St Johnstone 1
Dundee Utd 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

The home side made three changes from the side which had beat Kilmarnock 2-0 at McDiarmid Park 22 days previously: David McCracken, Callum Davidson and Nigel Hasselbaink were replaced by Frazer Wright, Tam Scobbie and Gregory Tade. United also made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Dundee at Tannadice. Gary Mackay-Steven was out through injury whilst Richie Ryan and Rory Boulding dropped to the bench. Their replacements were Willo Flood, returning from suspension, Michael Gardyne, scorer of the equaliser in the derby, and young Ryan Gauld making his first start for Dundee United at the tender age of 17.

It didn’t take long for United to fashion the first chance of the game. Willo Flood, full of industry, won the ball in midfield. Mark Millar passed ahead to Michael Gardyne who advanced the ball into the St Johnstone half. He ran left and passed the ball to Ryan Gauld. The talented youngster dispatched the ball into the box only to have his cross cleared out. Barry Douglas took control of the cleared ball and lifted a terrific deep cross towards the back post. Keith Watson who had done well to get into such an advanced position, however, could only head over on three minutes. A minute later United had an even better chance to open the scoring. Watson, on the right, passed the ball inside to Stuart Armstrong. The Scotland Under 21 Captain showed great vision in playing a 15 yard pass to Gardyne at the edge of the area on the right hand side. Running into the box with two St Johnstone players around him he showed wonderful skill to get free and squared the ball across the edge of the six yard box. Unfortunately, the ball ran through the feet of Jon Daly who had burst forward to attempt a finish. United were dominating possession in the early going. However, Stuart Armstrong received the first caution of the match on seven minutes. Gregory Tade broke from deep in his own half down the right. With pace, he looked to be opening up space ahead of him only for Armstrong to challenge. Tade went to the ground and Iain Brines had no hesitation but to go to his cards and show Armstrong yellow. 13 minutes into the match and St Johnstone had their first chance. Liam Craig sent his corner in-swinging from the right hand side. Rising high was Murray Davidson. His header, six yards out, looped over Rado Cierzniak’s crossbar and behind for a United goal kick. United were doing well and winning battles all over the park. Mark Millar fought hard to atone for losing the ball and regained possession from Liam Craig on 22 minutes. Motoring forward he released a perfectly timed and weighted through ball into the path of Ryan Gauld. He won the race with Alan Mannus to the edge of the box and prodded the ball past the Saints keeper to send the Terrors into a deserved lead and to get his first senior goal for Dundee United in his first start. As St Johnstone tried to find a way to restore parity, United had Cierzniak to thank for a good stop on 35 minutes. Rowan Vine sent a low cross from a corner to the near post and Steven MacLean attempted a cheeky strike at the near post. Thankfully for United, Cierzniak was wise to it and by tipping wide he ensured that United would maintain the lead.

Into the second half and St Johnstone began on the front foot. They had attempted to direct play down the right but were finding it difficult to get past Barry Douglas who was making all the right choices and timing his challenges well. United were able to get the ball into advanced positions with some good counter attacking moves. Gardyne took the ball forward out wide on the right. Support arrived from midfield in the form of Armstrong and Millar. Gardyne cut inside and passed to Millar who, 25 yards out, hit a low shot which found its way to the feet of Daly who was flagged for offside. An hour in and Liam Craig produced a fantastic save from Cierzniak. MacLean laid the ball off to Craig who advanced forward. Left footed, he struck a powerful, dipping effort from 35 yards. The ball looked destined for the top right corner until Cierzniak produced a great save and tipped the ball away for a corner. From the resultant Liam Craig corner, Barry Douglas would play the part of hero. The full back was in the right place at the right time as he cleared Murray Davidson’s header off the line and, when the ball came back into the box, MacLean looped a header which was tipped on to the post by Cierzniak before Keith Watson cleared the ball to safety. The home side began to turn up the pressure as United dropped deeper. Murray Davidson headed a Vine corner over on 75 minutes. Two minutes later United made a triple change. Richie Ryan and Ryan Dow replaced Gauld and Gardyne. John Souttar, who holds the distinction of being Dundee United’s youngest ever player after debuting against Aberdeen in a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie in January, replaced the injured Brian McLean at centre back. Minutes later United were reduced to ten men. Armstrong received the ball in the crowded penalty box. In an attempt to create space he appeared to lose his balance and fell to the ground. Referee Iain Brines adjudged it to be simulation and showed Armstrong his second yellow and subsequently red. As Saints pressed for the equaliser, Davidson had a low shot well saved by Cierzniak and in the 90th minute. Steven MacLean was had a great chance to score, however, he slammed the ball over the bar from 10 yards. United looked as though they just might hold firm as stoppage time approached. Souttar and Dillon were doing well to limit the space in front of goal. Douglas too was continuing his fine display standing firm and showing the benefits of working under a former full back in Jackie McNamara. Heartbreakingly, St Johnstone would get the equaliser they had been pushing for. In the 93rd minute substitute Mehdi Abeid picked out Liam Craig from his corner on the left. Unmarked at the central edge of area he turned the ball into the net to snatch a late equaliser and break the hearts of the travelling Arabs.