Saints 0-0 Dundee United
Match Reports

Saints 0-0 Dundee United

5th February 2022

Saints 0-0 Dundee United

Saints showed their battling qualities this afternoon as they earned a point against Dundee United after having to play the majority of the second half with ten men.

Saints came close in the first half when Ali Crawford saw his shot hit the underside of the bar after he had been setup by Melker Hallberg. Whilst up the other end Tony Watt almost made a connection with a Nicky Clark flick on at the near post but the ball trundled behind for goal kick.

The game then changed 8 minutes into the second half as Hallberg was sent off after picking up a second booking for a tug on Ian Harkes.

The Tannadice side then enjoyed a large share of possession as Saints were camped deep in their own half. Watt came close to giving the Tannadice side the lead with 14 minutes remaining as his strike hit came back off the post.

However, Saints put in a strong defensive performance and substitute Glenn Middleton almost nicked it at the end for the Perth side but his strike was deflected behind for a corner.

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

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Tayside neighbours Dundee United to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a cinch Scottish Premiership match. A late goal from Ali Crawford on Tuesday evening saw Saints defeat Livingston 2-1 at the Tony Macaroni Arena to move off the bottom of the league and Callum Davidson decided to go with the same starting eleven for this afternoon’s match. Dundee United drew 0-0 with city rivals Dundee in midweek and Head Coach Thomas Courts made three changes to his starting eleven. Kieran Freeman, Scott McMann and Marc McNulty dropped out from the side which started at Dens and they were replaced by Liam Smith, Peter Pawlett and Timothy Akinola.

Tony Watt got the match underway for the visitors and the Tannadice side forced a couple of early corners. On 11 minutes Liam Smith played the ball into the feet of Peter Pawlett but the midfielder saw his strike deflected behind for a corner by Melker Hallberg. On-loan Manchester United midfielder Dylan Levitt delivered an inviting corner in from the left however, Jamie McCart was there to head the ball behind for another corner.

Saints were shooting towards the Ormand Stand during the first half and they came within inches of taking the lead on 18 minutes. Hallberg did well to possession from Ian Harkes and the Swedish midfielder then broke into the United box before picking out Ali Crawford who took touch before seeing his strike from 12 yards hit the underside off the bar before the danger was cleared by the visitors.

PHOTO: Ali Crawford’s shot hits the underside of the bar

Saints were looking dangerous going forward and 4 minutes later the ball broke to Callum Hendry in the box and he then turned and unleashed a strike which Benjamin Siegrist tipped behind for a corner.

On 38 minutes Dundee United came within inches of taking the lead. A corner from the left by Levitt was flicked on at the front post by Nicky Clark and Tony Watt was inches away from knocking the ball over the line before it eventually went behind for a goal kick. Then shortly after Levitt setup Watt who cut inside Dan Cleary before seeing his strike saved at the second attempt by Clark.

Saints though would go on to finish the first half strongly as on 42 minutes they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after James Brown had been fouled by Levitt. Both Melker Hallberg and Callum Booth stood over the free kick but it was taken by the former who saw his strike hit the United wall and go behind for a corner. Then just before half time Booth’s cross from the left picked out Hendry but the strike from the Saints forward was well saved by Siegrist.

PHOTO: Callum Hendry gets past Dylan Levitt

Before the second half could get underway United made a double change as Ilmari Niskanen and Scott McMann came on to replace Timothy Akinola and Dylan Levitt.

Stevie May got the second half underway for Saints but it was the visitors who created the first chance of the half. On 46 minutes Niskanen looked to have an instant impact as he broke down the left before finding Liam Smith who directed his first-time volley goal wards but Booth made a brilliant defensive header to head the ball to safety.

It was a lively start to the second half as a minute later Brown played in May whose right footed effort was saved by Siegrist.

Saints though suffered a setback on 53 minutes as they were reduced to ten men after Hallberg was picked up a second yellow card for hauling back Harkes. The midfielder had already been booked in the first half for a foul on Tony Watt.

PHOTO: Melker Hallberg is sent off after getting a second yellow card

Callum Davidson was frustrated with the sending off and on the hour mark the Saints manager was shown a yellow card by referee Colin Steven.

Saints then made a double change as Murray Davidson and Cammy MacPherson came on to replace Stevie May and Ali Crawford.

Now with the man advantage United were pressing Saints and on 66 minutes Calum Butcher setup Watt but the strike from the former Saints forward was tame as Clark easily gathered.

With 14 minutes remaining United came close to the breakthrough as Smith fed the ball to Watt, who did well to hold off McCart before seeing his strike comeback off the post.

PHOTO: Cammy MacPherson gets away from Peter Pawlett

Saints then made a couple more changes as Glenn Middleton and Tony Gallacher were introduced into the action, replacing Callum Hendry and Callum Booth.

United were enjoying a large share of the possession but they very rarely trouble Clark in the Saints goal. As the clock ticked towards the ninetieth minute Niskanen played in Smith but Clark comfortably gathered the ball.

The final chance of the match fell to Saints in injury time as Middleton saw his shot deflect off Ross Graham and go narrowly wide as both sides had to settle for a share of the points.  

Saints: Clark, Brown, Cleary, McCart, Gordon, Hallberg, Crawford (MacPherson 60), Hendry (Middleton 8), May (Davidson 60), Booth (Gallacher 88), Butterfield

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Mahon, Craig, Gilmour, Sang, Hector-Ingram  

Booked: Hallberg, Cleary

Sent Off: Hallberg

Dundee United: Siegrist, Smith, Pawlett (Mochrie 83), Clark (McNulty 63), Edwards, Akinola (Niskanen 45), Butcher, Levitt (McMann 45), Harkes, Graham, Watt

Unused Substitutes: Eriksson (GK), McDonald, Meekison, Neilson, MacLeod  

Booked: Pawlett, Smith

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 5,005  

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Stevie May tries to get away from Timothy Akinola

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