First Team

MATCH REPORT | TEN MAN UNITED DEFEATED IN PERTH

6th May 2023

ST JOHNSTONE 1
DUNDEE UNITED 0
3PM SATURDAY 6TH MAY
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
MCDIARMID PARK

Attendance: 7,071

Liam Gordon's first-half strike was enough to seal all three points for the hosts in Perth.  

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin named an unchanged starting eleven for the third cinch Premiership match in a row. 

There was a welcome return to the bench for Glenn Middleton, who hasn’t featured since February. 

A.Sadat missed out through injury. 

A BLISTERING START

There was a real energy about the men in tangerine right from the off. 

Early chances fell the way of Scott McMann and Jamie McGrath, but both had their efforts blocked en route to goal. Aziz Behich also had a swipe at goal - offering some real threat down our left. 

United’s first corner of the match fell within three minutes. There was a mix-up at the back following Jamie McGrath’s lofted through pass, resulting in James Brown sending the ball behind. However, our number eighteen's in-swinging delivery was dealt with well by the hosts. 

The Saints won a corner of their own following a quick counter, but Mark Birightti was able to gather comfortably at the back post. 

UNITED CHANCES 

Steven Fletcher was on lady luck’s side, as a pass aimed for McGrath was deflected into his path by Gordon. With the ball falling on his favoured left foot, he pulled the trigger first time, but it was blocked by Matthews before being sent into touch. 

Minutes later, a killer through ball from Harkes found Niskanen racing through on the opposite flank. As the angle narrowed, he chopped back onto his left foot before striking cleanly on his left - unfortunately, the ball was deflected over and out of harm’s way. 

END TO END 

Saints had chances of their own, coming closest through Graham Carey’s freekick which whistled just wide of Birighitti’s post. 

United broke quickly once more following a strong challenge from McMann. Behich was sent racing down the left, firing in a cross for Fletcher who couldn’t get a connection whilst under challenge  - regardless, the linesman’s flag was up for offside. 

SAINTS LEAD

There was a chance for an opener just after half an hour for the hosts. 

Adam Montgomery was afforded far too much time as he edged into the United box with some neat footwork. He let fly on his left foot but a crucial stop from Birighitti following a deflection off of Loick Ayina ensured it remained goalless. 

Birighitti was on hand once more, this time an excellent save denied Carey from a tight angle inside the United box. 

However, just three minutes from the interval, Saints notched what proved to be the winner.

It was a long throw that caused confusion in the United penalty area as Melker Hallberg cushioned the ball down for Stevie May. Making no connection as he swiped at goal, the ball then sat perfectly for Liam Gordon who drilled his strike low beyond the unsighted Birighitti. 

SECOND HALF 

Another fast start to the half was quelled by stoppages for Craig Sibbald and Saints’ Skipper Gordon. 

Niskanen had our earliest chance of the half, but his effort heading for the far corner was blocked en route by Andrew Considine. 

TEMPERS FLARE

Bad turned to worse for United, who were reduced to ten men on the hour mark. 

A Saints’ counter was led by Hallberg who charged down the left before being stopped in his tracks by a sliding Charlie Mulgrew.

Referee Alan Muir showed no hesitation in showing our number four a straight red card for what looked a fairly innocuous challenge - well wide of any immediate harm. However, he was found guilty of denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.  

There was a flurry of activity for the referee, with Goodwin, Niskanen, Behich and May all cautioned in the minutes surrounding the goal. 

A WICKED END

Late substitutions saw Rory MacLeod, Mathew Cudjoe and Ryan Edwards take the places of Freeman, Harkes and McMann as we pushed for an equaliser. 

Deep into six additional minutes, a wicked cross from MacLeod perfectly picked out Fletcher in the centre of the box. He swung a ferocious left-footed volley towards goal which crashed off the junction of post and bar. 

United threw everything at it as the clock ticked on, but St Johnstone held on for all three points in Perth. 

POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
TEAMLINE 

Starting XI: Birighitti, McMann (90’ Edwards), Mulgrew, Niskanen, Fletcher, Sibbald, Behich, McGrath, Freeman (70’ MacLeod), Harkes (87’ Cudjoe), Ayina

Unused subs: Newman, Graham, Djoum, Middleton, Fotheringham, Thomson

NEXT UP 

We’re turning Tannadice Tangerine next Saturday as we host Ross County on Matchday 35 of the cinch Premiership. 

Tickets for that one are priced at only £10 for adults and £5 for all concessions. 

CLICK HERE to secure your ticket. 

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