FOOTBALL management, like most professions, is sometimes as much about who you know as what you know. In taking his first steps as a boss, Derek McInnes appears to have pulled off something of a coup by securing the services of his former team-mate Jody Morris.
In a Scottish Cup quarter-final largely disfigured by a powerful wind and a fiery playing surface, the erstwhile former Chelsea and England under-21 international midfielder still managed to show glimpses of the ability and class which once marked h
im out as one of his country's most highly-rated young players.
Now 29, Morris is trying to rebuild his career which has seen his form and status in the game diminish since leaving Stamford Bridge for spells with Leeds United, Rotherham and then Millwall, where he played alongside McInnes.
The St Johnstone manager has signed Morris until the end of this season and, on Saturday's evidence at least, the man from Hammersmith could prove a major influence in the Perth club's pursuit of success in both the Scottish Cup and First Division title race.
On an afternoon when McDiarmid Park welcomed the delegates from the International Football Association Board meeting at nearby Gleneagles, the performance of Morris would at least have earned a few approving nods from Uefa president Michel Platini.
Along with on-loan Falkirk midfielder Liam Craig, Morris dictated the tempo and direction of this tie for long periods, only to be frustrated that St Johnstone were unable to secure the victory they certainly merited.
"There is a real feeling of disappointment in our dressing room," said Morris. "We feel we can still go through to the semi-finals, but it was frustrating that we couldn't see it through after going 1-0 up."
St Johnstone's dominance of the first half should have brought them a greater reward than that single goal advantage, earned when Craig coolly converted a penalty conceded by Hugh Murray's rash challenge on Goran Stanic.
While the wind against St Mirren during that period was certainly a factor, their large travelling support were dismayed by the SPL team's inability to impose themselves on the home tie.
The half-time introduction of Stephen McGinn for Murray, allied to a tactical reorganisation by manager Gus MacPherson who switched to a 3-5-2 formation, brought a significant improvement to the Paisley side.
But while their 73rd minute equaliser was well constructed by Stewart Kean and Craig Dargo, then neatly finished by Andy Dorman's lob over Alan Main, it was St Johnstone who always looked more likely to find a winner.
"I thought Jody Morris was faultless in the first half, he brought us composure when we needed it," said McInnes. "He is a bundle of energy, a great organiser and his level of fitness was really good."
The full article contains 483 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
