DROPZONESAINTS MUSTDIGDEEP
Curlers Duncan Mcfadzean and Sophie Jackson claimed their first Scottish Mixed Doubles title at Perth’s Dewars Centre at the weekend.
The duo triumphed over a top class field, culminating in a convincing 9-3 win over Lisa Davie and Marck Watt in Sunday’s final.
For Mcfadzean, of Perth, it was extra special having clinched his first Scottish Men’s Championship with Team Whyte just a fortnight earlier.
“I am absolutely delighted,”he said.
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Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov has warned St Johnstone need to rediscover the“best version of ourselves” if they are to beat the drop.
The Perth side fell to their fourth straight Premiership defeat following their 2-0 loss at St Mirren on Saturday.
Saints now hover just two points above Ross County, who sit in the relegation zone with a game in hand.
But Mitov had fighting words after a recent run of poor results.
“I don’t think we need to look at other results as motivation — we need to be motivated anyway,” he said.
“Regardless of how the other teams are doing — that is not my concern.
“What I am concerned about is what we are doing and the things we do.
“I am just focussing on the next game and for us to try and be the best version of ourselves.
“I know we have had some bad results but there are good players in this team and we need to find a way that suits us and improve.”
Aberdeen await Saints at Pittodrie tomorrow night. And Mitov believes a better cutting edge up top will ease the persistent pressure put on the backline.
“It was a tough day for us [against St Mirren] - we are not going to hide from that,” he explained.
“If you are going to lose a game you need to fight for it, but we didn’t do that.
“When you defend for the whole game eventually something will happen. If they keep putting balls in the box somebody is going to lose a man.
“That is our job at the end of the day: to defend well for as long as possible.
“But goals change games and I am sure that if we start scoring we are going to start winning.
“Their first goal took a double deflection off Kerr and Gordy and I tipped it onto the post and it came off the back of my head.
“There is nothing I can do about that.
“Realistically it is unlucky to concede but we should have done better with second balls and not let them shoot from distance.”
Mitov was the first one over to a collapsed Adama Sidibeh at full-time on Saturday.
The Bulgarian shot-stopper acted quickly to move the striker into the recovery position.
“I thought he was really tired and disappointed that we lost the game. I went over to give him a hand up,” he explained.
“I saw his eyes were shut and he said he couldn’t breathe properly.
“So I went to place him in the recovery position and get the doctors.
“Luckily he is alright now — thank
God for that.” what we needed to be good at.
“I’m hoping it’s a one-off, these things happen.
“I just think that’s as poor as we’ve been.”
There were worrying scenes at full-time as Adam Sidibeh collapsed to the ground, with medics from both clubs rushing to his aid.
Club doctors said he had “low blood pressure”and was sent to the local hospital as a precaution.
“He did get a knock on his head but was fine when the physio went on. There were no symptoms of problems,”levein explained.
“He stayed on the park. We had a chance pretty late on and maybe the keeper caught him.
“Maybe that led to him lying on the ground, I don’t know.
“We need to get further checks for peace of mind.”
“It’s a serious situation. But the good thing is he appears to be fine.”