Saints secured a 2-1 victory over Dundee in this afternoon’s Tayside Derby at McDiarmid Park.
Simo Valakari’s side made the perfect start, taking the lead after just 5 minutes when Josh Campbell rose to head home an excellent cross from Enes Alić.
Dundee drew level 2 minutes into the second half, with half-time substitute Joe Westley capitalising on a defensive mix-up. Ross Sinclair collided with Cheick Diabate as he came off his line to collect the ball, allowing Westley to slot home.
However, Saints wrestled the lead back as Kai Fotheringham’s deflected strike found the back of the net with 18 minutes remaining.
Both sides had goals ruled out in the closing stages. Ryan Finnigan appeared to have restored parity for Dundee on 78 minutes, but the goal was ruled out following a push by Owen Bevan in the build-up. Macaulay Tait also found the net with a back-post finish on 85 minutes, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
Saints are back in action in a fortnight as they take on Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Dundee to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a William Hill Premiership match. There were four changes to the Saints team which started the 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock last weekend. Toby Steward was suspended for this afternoon’s Tayside derby following his sending off last weekend and he was replaced by Ross Sinclair between the sticks. Liam Smith, Josh Campbell and Kai Fotheringham were also brought into the starting eleven, to replace Matty Todd and Josh Fowler, who both dropped to the bench whilst Reece McAlear missed out due to illness. Dundee head coach Steven Pressley made one change to the side which defeated Kilmarnock 3-1 in their last match ten days ago as Owen Bevan came in to replace Joe Wright, who dropped to the bench.
Prior to kick-off, both sides came together to mark Remembrance weekend, with representatives from both clubs laying wreaths on the pitch before a minute’s silence was observed to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
PHOTO: The players observe a minute’s silence
Taylor Steven got the match underway and it was a positive start to the match by Simo Valakari’s side as they took the lead on 5 minutes. Patient build-up play by Saints saw Jason Holt play the ball out wide to Enes Alić on the left and the Bosnian sent a beautiful cross into the box which Josh Campbell got up well to meet to plant a header beyond Owen Goodman and into the net.
Saints continued their good start to the match as on 10 minutes Alić sent another inviting ball into the box, this time from the right, which Kai Fotheringham got on the end of however, he couldn’t direct his first-time effort on target.
There was then a break in play as Božo Mikulić required treatment for a head knock and had to be replaced by Daniel Finlayson.
PHOTO: Josh Campbell scores for Saints
PHOTO: Josh Campbell celebrates his goal
Dundee started to click into gear and on 23 minutes Alan Forrest weaved his way through the middle before unleashing a strike from about 25 yards which Ross Sinclair got down well to save. Then a minute later Ethan Hamilton brought the ball down in the box before unleashing a shot on the turn, but Sinclair was alert to the danger as he got down well to turn the ball behind for a corner at his near post. Hamilton got another sight of goal on 32 minutes as he robbed the ball from Kai Fotheringham on the edge of the box however, he fired his first-time attempt high into the North Stand.
Saints were awarded a free kick on 39 minutes after Danny Schmidt was fouled by Ryan Astley. Alić took the free kick as he sent a dangerous ball into the box however, no one on a Saints shirt could get on the end of it as the ball was deflected into Goodman’s arms.
With 3 minutes of the first half remaining a good ball from Joel Cotterill played in Alić down the left who then burst forward before unleashing a strike which was parried by Goodman straight to the feet of Taylor Steven however, his first-time volley went wide of the target. Then in first minute of stoppage time Fotheringham brilliantly won the ball from Drey Wright on the edge of the area before seeing his effort hit the side netting.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham shoots into the side netting
Dundee made a triple change at half time, and it was one of the changes, Joe Westley, who brought Dundee level 2 minutes into the second half. Finlayson headed the ball back to Sinclair but as the Saints keeper came to gather he was clattered into by Cheick Diabate and dropped the ball and Westley was on hand to gather the loose ball and slot it into the net.
On 54 minutes Fotheringham intercepted a loose Dundee pass in the Saints half before driving forward down the left flank. The attacking midfielder then picked out Campbell who hit the side netting with his effort.
With the hour mark approaching, Simo Valakari opted to make a double change as Sam Stanton and Josh Fowler were introduced in place of Taylor Steven and Danny Schmidt.
PHOTO: Joel Cotterill is closed down by Ethan Hamilton and Bradley Fink
Fowler was soon involved in the thick of the action as on 66 minutes the forward was played in by Campbell however, his shot hit the side netting. Then a minute later Cotterill unleashed a powerful strike from 30 yards however, Goodman produced a good save to turn the ball behind for a corner.
It was a strong spell in the second half for Saints and on 72 minutes they regained the lead. Liam Smith’s cross from the right was met by Campbell but his effort was blocked by Astley. Fotheringham then gathered the loose ball and he unleashed a strike which was deflected beyond Goodman and into the net.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham scores to make it 2-1
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham celebrates his goal
Dundee thought they had levelled the match again with 12 minutes remaining as Ryan Finnigan slotted home however, it was ruled out for a push by Owen Bevan in the build-up.
Saints then made a further change as Kai Fotheringham was replaced by Macaulay Tait.
Saints had a goal of their own ruled out on 85 minutes as Tait tapped home Fowler’s cross at the back post however, the midfielder was in an offside position.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler battles with Owen Bevan
Saints continued to cause problems for the visitors as in the final minute of normal time an Alić corner from the right broke to Diabate, but he prodded his effort wide of the target.
3 minutes of stoppage time was added on at the end. Dundee got a chance to grab an equaliser in the first minutes of stoppage time as Westley scuffed an effort wide of the target as Saints were able to see the game out to claim a big three points.
PHOTO: Simo Valakari celebrates with the fans at full time
Saints: Sinclair, Alić, Diabate, Mikulić (Finlayson 14’), Steven (Stanton 60’), Holt, Fotheringham (Tait 80’), Schmidt (Fowler 59’), Cotterill, Campbell, Smith
Unused Substitutes: Hepburn (GK), Foulds, Chalmers, Todd, Paton
Booked: Steven
Scorers: Campbell (5’), Fotheringham 72’)
Dundee: Goodman, Astley, O. Bevan, D. Wright (Halliday 87’), Hay, Samuels, Forrest (Reilly 72’), Fink (Westley 45’), J. Bevan (Bešir 45’), Jones (Finnigan 45’), Hamilton
Unused Substitutes: Sharp (GK), Odutayo, J. Wright, Harrison
Booked: D. Wright, Hamilton, Halliday
Scorer: Westley (47’)
Referee: David Dickinson
VAR: Duncan Williams
Attendance: 6,508
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Kai Fotheringham celebrates his goal
