Latest news with #Sidibeh
Powys County Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Elliot Watt's winner gives St Johnstone hope of beating the drop
Elliot Watt's second-half winner kept St Johnstone's William Hill Premiership survival hopes alive and cranked up the heat on freefalling Ross County. Simo Valakari's Saints – nine points adrift at the foot of the table in January – moved within three points of the second-bottom Staggies, with a marginally better goal difference, after defeating them 2-1 in a tense showdown at McDiarmid Park. The Perth side, who needed a win to realistically prolong their hopes of extending their 16-year stay in the top flight, went ahead through Daniels Balodis, only to be pegged back by an Alex Samuel equaliser before the break. But Watt's strike on the hour proved decisive as County – who had a late Ronan Hale strike chalked off – were consigned to a seventh successive defeat, leaving them in real danger of being overtaken by Saints over the remaining two games of the campaign. Saints, who had lost their previous four matches in all competitions, made three changes to the side that started the 2-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock as Jason Holt, Adama Sidibeh and Sam Curtis were all restored. There were four changes to the County side that started the 3-1 home defeat by Hearts, with defender Will Nightingale pitched in for his first appearance since August after a knee injury. St Johnstone were the brighter team in the opening half an hour, and they carved out the first real opportunity of the match in the 27th minute when Curtis stabbed just wide from six yards after getting on the end of Josh McPake's cross. The breakthrough came for the hosts in the 31st minute when Balodis headed Watt's corner in off the underside of the crossbar. Shortly afterwards, Saints forward Sidibeh saw a shot deflected just wide. County started to build their way into the game as the interval approached and Samuel and Hale both threatened with attempts from the edge of the box. The visitors drew level from their first clear chance of the match in the 41st minute when Kieran Phillips fizzed over a low cross from the right that was turned in at the near post by Samuel. Saints had a couple of big opportunities to restore their lead in the 51st minute when Taylor Steven nodded McPake's cross into the danger area but Sidibeh was unable to get a clean shot away before Uche Ikpeazu scooped his effort over the bar from close range. The home side went back in front on the hour when Watt curled home the loose ball from 12 yards after Sidibeh had shot straight at goalkeeper Jordan Amissah following a Barry Douglas delivery into the box. There was a huge moment in the 81st minute when County thought they had equalised through Hale, only for it be ruled out for offside following a lengthy check. The visitors' misery was compounded in the 10th minute of stoppage time when Zac Ashworth was shown a straight red card for dissent.
The Herald Scotland
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
St Johnstone 2 Ross County 1: Watt winner boosts survival bid
Elliot Watt's second-half winner kept St Johnstone's William Hill Premiership survival hopes alive and cranked up the heat on freefalling Ross County. Simo Valakari's Saints – nine points adrift at the foot of the table in January – moved within three points of the second-bottom Staggies, with a marginally better goal difference, after defeating them 2-1 in a tense showdown at McDiarmid Park. The Perth side, who needed a win to realistically prolong their hopes of extending their 16-year stay in the top flight, went ahead through Daniels Balodis, only to be pegged back by an Alex Samuel equaliser before the break. But Watt's strike on the hour proved decisive as County – who had a late Ronan Hale strike chalked off – were consigned to a seventh successive defeat, leaving them in real danger of being overtaken by Saints over the remaining two games of the campaign. Saints, who had lost their previous four matches in all competitions, made three changes to the side that started the 2-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock as Jason Holt, Adama Sidibeh and Sam Curtis were all restored. There were four changes to the County side that started the 3-1 home defeat by Hearts, with defender Will Nightingale pitched in for his first appearance since August after a knee injury. St Johnstone were the brighter team in the opening half an hour, and they carved out the first real opportunity of the match in the 27th minute when Curtis stabbed just wide from six yards after getting on the end of Josh McPake's cross. The breakthrough came for the hosts in the 31st minute when Balodis headed Watt's corner in off the underside of the crossbar. Shortly afterwards, Saints forward Sidibeh saw a shot deflected just wide. County started to build their way into the game as the interval approached and Samuel and Hale both threatened with attempts from the edge of the box. The visitors drew level from their first clear chance of the match in the 41st minute when Kieran Phillips fizzed over a low cross from the right that was turned in at the near post by Samuel. Saints had a couple of big opportunities to restore their lead in the 51st minute when Taylor Steven nodded McPake's cross into the danger area but Sidibeh was unable to get a clean shot away before Uche Ikpeazu scooped his effort over the bar from close range. The home side went back in front on the hour when Watt curled home the loose ball from 12 yards after Sidibeh had shot straight at goalkeeper Jordan Amissah following a Barry Douglas delivery into the box. There was a huge moment in the 81st minute when County thought they had equalised through Hale, only for it be ruled out for offside following a lengthy check. The visitors' misery was compounded in the 10th minute of stoppage time when Zac Ashworth was shown a straight red card for dissent.
