McLean: Buddies sticking together

Photo: Jeff Holmes

St Mirren midfielder Kenny McLean insists the Buddies remain a united camp - despite what the rumourmongers are saying.

The Paisley outfit rallied from two goals down to snatch a Scottish Premiership point from Aberdeen on Tuesday night.

McLean slotted home a last-gasp penalty to seal the 2-2 draw at Pittodrie - then shot down whispers claiming new manager Tommy Craig was bossing a divided squad.

Saints have won just once in their opening eight league fixtures and sit second bottom of the table - a run which has sparked wild speculation about the harmony levels at St Mirren Park.

But McLean told Press Association Sport: We are a very tight-knit group and everybody has got each other's back.

The togetherness we showed last night proves that.

When things aren't going well, it's always easy for people to make up rumours about things going on behind the scenes.

We've already seen those kind of rumours this season but it's just not true.

The manager has kept us all in good spirits and kept things positive. Training has always been enjoyable.

We don't take too much notice of these rumours because we behind the scenes and know what it's really like.

It's strange, I just don't know where these things come from. It's obviously someone making it up, which is not nice. It's like people are trying to kick us when we are down.

However, that draw at Aberdeen will hopefully give us another massive lift and results can start turning our way.''

Aberdeen were two goals up after 56 minutes following goals from Mark Reynolds and Peter Pawlett.

But Callum Ball pulled one back for the visitors with a minute of the Dons' second strike before McLean claimed a point for his side from the spot after Reynolds handled in the box.

It was a great point to get considering the position we are in,'' said McLean.We are struggling for points so to go to one of the hardest grounds in the league and get a draw after being 2-0 down felt like a victory.

If we had not got that goal back so quickly after Aberdeen's second, the heads could have gone done easily. But we responded well and kept fighting to get a result.''

McLean held his nerve to beat Reds keeper Jamie Langfield from 12 yards - just as he did when he handed the Buddies their first league win of the season away to Partick last month when he netted another last-gasp penalty in a 2-1 win.

It was a moment to set the pulse racing but the Scotland Under-21 international insists he finds it easy to keep a cool head when under pressure.

It wasn't too bad - I was just happy to have the chance to get us back in the game,'' said the 22-year-old.

That's twice I've found myself in that position this season and I feel pretty confident stepping up to take those penalties.

I'm sure there are other guys in the team who would have fancied themselves to score but I feel confident so I will continue to take them.''