McInnes thrilled with cup win - 7M sport

McInnes thrilled with cup win

Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 by PA

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes praised his side's professionalism as they bounced back from a heavy defeat at Celtic to hit Arbroath for six in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup.

McInnes saw Kenny Deuchar and Steven Milne both score twice, with Collin Samuel and Felipe Morais completing an easy 6-0 success at Gayfield.

The win sealed St Johnstone's place in the third round but, more importantly, proved to McInnes that his players are mentally tough enough to battle back from a 5-2 loss to Celtic to win their next game.

"I was delighted with the attitude my players showed here," said McInnes. "It was important for them to show me what they are made of after the defeat to Celtic.

"They needed to be professional and do a job and they answered all my questions. They did everything I asked of them.

"They passed the ball well against a very organised side and all three of my strikers managed to get on the scoresheet.

"They never let up even when they were four goals up and perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the whole night was the fact we didn't concede.

"No disrespect to Arbroath, but at times when you are comfortably ahead, as we were at half-time, it's easy to take your foot off the pedal and lose a goal.

"We didn't do that and the guys that came in for me tonight certainly made a big impression."

Saints opened the scoring on 24 minutes as Milne drilled the ball low under Hill before hitting the woodwork moments later.

Morais made it 2-0 with a long-range strike three minutes later, with Deuchar and Milne both getting on the scoresheet again before the break.

That made the second period a formality but Saints refused to sit back with Deuchar grabbing his second on 67 minutes and substitute Samuel completed the rout on 71.

"We scored some terrific goals tonight," added McInnes. "Some of them were brilliant individual strikes, the others were great team efforts.

"All round I have to be pleased with every single one of them for the way they played and it bodes well for the future that my players have that sort of attitude to games like this.

"We beat Stenhousemuir 5-0 earlier in the competition and the attitude that night was similar to this game.

"We were professional then and we are professional now and that's exactly the sort of St Johnstone I want to see this season."

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