The National
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
St Johnstone 2 Ross County 1: Watt winner boosts survival bid
Elliot Watt's second-half winner kept St Johnstone's William Hill Premiership survival hopes alive and cranked up the heat on freefalling Ross County. Simo Valakari's Saints – nine points adrift at the foot of the table in January – moved within three points of the second-bottom Staggies, with a marginally better goal difference, after defeating them 2-1 in a tense showdown at McDiarmid Park. The Perth side, who needed a win to realistically prolong their hopes of extending their 16-year stay in the top flight, went ahead through Daniels Balodis, only to be pegged back by an Alex Samuel equaliser before the break. But Watt's strike on the hour proved decisive as County – who had a late Ronan Hale strike chalked off – were consigned to a seventh successive defeat, leaving them in real danger of being overtaken by Saints over the remaining two games of the campaign. Saints, who had lost their previous four matches in all competitions, made three changes to the side that started the 2-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock as Jason Holt, Adama Sidibeh and Sam Curtis were all restored. There were four changes to the County side that started the 3-1 home defeat by Hearts, with defender Will Nightingale pitched in for his first appearance since August after a knee injury. St Johnstone were the brighter team in the opening half an hour, and they carved out the first real opportunity of the match in the 27th minute when Curtis stabbed just wide from six yards after getting on the end of Josh McPake's cross. The breakthrough came for the hosts in the 31st minute when Balodis headed Watt's corner in off the underside of the crossbar. Shortly afterwards, Saints forward Sidibeh saw a shot deflected just wide. County started to build their way into the game as the interval approached and Samuel and Hale both threatened with attempts from the edge of the box. The visitors drew level from their first clear chance of the match in the 41st minute when Kieran Phillips fizzed over a low cross from the right that was turned in at the near post by Samuel. Saints had a couple of big opportunities to restore their lead in the 51st minute when Taylor Steven nodded McPake's cross into the danger area but Sidibeh was unable to get a clean shot away before Uche Ikpeazu scooped his effort over the bar from close range. The home side went back in front on the hour when Watt curled home the loose ball from 12 yards after Sidibeh had shot straight at goalkeeper Jordan Amissah following a Barry Douglas delivery into the box. There was a huge moment in the 81st minute when County thought they had equalised through Hale, only for it be ruled out for offside following a lengthy check. The visitors' misery was compounded in the 10th minute of stoppage time when Zac Ashworth was shown a straight red card for dissent.
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Adama Sidibeh wants to be St Johnstone's survival hero again
If 2024 is anything to go by, St Johnstone are coming into Adama Sidibeh's time of the year. And the Perth forward would love nothing more than to be a Saints survival hero for the second season in succession. The Gambian international's three post-split goals proved to be precious for Craig Levein's team, as they avoided a play-off by the narrowest of margin. The hole is even deeper this time around, with a five-point gap just to reach second bottom of the Premiership table needing to be bridged. Sidibeh scored the last of his three in a row at Fir Park 12 months ago. Hopefully, from his and the team's point of view, lightning will strike twice in Lanarkshire. 'Last year, everything came together for me,' said Sidibeh. 'It was my first year here, I was playing with a free mind. 'I will keep trying for that again. 'Those goals at the end of the season were really important to me and the team. 'I have belief that I can do that again. The only focus I have is to help the team, score goals. 'The goal against Ross County (in the penultimate fixture) was right at the end of the game. 'From the first minute to the 90th minute, anything is possible. 'You can score at any time. That is my focus and my aim. I won't ever give up. Everything can change in a second.' There's been a bit of second season syndrome for Sidibeh, who was an unknown quantity when he arrived from the English seventh tier last January. 'This year has been tougher,' the 26-year-old admitted. 'I have had to find different ways. 'The other teams knew that I had a great ending to the season, and they were ready to play against me. 'But I keep working hard every day. I go to the gym, I do extra. Sometimes things are not working but I will never give up. 'I hope one day everything is going to be OK. 'There is more to my game now than this time last year. I feel I am a better player. 'The way I play the game has changed a lot. My hold-up play, my defending, everything is of a higher level now. 'I am happy with that. 'But I need to keep improving and to help the team as much as I can. 'The manager has been helping me a lot, supporting me and giving me encouragement. 'He stressed to me that even if I am not scoring goals, the important thing is to be helping the team as much as I can. 'He said: 'I know how good you are and how you can help our team.' I was happy to hear that. 'But, when you are a striker like me, if you don't score goals then it is a tough time. 'Even to have a good sleep is a problem. There is no better feeling for me than scoring goals. 'I am so happy and I feel like I can do everything. My confidence goes higher, which I love. 'But right now, even if I don't score. If I can assist, anything, that can make the team win then I will be happy with that.' A flying start at Fir Park would pile the pressure on the three other teams still realistically catchable for Saints. 'We need to stick together and help each other,' said Sidibeh. 'If we do that, we can win matches. 'We need to have a great start to the game, then control it. 'We got a good start in the game last year at Motherwell and we hope to do the same. 'I am ready for these last five games.'
