St Mirren 0-0 Kilmarnock

Aug 17 2008 Scott Mcdermott At Love Street

JIM JEFFERIES fears Italian new boy Manuel Pascali has already become a target for SPL refs because his shaven head makes him look like a hatchet man. The former Parma midfielder was booked for the second week on the trot at Love Street yesterday for a tug at Jim Hamilton's shirt.

After just two competitive games in Scotland, Killie boss Jefferies reckons Pascali is being harshly dealt with by officials.

Referee David Somers was the man in the middle at Rugby Park yesterday and failed to let the game flow.

Jefferies was raging with Pascali's booking, especially after a similar foul by Garry Brady on Craig Bryson resulted in nothing more than a talking-to for the St Mirren midfielder.

He said: "It was harsh on Manuel. I'm not trying to get Brady booked but we were incensed as he took the legs away from Bryson before that and only got a quiet word in his ear from the ref.

"They've either both got to be bookings or none at all. Maybe what's wrong with Pascali is he shaved his head before the first game of the season and he seems to have this hard man reputation.

"But he's not like that. He looks a fearsome character but can play as well and he'll be a good signing for us."

Jefferies was pleased with his side's display despite the lack of goals and praised new Irish striker Conor Sammon who has yet to break his duck for the club.

He added: "Conor didn't have luck on his side and St Mirren's keeper got the better of him. But he's getting closer to that first goal.

"We are looking hungry and I'm happy with four points out of six from our first two games."

A draw was a fair result as both sides hit woodwork in the second half. The game lacked a real creative spark that might have won it.

Saints boss Gus MacPherson will have been pleased with the display of on-loan Celtic starlet Scott Cuthbert who looked solid at the back.

Killie created the first real chance in 17 minutes. David Fernandez twisted and turned on the right wing before producing a sublime cross to the back post.

Sammon leapt well but flashed his header inches wide of Mark Howard's right-hand post.

Saints rallied and looked like they were capable of scoring.

Stephen O'Donnell fired a shot over from 18 yards then Simon Ford's terrific last-ditch tackle prevented Billy Mehmet from breaking the deadlock.

Aside from a Mehdi Taouil effort that was comfortably saved by Howard the rest of the first half lacked goalmouth incident and any real quality from either side.

Somers didn't help matters with his inconsistency. He booked Pascali for pulling back Hamilton five minutes after Brady went unpunished for an almost identical foul on Bryson.

Just before the interval Sammon thought he'd got off the mark for Killie when he lobbed the ball over Howard in the box.

But with the goal gaping John Potter denied him with a brave header. The second period could only get better and in 53 minutes the home side almost grabbed the lead.

Stephen O'Donnell played in Jack Ross down the right and his pinpoint cross found Hamilton whose bullet header crashed off the bar.

Then Killie threatened and Howard pulled off a cracking stop to thwart Bryson whose volley from 12 yards looked netbound.

Killie had stepped up a gear and Howard came to Saints rescue again in 75 minutes.

Taouil's cross from the left found Sammon but the big frontman's pointblank header was held by the keeper.

Luck was on Howard's side in 84 minutes. Garry Hay's free-kick was punched to the edge of the box by the Englishman and Taouil's delicate volley hit the bar and bounced back into the keeper's arms.

Saints had chances to win it late on but Hamilton and O'Donnell were both denied by Alan Combe in the Killie goal.

Shots on 3

Shots off 6

Fouls 14

Offside 1

Corners 4

Bookings 1

Shots on 5

Shots off 4

Fouls 12

Offside 1

Corners 9

Bookings 2

REF WATCH

DAVID SOMERS and his assistants were awful. Wrongly stopped play a few times. Booked Pascali for a nothing foul.

Rating: 3/10.