Dundee Utd 1
St Johnstone 2
League (Premiership)

Match Report

Referee Craig Thomson got the game underway after an impeccably observed minute’s silence in memory of those who were affected by the recent terror attacks in Paris. Manager Mixu Paateleinan brought in recent signing Gavin Gunning to a rearranged formation, with a back three when United were on the attack, reverting to a solid looking back five, when the opposition had the ball. Gunning slotted in with Durnan and Dillon across the centre.

The first few exchanges of the match were even but it was Saints who won the first corner in the sixth minute. It came to nothing, but their defence was struggling to cope with the threat of McGowan and Dixon on the flanks. Referee Thomson issued a yellow card to Wotherspoon after he unfairly halted Spittal as the midfielder broke forward. United soon got hold of the game and started to exert real pressure on the Perth men, Gunning tried an ambitious free kick from around thirty yards and although not far off the target, Mannus did not look concerned. Spittal then slipped a great pass into Mckay, but a last ditch tackle from Anderson thwarted that attack. The move of the game then saw United take the lead, McGowan fed Telfer on the edge of the box, his clever reverse pass was collected by the Aussie and he fired across the six yard box, Billy Mckay beat Steven Anderson to the cross and his finely placed header nestled behind Mannus to the delight of the Tangerine fans. Dave Mckay almost had Saints level from the kick off in the second half, a curling free kick from twenty yards off Szromnik’s post before being cleared by the United defence. United would then rue a chance passed up by Telfer, one on one with Mannus, where the keeper made a great save, allowing Saints to break up the park to win a corner close to half time. The flighted ball was met perfectly by the onrushing Chris Kane and despite Charlie Telfer’s efforts on the goal line the ball ricocheted into the roof of the net. The United fans hardly had time to take in what had happened and the Terrors were two one down. Shaughnessy drove a ball across the box which firstly Davidson missed the target with, it bounced to McLean at the back post and his off target effort was diverted in off the shin of Murray Davidson, via the post.

In the second period Saint’s looked in complete control, without really threatening United. It was United who took the game to St Johnstone, but without the cutting edge evident in the first half. Five minutes after the restart Caddis was introduced, replacing Wotherspoon. Two minutes later he would tangle with McGowan, in the box, as the United defender did well to control a long pass. It looked to the United fans like his feet had been taken from him and they waited on Thomson pointing to the spot for a penalty. Instead the referee incensed the home fans by awarding a yellow for simulation. Craig Thomson did point to the penalty spot after sixty three minutes, John Rankine, waiting on the ball to drop was beaten to it by Kane, the referee showed no hesitation in awarding a spot kick to the Perth men, which could have put the game out of reach of United. Steven McLean will not wish to see a replay of his effort however as it sailed high and wide into the Eddie Thomson stand. United's best effort came in the ninetieth minute when a vicious drive from Spittal was acrobatically saved by Mannus, securing a sixth away victory in a row, a feat not achieved since Paul Sturrock was in charge.

Manager's Comment:
“"I was happy with the way we played today. The passing game was crisp, it was accurate, we had good movement, and the boys put in a good show there. We should never, never have lost that match. I felt we should have won it. But sometimes football is cruel. All credit to St Johnstone. They are a powerful team. They play for set-pieces, and they play for those long balls that they're good at."

Fan's Comment:
“Hard to take again. We just can't get through a game without conceding at least two goals. Two crazy minutes before half time cost us. This time last year we were top of the league. It is incredible to see how badly the team has unravelled in 12 months. They look lost. It is hard to see where he next win will come from. Unfortunately there are no other teams in as bad form as ourselves at the moment.”

Formation: 3-5-1-1
Captain: Seán Dillon
Arab Archive 'Man of the Match': Gavin Gunning

Match Photos courtesy of Riki Grauer - More photos available at:
Dundee United Official Flickr Page