Saints and Dundee United had to settle for a share of the spoils at McDiarmid Park this afternoon as the Tayside derby finished 1-1.
Josh Fowler put Saints ahead on 21 minutes as the William Hill Premiership top goalscorer slotted home a cross from Enes Alić.
Dundee United fought back and they equalised with 11 minutes remaining as Lyall Cameron tucked a cross from Jesse Randall into the top corner of the net.
The result means Saints remain fifth in the William Hill Premiership with 12 points.
Saints are back in action next Saturday as they head to Ibrox to take on Rangers, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Dundee United to Perth this afternoon for a Tayside derby. There were three changes to the side which started the 1-0 win at Aberdeen last weekend as Cheick Diabate, who missed the match at Pittodrie due to suspension, Taylor Steven and Joel Cotterill came into the starting eleven. They replaced Matty Foulds, Matty Todd and Ruari Paton who all dropped to the bench. Dundee United also won 1-0 last weekend as a first half strike from Daniel Bennie proved decisive against ten-man Hibernian and manager Jim Goodwin decided to go with the same team which started at Tannadice last Saturday for this afternoon’s William Hill Premiership match.
It was a glorious autumnal afternoon in Perth as Lyall Cameron got the match underway for the visitors.
Dundee United made a quick start to the match as on 5 minutes Dylan Tait played in Joshua Rawlins down the right wing. The defender advanced to the byline before sending over a cross into the box, which was met by Idjessi Metsoko however, the header from the on-loan Viktoria Plzeň forward was well held by Toby Steward.
The Terrors kept up the early pressure and on 13 minutes Cheick Diabate made a vital interception at the near post to cut out a cross into the Saints box for a corner and to prevent a tap-in for Metsoko.
Saints though began to get a foot hold of the game and on 17 minutes Jason Holt play the ball to the feet of Sam Stanton and the midfielder made a quick turn in the box before unleashing a low strike but United keeper Jack Walton made a solid save as he pushed the ball away to safety.
The breakthrough came on 21 minutes as Saints took the lead. Enes Alić burst down the left channel and into plenty of space behind the Dundee United defence. The left-back then delivered a delightful cross into the box for Josh Fowler, who timed his run into the box to perfection, before despatching a fine left-footed strike beyond Walton and into the net for his sixth goal of the season.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler scores to make it 1-0
PHOTO: Josh Fowler celebrates his goal
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining Liam Smith won Saints a free kick out wide on the right after the right-back was fouled by Daniel Bennie. Reece McAlear took the free kick as he crossed the ball into the box however, it was headed clear by the United defence.
Dundee United pushed for the equaliser as the match progressed towards half time. On 37 minutes Bert Esselink picked out Cameron just outside the box however, the on-loan Rangers midfielder couldn’t find the target with his effort. Then 3 minutes later a right-footed effort from Tait was straight at Steward who comfortably gathered the ball.
PHOTO: Liam Smith and Kevin Ciubotaru
Saints made a change at half-time as Ruari Paton came on to replace Josh Fowler. Paton was quickly involved in the action as on 53 minutes the forward headed a longball down to Taylor Steven who blasted a powerful effort high into the Ormand Stand.
It was a strong start to the second half by Saints and on 55 minutes a McAlear corner from the left broke to Smith at the back post. The right-back then picked out Paton but his effort was spilled by Walton and Stanton saw his follow-up effort turned behind for a corner by Michael Forbes.
PHOTO: Taylor Steven shoots over the bar
Just after the hour mark a quick break by Saints saw Cotterill switch the ball to Paton on the right and the Saints forward broke into the box before seeing his shot from a tight angle saved by Walton.
The Terrors started to apply pressure to the Saints goal and on 64 minutes Steward got down well to save a low strike from Cameron. Then 6 minutes later Steward was called into action again, this time saving a low effort from the edge of the box by Zidane Iqbal.
The pressure from the visitors paid off and they were back on level terms with 11 minutes remaining. Jesse Randell’s cross was cleverly dummied by substitute Zach Sapsford, allowing Cameron to latch onto the ball. Off balance and falling towards the ground, the midfielder managed to guide his effort into the top corner of the net from just inside the box.
PHOTO: Sam Stanton’s goalbound shot is blocked by Michael Forbes
Saints then made a double change as Jamie Gullan and Kai Fotheringham came on to replace Sam Stanton and Taylor Steven.
Dundee United got a good double chance to take the lead on 89 minutes but Steward made an excellent save at his near post to deny Sapsford. The rebound fell to Cameron, but his follow-up effort was straight at Steward.
As the match entered 4 minutes of stoppage time United got another sight of goal as substitute Neil Farrugia dragged an effort wide as both sides had to settle for a point.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear and Lyall Cameron
Saints: Steward, Alić, Diabate, Steven (Fotheringham 82’), Holt, Fowler (Paton 45’), Stanton (Gullan 82’), Finlayson, Cotterill, Smith, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Mikulić, Foulds, Chalmers, Todd, Campbell
Booked: McAlear, Holt
Scorer: Fowler (21’)
Dundee United: Walton, Esselink, Tait (Rose 63’), Iqbal, Cameron, Forbes, Ciubotaru, Randall (Farrugia 88’), Rawlins, Bennie (Yoro 45’), Metsoko (Sapsford 63’)
Unused Substitutes: Amissah (GK), Iovu, Graham, Camará, Naamo
Booked: Tait, Cameron, Iqbal, Farrugia
Scorer: Cameron (79’)
Referee: Ross Hardie
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 6,351
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jason Holt and Zidane Iqbal
