week so this is a big, big result for us."Saints boss MacPherson believes United deserved to take nothing from the game but admits his own side must do better after throwing away yet another lead.He said: "We have lost the game and that's the frustrating thing. They didn't deserve to win and we should have won."But they have gone back with the three points and that's the galling thing. It was a great goal from Michael Higdon and it was thoroughly deserved and we just had to keep doing what we were doing."It's frustrating and we have been here before when we have got the first goal and can't see the game out."