Match report: Saints 0-2 Dundee

Saints started brightly and Makenzie Kirk went close as he flicked the ball narrowly over at the near post.

Dundee took the lead on 28 minutes as Lyall Cameron slotted a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. The Darks Blues thought they had extended their lead on 51 minutes when Scott Tiffoney slotted the ball under Ross Sinclair however, the goal was ruled out as Tiffoney had strayed offside.

Cameron then wrapped up the points for the Darks Blue deep into stoppage time as the midfielder converted from the penalty spot after Ziyad Larkeche was tripped in the box by Graham Carey.

With the season finished Saints attention will now turn to preparing for life in the Championship next season as they hope to make a quick-fire return to Scotland’s top flight.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Dundee to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for their final William Hill Premiership match of the season. Saints lost 2-1 to Hearts on Wednesday evening as their sixteen years stay in the top flight came to an end and Simo Valakari made four changes to his starting eleven this afternoon. Ross Sinclair, Sven Sprangler, Fran Franczak and Adama Sidibeh all came into the starting line-up to replace Sam Curtis and Elliot Watt, who both dropped to the bench, whilst Andy Fisher and Barry Douglas both missed out completely. Dundee were held to a 1-1 draw by Ross County in midweek and they made one change to their starting eleven as Scott Tiffoney came in to replace Oluwaseun Adewumi who missed out completely.

Lyall Cameron got the match underway for the visitors on the sun kissed McDiarmid Park pitch.

Saints started the match brightly as both Adama Sidibeh and Victor Griffith saw shots blocked by the Dundee defence in the first minute. It was an encouraging start to the match for Saints and on 6 minutes Taylor Steven sent over an inviting ball from the left which was met by Makenzie Kirk at the near post however, his flicked effort went inches over.

Dundee got their first sight of goal on 8 minutes as Josh Mulligan sent a teasing ball across the face of the Saints goal however, no one in Dundee shirt could get on the end of it as the ball went behind for a goal kick.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh's shot is blocked

On 11 minutes Steven sent another brilliant delivery into the Dundee box which Clark Robertson cut out for a corner at the back post. Saints kept up the pressure and shortly after both Kirk and Steven saw attempts at goal block by the Dee defence.

Dundee were coming more into the game and on 15 minutes Cameron unleashed a strike from distance which didn’t trouble Ross Sinclair. Then on 28 minutes the visitors took the lead. Simon Murray played the ball to Cameron and the midfielder drove down the left before cutting inside and sent a low strike across Sinclair and into the far corner of the net.

The Dark Blues came close to a second goal on 31 minutes as Murray won possession from Daniels Balodis on the halfway line before unleashing a shot from 40 yards which Sinclair was able to turn behind for a corner.

The visitors kept up the pressure and a Cameron corner from the right on 33 minutes broke to Ziyad Larkeche however, Steven made a brilliant block to deny the on-loan defender.

PHOTO: Josh McPake and Antonio Portales

Sidibeh got a sight of goal on 42 minutes however, his effort was blocked by the Dundee defence. Then deep into the 3 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half the Gambian got another chance to level the match for Saints after getting on the end of a Stephen Duke-McKenna cross however, he blasted his effort high into the North Stand.

Saints made a change before the second half got underway as Graham Carey came on to replace Stephen Duke-McKenna.

On 47 minutes a great ball from Steven played in Kirk who burst forward and into the Dundee box before unleashing a strike which hit the side netting. Then 2 minutes later McPake cut in from the left and unleashed a shot which appeared to hit a Dundee player before going behind however, referee Steven McLean awarded Dundee a goal kick.

The visitors thought they had doubled their lead on 51 minutes when Scott Tiffoney darted onto a through ball from Larkeche and slotted it under Sinclair however, the goal was chalked off as the East Stand assistant raised the flag for offside which was confirmed following a VAR check.

PHOTO: Makenzie Kirk runs onto a pass but shoots wide

Jason Holt ended up in the book for a foul on Josh Mulligan on 54 minutes. From the resultant free kick Cameron saw his effort hit Carey in the Saints wall before going behind for a corner.

Saints made their second change of the game on 66 minutes as Elliot Watt came on to replace Jason Holt.

Dundee created another chance on 69 minutes as Larkeche unleashed a right-footed effort which was straight at Sinclair who comfortably gathered the ball.

PHOTO: Taylor Steven gets away from Seb Palmer-Houlden

With 8 minutes remaining Saints brought on youngster Callan Hamill to make his debut, replacing the injured Elliot Watt.

On 84 minutes a Dundee corner broke to Simon Murray however, the forward couldn’t find the target with his effort as he blasted his shot over the bar.

Then 2 minutes later good play by Sidibeh saw the forward pick out Hamill on the edge of the area and the 16-year old unleashed a low strike which was well saved by Trevor Carson in the Dundee goal.

6 minutes of stoppage time was added on at the end and deep into added on time Dundee were awarded a penalty after Larkeche was tripped in the box by Carey. Cameron stepped up to take the penalty and he sent Sinclair the wrong way to score his and Dundee’s second of the afternoon to wrap up the points.

PHOTO: Callan Hamill makes his Saints debut

Saints: Sinclair, Balodis, Griffith, Holt (Watt 66’) (Hamill 82’), Sidibeh, Steven, Duke-McKenna (Carey 45’), Sprangler, McPake, Kirk, Franczak

Unused Substitutes: Hepburn (GK), Ikpeazu, Kucheriavyi, Curtis, Mylchreest

Booked: Griffith, Holt, Sidibeh

Dundee: Carson, Robertson, Astley, Shaughnessy, Tiffoney, Mulligan, Cameron, Murray (Reilly 90’), Larkeche, Palmer-Houlden (Robertson 79’), Portales

Unused Substitutes: McCracken (GK), Samuels, Graza, Koumetio, Fraser, Sylla, Donnelly

Booked: Robertson

Scorers: Cameron (28’, 90+6’ pen)

Referee: Steven McLean

VAR: Greg Aitken                

Attendance: 7,170

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Fran Franczak and Scott Tiffoney