St Johnstone 1
Dundee Utd 3
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

This was Premier Division football at Scotland's most modern stadium and it could hardly have contrasted more vividly with the portable stands at Alloa in mid-week. Fortunately our performance was consistent and after only 20 minutes we took the lead when Grant brought Darren Jackson down in the box. With Mixu Paatelainen our regular penalty taker on the bench, Darren Jackson picked himself up to open our account from the penalty spot. Nine minutes later ex-United player Harry Curran hit a tremendous 20 yard volley past Alan Main to equalise. Little had been seen of Saints as an attacking force up until then, but the goal gave them a lift as they buzzed around our goal. Their temporary ascendency was shattered four minutes later, however. Freddy Van Der Hoorn floated a free-kick into the box, Brian Welsh headed it down and Bavalage couldn't hold Darren Jackson's first time volley to the near post.

Ten minutes after half-time there was a sensation when Alan Main brought down Moore outside the box as he broke clear and referee Renton sent him off for the professional foul. Dave Bowman took over from Allan Preston and immediately went in goal. Undeterred we almost went further ahead when Inglis cleared off the line. Christian Dailly was then desperately unlucky to see his header strike the inside of the post and then scooped the re-bound over. It was fully fourteen minutes before deputy goalkeeper Dave Bowman was called into serious action. A Curran shot was deflected and Dave did remarkably well to tip the ball over the bar. Quarter of an hour from the end Christian Dailly got his first Premier goal in similar vein to his goal at Alloa in midweek. Saints were all caught upfield chasing an equaliser when Billy McKinlay again sent Christian clear and the youngster once more showed great composure as he ran almost half the length of the pitch before beating Bavalage low down to his right. It was certainly a fine start to Christian's career and the new season as a whole.