THE Italian consul general's skills weren't required at McDiarmid Park as rival managers settled their differences over a cup of coffee.
But with a Roman legion installed at Almondvale, and outspoken manager Roberto Landi commencing his stay in Scotland with a diplomatic incident, he might well be advised to tap the Livingston club phone number into his speed dial.
Bristling Perth
manager Derek McInnes, charged with ensuring his team lives-up to the tag of title favourites, suspected something had been "lost in translation".
But Landi, whose goalkeeping skills and coaching ability has secured employment in countries diverse as the USA, South Africa, Qatar and Lithuania, caused consternation with claims he had been on the receiving end of unparalleled abuse from the Perth dug-out after Paul Sheerin's stoppage time penalty secured all three points for a Saints side reduced to ten men.
Former Gretna skipper Chris Innes, who acknowledged his new manager was "passionate," weighed into the debate by stating: "The comments being made by the opposition dug-out were seemingly very childish. I don't know exactly what was said but the gaffer was disappointed with the way they conducted themselves."
But rookie manager McInnes, not regarded as one of Scottish football's more pugnacious characters, was having none of it.
He remarked: "We later shook hands and had a cup of coffee. He apologised for not shaking my hand at the end of the game. But I make no apology for the conduct of myself or assistant Tony Docherty, or for the way we played. We won it fair and square."
McInnes was disappointed the fall-out deflected from St Johnstone's victory, secured by Peter MacDonald's 55th minute angled close-range finish and Sheerin's late penalty, converted with his customary aplomb after former Morton midfielder Chris Millar outwitted defender Jason Talbot, only to be tripped before he could deliver his cross.
That eased nerves building in the home stands, with Saints seeing out the closing 30 minutes one man down, having lost makeshift left-back Liam Craig to a red card minutes after the opener.
There were no complaints, with the former Falkirk midfielder tempted into a lunging challenge to prevent Leigh Griffiths' pace taking him through on goal.
Tucked in among claims he had been subjected to some crude Anglo Saxon, the like of which he had never heard in 15 years as a coach, Landi did confess his squad required "two or three" more experienced players if they were to live-up to his pre- match claims that Livingston could claim the championship.
But skipper Innes admitted communication problems weren't restricted to the touchline. With teenage French goalkeeper Pierre Martini enduring a fraught debut – on one occasion a bizarre mix-up almost allowed an Innes header to slide into his net – the defender conceded: "I think the language barrier will be a big problem.
"However he is a young lad and I'm sure with a bit of guidance he will be fine.
"He is new to the game in this country. That was his first game at this level."
Innes, who won a championship medal with ill-fated Gretna, admitted St Johnstone had the advantage of experience and physical prowess. "St Johnstone will be up there. They play the long ball through the channels. They play a style of football that suits this league.
We could do with a bit more experience."
The full article contains 576 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
