Dundee Utd 2
St Johnstone 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

On the corresponding Saturday last year we met St.Johnstone in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup but this clash had a touch of an end of season look about it. Saints got off to a lively enough start and may well have taken the lead after only five minutes. From Treanor's cross from the right, Roddy Grant sent in a header which Alan Main saved, but on to the post and Alan recovered in time to grab the rebound before Grant could reach it. There was, however, no such escape for us in the 14th minute. Maurice Malpas didn't get enough on his pass back and Paul Wright nipped in to nick the ball past Alan Main. Grant then shot narrowly past and then over and only a great block by Alan Main from a Tommy Turner shot prevented Saints from going two ahead. The switch of full-backs Jim McInally and Freddy Van der Hoorn who went to left-back took the sting out of the St. Johnstone attack and in the 29th minute we equalised when Duncan Ferguson's header from a Grant Johnson cross landed at the feet of Alex Cleland who picked his spot, shooting into the far comer.

We grabbed the initiative eight minutes into the second half when Duncan Ferguson latched on to a poor kick out by Hamilton and progressed to the bye-line. His cross beyond the far post was neatly flicked back to Dave Bowman whose angular shot not only beat Hamilton, but also the two defenders on the line. Saints introduced former United striker Vinny Arkins 20 minutes from the end whilst United fans got their first opportunity to see new signing Jose Luis Pochettino. The Argentinian newcomer had little chance to shine, though he did get a header in on target in what was his only real opening. Saints pressed for an equaliser towards the end and their best chance came from a corner with four minutes remaining. Duncan Ferguson cleared off the line after a goalmouth melee, but we survived that scare to go on and record our first win of the season over St. Johnstone.