Young squad & manager deserve backing on learning curve

[BBC] To paraphrase a fake Marilyn Monroe quote that spawned a thousand profile pictures, "If you can't handle Craig McLeish at his changing the starting line-up and losing 3-0 to Jim Goodwin, then you don't deserve him at his two league wins in August and manager of the month". Saturday's defeat to Dundee United, by whichever metric you settle on, was a disappointment. United have not been without their own wrinkles to iron out this early season and will most likely populate the same blob of teams in the division as the Saints come mid 2027. They have coped admirably with the absence of Goodwin (who it was great to see back in Paisley and back in the dugout), recovering from poor initial form to climb back into mid-table. This, then, represented an opportunity for points that may be tougher to find in Glasgow, Edinburgh or elsewhere. The returning Killian Phillips, eligible-again Paul Nsio and unfortunately injured Nikolas Agrafiotis necessitated some changes, though consensus in the terraces quickly became clear that perhaps too much had been tinkered. Eseosa Sule toiled leading the line, Nsio lost some of his impact in his wide role and Chris Mochrie was glaring in his absence. Not for the first time since leaving Paisley for Tannadice (well, Pittodrie, but there wasn't much to worry about there), Goodwin gave the impression of a man that had the Saints figured out. A couple of early goals set the tone, a couple of marginal decisions fell United's way and a third goal before half-time killed the spectacle. There was to be no Motherwell-esque comeback as in late August. To paint Saturday as anything other than disappointing would be foolish. To neuter the ability to bemoan that disappointment by repeatedly pointing out it's early days and there is a learning curve for both this young squad and their young manager, likewise. We should be gutted at conceding three at home, at not scoring ourselves and at handing out chances like funsize own-brand chocolate bars on Halloween. We just owe it to those in the dugout and on the pitch to acknowledge they are gutted too, to back them in picking up what lessons are there for learning and to put that to good use in the long term. We're not suddenly awful. We weren't suddenly incredible. October brings five challenging fixtures this side should have no fear in tackling head-on. Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters