MATCH REPORT: ST JOHNSTONE V DUNDEE UNITED

Deniz was the penalty shootout hero for Dundee United as they secured a bonus point to keep their hopes of Betfred Cup progression alive.

Despite an entertaining ninety minutes, neither side could find a route to goal and it was down to the United goalkeeper to make two excellent saves in the shootout to help his team secure the additional bonus point. 

Two points for the Terrors moves us to the top of Group C but, with all our group games played, our Betfred Cup fate lies in wait of the final round of fixtures on Saturday.

United introduced Deniz, Adrian Sporle, Mark Connolly, Paul McMullan, Marc McNulty and there was a first start for Jeando Fuchs in place of Benjamin Siegrist, Jamie Robson, Peter Pawlett, Luke Bolton, Lawrence Shankland and Ian Harkes as the Gaffer took the opportunity to rest some players who had played almost all games this season.

Right from kick-off, the home side came out the trap firing with David Wotherspoon forcing a save out of Deniz seconds into the encounter. 

United was energetic in the early stages and pressed well to win a corner out of Zander Clark, who failed to deal with a heavy back pass from Scott Tanser on 10 minutes. McMullan's corner found Ryan Edwards, but the big centre-half's powerful header ended up a yard the wrong side of the bar.

Saints saw a penalty claim turned away moments just before the 20-minute mark as Hendry went down in the box under the challenge of Mark Connolly. There wasn't much of a protest from the home side, and referee Don Robertson awarded the goal kick to United.

Fuchs, showing up well in the early stages, and Sporle linked well down the left, but the Argentine couldn't pick out a team-mate with his cross before a McMullan jinking run into the Saints' box ended tamely.

There was a scare for United in 21 minutes when Fuchs went down under a hefty aerial challenge from Bryson. Thankfully the Cameroonian was okay after treatment and continued.

The Tangerines maintained the pressure on 25 minutes with Calum Butcher angling a fierce drive just over the bar. It followed good bullying play by Sporle to win back the ball and present it to Clark who laid it off for Butcher.

Terrific work by Sporle on the left wing saw McMullan presented with a glorious opportunity to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark, but United's number seven fired wide from a sliding effort.

Moments later, there was a mix-up in the Saints defence that presented Butcher with an opportunity to rob the ball off Clark in the Saints goal. It presented McMullan with another chance to break the deadlock but Saints captain Jason Kerr threw his body in front of the effort to deny United the opening goal.

Deniz showed his worth with a great save in 36 minutes. After initially palming away a cross, the United goalkeeper made a splendid save from Tanser's follow up effort. 

United had a reprieve in 52 minutes as Hendry was played in with just Deniz to beat. From just inside the box he blazed over.

Edwards was cautioned on 55 minutes for an infringement in an aerial battle with Hendry.

With 57 minutes on the clock, United went close through McNulty. A lovely pass from Connolly sent McMullan away and he, in turn, found McNulty. The striker burst into the box and curled an effort goalwards. It came off the chest of a saints defender and was cleared.

United had a half-hearted shout for a penalty on 63 minutes as McNulty went down in a crowded penalty box amid a pull on his jersey but referee Robertson again turned a blind eye.

The Tangerines continued to turn the tide of the second 45 with a succession of corners and sustained pressure, with McMullan, McNulty and Sporle at the heart of it.

Harkes, Sporle and Butcher combined to good effect down the left with Liam Gordon doing terrifically to flick away the latter's whipped delivery across the six-yard box as Smith arrived to pounce.

Deniz again came to United's rescue with a fantastic save on 72 minutes saving from a Shaun Rooney header before Connolly blocked May's follow-up.

The Terrors made late changes, bringing on Louis Appere and Luke Bolton, but both sides had to make do with a point apiece in normal time as the Group C clash went to penalties to decide who picks up the bonus point.

In the penalty shootout, May and Tanser saw their penalties saved by Deniz, who was also very unlucky with Conway's effort after he saved and the spin took the ball over the line. McNulty, Harkes, Reynolds and Clark all scored for United to give United a 4-3 victory and the bonus point to keep the hopes of progression alive.

St Johnstone: Clark; Rooney, Kerr (C), Gordon, Booth, Tanser; Craig, Bryson (Davidson 77), Wotherspoon (O'Halloran 74); Kane (Conway 74), Hendry (May 67).

Subs not used: Parish (GK), McCart, Davidson, Melamed and Ferguson.

Dundee United: Deniz; Smith, Connolly, Edwards, Reynolds (C), Sporle (Bolton 84); Butcher, Fuchs (Harkes 62), McMullan (Appere 78); Clark, McNulty.

Subs not used: Siegrist (GK), Powers, King, Robson, Bolton, Fotheringham and Neilson.

Referee: Don Robertson.