Saints suffered their first home league defeat of the season this afternoon as they lost 1-0 to Dunfermline Athletic.
The only goal of the game arrived 5 minutes into the second half as Robbie Fraser capitalised on a loose pass from Toby Steward before rifling an unstoppable strike high into the roof of the net.
Saints pressed for an equaliser and deep into stoppage time Sam Stanton and Uche Ikpeazu were both denied by a superb double save from Pars goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet.
Saints are back in action on Tuesday evening as they welcome Ayr United to McDiarmid Park for a KDM Evolution Trophy quarter-final tie, kick off 7:45pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints returned to league action this afternoon as they welcomed Dunfermline Athletic to McDiarmid Park. Simo Valakari made four changes to the side which defeated Ross County 2-0 in the KDM Evolution Trophy a week past Tuesday as Matty Foulds, Stevie Mallan and Louis Lloyd dropped to the bench, whilst Božo Mikulić missed out completely. They were replaced by Morgan Boyes, Adam Forrester, Jamie Gullan and Alfredo Agyeman, who was making his Saints debut after joining on loan from Falkirk earlier this week. Dunfermline Athletic defeated Hibs 1-0 to progress to the fifth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup last Saturday and Pars manager Neil Lennon made one change to the side which started at KDM Group East End Park as Callum Morrison came in to replace Olly Thomas who dropped to the bench.
There was a ten minute delay due to the floodlights not working at the Ormond Stand end however, the electrician was able to resolve the issue and it was game on as Charlie Gilmour got the match underway for the visitors.
Saints made a good start to the match as Alfredo Agyeman forced an early corner. Saints got another corner on 5 minutes as Jason Holt saw his effort turned behind by Pars captain Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen.
Cheick Diabate earned the game’s first caution on 21 minutes for pulling back Callum Morrison. The resultant free kick was taken by Morrison however, he couldn’t test Toby Steward as he curled his effort high into the Ormand Stand.
PHOTO: Alfredo Agyeman and Kieran Ngwenya
Saints then quickly switched the play to the other end as 2 minutes later Jamie Gullan played in Josh McPake who burst into the Pars box but Chilokoa-Mullen was able to get back to produce a great tackle to deflect the strike from the Saints winger behind for another corner.
On 26 minutes a cross from the right by Matty Todd was met by Kieran Ngwenya at the back post however, he put his header over the bar. Then 3 minutes later Andrew Tod saw his strike saved by Steward.
On the half an hour mark Sam Stanton picked out Gullan in the box however, his strike was saved by the legs of Deniz Mehmet in the visitors goal. Then 3 minutes later Saints were awarded a free kick out wide on the left following a foul on McPake by Tashan Oakley-Boothe. Reece McAlear took the free kick however, his delivery into the box was cleared by the Dunfermline rearguard.
A good passing move by the visitors with 9 minutes of the first half remaining saw Todd switch the ball out wide to Robbie Fraser on the left and the defender sent a deep cross into the box which was met by Zak Rudden who put his header wide of the target.
PHOTO: Josh McPake is tackled by Nurudeen Abdulai
Then a minute later Saints created a chance of their own to break the deadlock as Gullan picked out McPake but the strike from the winger was well saved by Mehmet.
The Pars created one final chance before the break as Morrison’s cross from the left picked out Rudden in the centre but again the forward couldn’t test Steward with his header.
4 minutes into the second half Saints created an opening as Jason Holt picked out Adam Forrester on the edge of the area but the defender was unable to get his effort on target.
PHOTO: Adam Forrester runs at Matthew Todd
Then a minute later the visitors took the lead. Steward’s pass out from the back was slack and Fraser gathered the ball, before driving past Liam Smith and fired a fine effort high into the roof of the net.
Saints pushed for a quick equaliser and on 55 minutes a McAlear corner from the left was flicked on by Gullan at the near post as Morgan Boyes got up well to direct a header towards goal which was cleared off the line by Chilokoa-Mullen.
Saints made a triple change on 68 minutes as Uche Ikpeazu, Louis Lloyd and Stevie Mallan came on to replace Jamie Gullan, Alfredo Agyeman and Jason Holt.
A Mallan corner on 70 minutes was met by Ikpeazu however, he couldn’t direct his header on target.
Then moments later the visitors created a chance of their own as a shot from Tod went over the bar.
PHOTO: Uche Ikpeazu fends of Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and Nurudeen Abdulai
Simo Valakari made another change with 10 minutes remaining as Liam Smith made way for Kai Fotheringham.
On 84 minutes Ikpeazu played in Forrester on the edge of the area however, he dragged his effort wide. Saints continued to push for an equaliser and on 89 minutes a McPake cross into the Pars box was met by Ikpeazu and he headed the ball down towards Stanton who couldn’t make a connection as the ball trundled wide of the far post.
Then deep into stoppage time Mehmet made a good double save for the visitors. Forrester’s delivery into the box was met by Stanton, whose header was brilliantly kept out by Mehmet. The loose ball then fell to Ikpeazu, who fired a shot on the turn, but the Pars goalkeeper was equal to it once again, palming the effort away to ensure Dunfermline left Perth with all three points.
PHOTO: Sam Stanton’s header is saved by Deniz Mehmet
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt (Mallan 68’), Gullan (Ikpeazu 68’), Stanton, McPake, Agyeman (Lloyd 67’), Smith (Fotheringham 80’), Forrester, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Griffith, Svedberg, Foulds, Baird
Booked: Diabate, Boyes, McPake
Dunfermline Athletic: Mehmet, Chilokoa-Mullen, Ngwenya, Gilmour, Rudden (Kearney 87’), Todd, Abdulai, Tod, Oakley-Boothe (Hamilton 63’), Morrison (Thomas 78’), Fraser
Unused Substitutes: Terrell (GK), Benedictus, Amade, MacLeod, Kane, Cooper
Booked: Hamilton, Morrison, Rudden
Scorer: Fraser (50’)
Referee: David Dickinson
Attendance: 5,347
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Josh McPake is denied by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and Deniz Mehmet
