BY IAIN COLLIN – Capital City Press
Peter Houston believes Andy Webster ‘oozes class’ and insists St Mirren will reap the rewards of his warrior spirit.
Webster was skipper at Dundee United when Houston guided them to their 2010 Scottish Cup triumph, with the pair also having worked together at Hearts.
Instead, they will face each other when Houston’s Falkirk travel to Paisley to take on St Mirren tomorrow.
And, having taken in Webster’s second outing for the Buddies in their 2-0 victory away to Queen of the South last Saturday, Houston knows the influence the defender will have on the Bairns’ opponents.
He said: “Andy Webster was excellent last Saturday. His experience shone through, he was dominant in anything he did.
“He’s a brilliant organiser and a talker, and he looked as if he had never been away from Scottish football.
“It made you think he could still play at the highest level.
“He’s a terrific character. I worked with him at Hearts and at Dundee United and I just think he oozes class, and is very much a competitor.
“He captained the Dundee United cup-winning team in 2010 and through that season he was a big influence on the team and the players round about him.
“I know it’s early but I can already see that rubbing off on other people round about him at St Mirren, because he doesn’t let anybody away with a thing.
“He’s not shy to have a pop at people whether he knows them that well or he doesn’t know them that well. He’s been a great signing for them.”
Houston believes the arrival of the former Rangers and Scotland defender, following a spell down south with Coventry City, provides St Mirren with the kind of experienced spine that can help them battle for the promotion play-off spot they are expected to land after coming down from the Premiership.
He added: “I thought Jim Goodwin, to his credit, was brilliant for them against Queens and then there was Steven Thompson, who scored.
“You can talk about St Mirren and all their young players but they had the solid base of Jamie Langfield, Webster, Goodwin and Thompson, right down the core, and they were excellent for them.
“It was a solid, solid St Mirren performance and we know we’re going to have a tough, tough game away from home.
“They’ll be a team, in my opinion, who will be up there challenging for those play-off places.”
@IainCollin
