Dundee Utd 1
St Johnstone 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

There was no temptation for manager Alex Smith to make changes to the side that defeated Dundee on Wednesday. Hasney Aljofree replaced Neil Heaney on the bench.

Saints kick offed, with the Tangerines attacking the ‘Shed’ which today housed United fans. The wet ‘n’ windy conditions made it difficult for either side to play with any fluency. In the sixth minute the ball broke to Charlie Miller who surged forward into the box. He shot, but his effort went past Main’s left hand post. In 15 minutes Gallacher did well to deal with a difficult pass-back that stuck in the mud in his goalmouth, and managed to clear. In 24 minutes Gallacher made a superb one-handed stop from Sylla and luckily McCunnie was close by to clear. Saints had the ball in the net in 32 minutes but the whistle had already blown for offside. In 42 minutes strong running from Lilley, who wass being shadowed by Weir, carried him into the box. As Lilley cut inside he was upended by Weir and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Charlie Miller wanted to take it and did so, tucking the ball inside the right hand post. United fans in three sides of the stadium celebrated wildly.

Both teams started the second half with no changes in personnel. Both teams started the half with the same attitude as they left the first. However, the game was littered with offsides. The match exploded when Sylla and Davidson clashed on the ground. Sylla was booked for his part along with Miller for dissent. In 59 minutes Saints replaced Connolly with Lowndes to bolster their attack. The move paid off one minute later as the substitute drew them level with a peach of a goal. Nathan Lowndes ran down the left with the ball and, from an acute angle, chipped the out-rushing Gallacher. Soon after Lilley got through on goal but his shot soared over the bar. There was controversy in 73 minutes as McCunnie was adjudged to have felled Sylla in the area. Parker stepped up and sent the ball towards the inside of the left hand post. Gallacher had other ideas and stretched to make a superb one-handed save.