Match report: Dundee 1-2 Saints

Dundee took the lead on 12 minutes when Simon Murray took advantage of poor Saints defending.

Graham Carey levelled the match with a fine curling strike on 64 minutes before Nicky Clark scored a dramatic last minute winner, which survived a VAR check which lasted over 6 minutes, to secure the 3 points for Saints.

Today’s win sees Saints move up to sixth in the William Hill Premiership with 10 points.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Paisley on Wednesday evening to take on St Mirren, kick off 7:45pm. 

MATCH REPORT

Saints made the short trip along the A90 this afternoon to take on Dundee at The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park. Simo Valakari was in the dugout for the first time this afternoon after his work permit came through yesterday and the Saints head coach decided to go with the same starting eleven which comfortably defeated Ross County 3-0 at McDiarmid Park last weekend. Dundee defeated Motherwell 1-0 at Fir Park last Saturday and manager Tony Docherty made one change to his starting eleven as Mo Sylla came in to replace Scott Fraser who missed out due to injury.

Curtis Main got the match underway for the hosts and it was an even opening to the match as neither keeper was tested.

Then on 12 minutes Simon Murray took advantage of poor Saints defending to give the hosts the lead. Dee keeper Trevor Carson sent a long ball forward which Jack Sanders let bounce and Murray raced onto the ball lifting it over Ross Sinclair who was caught in no-mans land. Murray then sprinted around Sinclair before he chested the ball into the empty net.

Dundee almost doubled their lead 2 minutes later but Sinclair made a good save with his feet to deny Ziyad Larkeche.

PHOTO: Matt Smith battles with Ziyad Larkeche

Saints started to come more into the game as on 23 minutes Andre Raymond tried to pick out Benji Kimpioka with a delivery from the left however, the ball broke to Jason Holt but his driving effort from 22 yards went narrowly wide. Then 2 minutes later a Matt Smith cross from the right picked out Adama Sidibeh but the forward couldn’t find the target with his header.

Sidibeh got another sight of goal just after the half an hour mark but on this occasion he couldn’t test Trevor Carson in the Dundee goal with his effort.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining Saints pressured Dundee into a mistake as they lost possession which allowed Sidibeh to break free. The Gambian forward burst into the Dundee box however, Carson came out and made a great block to deny the Saints forward.

Dundee were sitting deep as they tried to cut out long balls forward to the Saints front line and on 40 minutes Smith played in Kimpioka as the Swedish forward went on a dangerous run into the Dundee box before the ball broke to Nicky Clark however, his clipped effort went wide of the far post.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh is denied by Trevor Carson

2 minutes were added on at the end of the first half and deep into stoppage time Raymond picked out Sidibeh with his cross into the Dundee box from the left however, the header from Sidibeh was comfortably gather by Carson.

Into the second half and on 48 minutes Carson made a brilliant fingertip save to deny Kimpioka after the forward had got on the end of a Smith cross from the right. Play continued and Clark then saw his effort blocked before Smith nodded his follow-up wide.  

Saints quick start to the second half continued and on 52 minutes Holt put his effort wide after more good build-up play by the Perth side.

Saints made a double change on 58 minutes as Kyle Cameron and Graham Carey came on to replace Andre Raymond and Matt Smith.

PHOTO: Sven Sprangler gets away from Curtis Main

Saints were rewarded for their pressure on the Dundee goal as they were back on level terms on 64 minutes. Carey jinked in from the right as he moved the ball onto his left foot before firing an unstoppable low curling effort across Carson and into the far corner of the net from 20 yards.

On 67 minutes brilliant pressing play by Kimpioka saw the forward win possession from Ryan Astley just inside the box before playing the ball to Carey. The Irish midfielder then cut the ball back to Drey Wright and he floated an inviting delivery into the box which Sidibeh rose to get on the end of however, his header went narrowly wide.

Dundee tried to respond to being pegged back and on 68 minutes Murray got a sight of goal however, his effort didn’t trouble Sinclair. Then on 74 minutes Lyall Cameron played in substitute Scott Tiffoney but Sinclair was alert to the danger as he easily gathered the shot from the former Partick Thistle striker. Sinclair was called into action again with 12 minutes remaining as he saved an effort from Dundee substitute Seb Palmer-Houlden.

PHOTO: Jason Holt is fouled by Oluwaseun Adewumi

With 4 minutes remaining Kimpioka was fouled by Atley as Saints were awarded a free kick in a promising position. Carey took the free kick as he floated the ball into the Dundee box however, Astley was able to turn it behind for a corner. The corner was taken by Carey and his delivery was met by Lewis Neilson but his header from 12 yards was straight at Carson.

Saints made another change on 88 minute as Makenzie Kirk came on to replace Adama Sidibeh.

Saints continued to create chances and a minute later Kimpioka did brilliantly to burst down the left channel to the byeline before cutting the ball back to Carey and he laid it off to Clark but his strike was turned behind for a corner by Clark Robertson. Carey took the corner from the right and his delivery into the box was headed goalwards by Sanders before being blocked by Murray. Kimpioka then saw his effort also blocked by Murray before Clark turned the ball home from close range to spark wild celebrations. There then followed a long VAR review which took over 6 minutes. Unable to draw the lines to check if Clark was offside referee Kevin Clancy was called over to review the goal on the VAR monitor and it was decided to go with the on-field decision. Had the goal been disallowed then Saints would have been awarded a penalty for a handball by Murray. Clancy then brought Simo Valakari and Tony Docherty together to explain his decision before Valakari turned away to walk back to the Saints dugout celebrating that the goal had been awarded. The Saints fans then celebrated the goal again in the Bob Shankly Stand as Saints secured back-to-back league wins for the first time since October 2022.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark celebrates his goal

PHOTO: Saints head coach Simo Valakari celebrates at full time

Dundee: Carson, Ingram (Adewumi 69’), C. Robertson, Astley, Main (Palmer-Houlden 69’), Cameron (Mulligan 82’), Murray, F. Robertson, Koumetio, Larkeche (Tiffoney 69’), Sylla (Braybrooke 45’)

Unused Substitutes: McCracken (GK), Sharp (GK), Portales, Vetro

Booked: Ingram, Main, Cameron

Scorer: Murray (12)

Saints: Sinclair, Raymond (Cameron 58’), Sanders, Neilson, Holt, Clark, Wright, Sidibeh (Kirk 88’), Smith (Carey 58’), Sprangler, Kimpioka

Unused Substitutes: Rae (GK), Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Keltjens, Franczak

Booked: Sprangler, Neilson  

Scorers: Carey (64’), Clark (90’)

Referee: Kevin Clancy

VAR: Nick Walsh

Attendance: 6,548

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Graham Carey celebrates his goal with Nicky Clark