Dundee took three points back along the A90 from Perth with an excellent 3-1 win at St Johnstone. A blistering opening saw the Dark Blues 3-0 up after 22 minutes. Simon Murray, Seb Palmer-Houlden and Lyall Cameron each scored, sending the the travelling support into a frenzy of delight. Saints tried to fight their way back into the game and Josh McPake pulled a goal back midway through the second half but Dundee managed the game comfortably to a conclusion to claim an important win.
The Dark Blues made only one change to the starting eleven. Scott Tiffoney came in at left wing back for the injured Fin Robertson. Dundee’s injury problems meant there were only five outfield substitutes named, and two of those had never started a game.
Dundee kicked off but St Johnstone won a corner in the first minute. The Dark Blues broke at speed from the set piece and Seun Adewumi was fouled after beating Drey Wright. Lyall Cameron’s high free kick into the goalmouth was dropped by keeper Josh Rae and Wright knocked it away from him as he tried to recover. Ryan Astley nodded the loose ball down for Simon MURRAY to tuck the ball into the net with the Saints defence in total disarray. It was the third minute and the writing was on the wall for Saints.
St Johnstone managed some decent attacks in the next few minutes but Dundee opened them in their own next attack. Josh Mulligan raced clear on the right and his cross was turned out for a corner. Saints could clear the corner only as far as Scott Tiffoney who chipped back into the danger area. The home defence still couldn’t clear and Clark Robertson’s low shot took a deflection giving Seb PALMER-HOULDEN a tap in at the far post. 2-0 in the 10th minute.
Saints continued to attack, but ineffectually. The Dark Blues, on the other hand, threatened to rip the home defence up every time they came forward. Lyall Cameron shot over from 18 yards after good play by Adewumi.
Cameron got his next effort on target to make it 3-0. Mulligan again raced away down the right. His low cross was missed by Adewumi but not CAMERON, who took a touch to make space and swept his shot into the corner from 12 yards. The Dark Blue support behind that goal were loving this top class entertainment from the Dee.
St Johnstone responded by hooking Matt Smith, who was anonymous in midfield, and left back André Raymond, who had twice been caught disastrously out of position as Mulligan rampaged down his wing. Aaron Essel and Max Kucheriavyi were sent on in their place. That helped to steady Saints, without turning the tide.
Saints did manage to get into some good positions and send some worrying crosses into the penalty area. Adamah Sidibeh and Benji Kimpioka were lively and posed problems but showed their inexperience with poor decisions and inability to turn promising openings into chances.
The Dee defence had to stay alert to deal with crosses and block shots but Dundee always looked more likely to score on the break with their speed and skill. Palmer-Houlden’s fierce shot was turned out for a corner after being sent clear on the right by Adewumi at the end of a Dee break.
The home side had a strong start to the second half putting the Dee under pressure. In the opening minute Adibeh linked with Kimpioka to set up Nicky Clarke whose shot was blocked.
Adewumi made a womderful run out of defence which took him through St Johnstone’s midfield but Rae saved at the expense of a corner.
St Johnstone were doing almost all the attacking as Dundee sat back and tried to catch Saints on the break. The home side had plenty of possession but were not creating real chances and were restricted to long range efforts.
Eventually, after 67 minutes, one of these shots paid off when substitute Josh McPAKE scored with a low shot from 20 yards.
Dundee immediately withdrew Simon Murray, sending on Ethan Ingram to play at right back with Mulligan moving forward to strengthen the midfield. This helped to contain the threat from McPake who looked as if he might prove a threat but ended up as only an irritant who was contained in the last 20 minutes.
The Dark Blues built hardly any serious attacks in the last quarter but managed the game calmly to a conclusion. Cesar Garza came on for his debut, replacing the hugely impressive Adewumi, after 75 minutes. This helped to strengthen the midfield and stop Saints being able to build attacks with easy possession.
This performance showed no signs of the serious injury problems facing the Dee as they prepared for the game. Dundee were set up to hit on the break and Saints had no answers till the game was beyond them.
There were a worrying four bookings for the Dark Blues before half time, so there was always the possibility of a red card that might give St Johnstone some hope. However, Dundee retained their discipline and organisation, and Saints improvement in the second half was far too little, and too late, for there to be any chance of a miracle.
Seun Adewumi was outstanding. St Johnstone couldn’t cope with his skill, pace and determination. The youngster wasn’t simply a threat with his running on the ball. His passing and decision making were a constant threat to St Johnstone.
The other two strikers, Simon Murray and Seb Palmer-Houlden were relentless with their running, grafting and harrying. The nervous home defence couldn’t cope with Dundee’s energy and aggression in attack in the first half.
Few Dundee fans could have expected such a hugely enjoyable trip to Perth. That first half display, as the Dark Blues surged in attack towards the roaring fans in the away end, was as good as any of us could possibly have hoped for.
As a football spectacle the second half was a non-event, but that was just fine considering Dundee were playing away from home and sitting on a three goal lead. According to the official stats, and particularly a possession figure of only 23%, the Dark Blues were not impressive today, but they had quality where and when it mattered.
The Dee ruthlessly punished a fragile home defence and always had the better of Saints in a first half in which the game was won. St Johnstone might have dominated possession but they racked up hundreds of safe, easy passes as they shuffled the ball around in places that didn’t trouble Dundee.
The Dark Blues in the away stand had a fine time as they sang their way to the final whistle and gave the team a standing ovation before they left the pitch. The players richly deserved it. This was a big win for the Dark Blues.
St Johnstone 4-2-3-1
Rae
Wright, Sanders, Mikulic, Raymond (Essel 27)
Spangler, Smith (Kucheriavyi 27)
Kimpioka (McPake 57), Clark (c), Carey
Sidibeh
Unused subs: Hepburn (gk), MacPherson, Keltjens, Franczak, Dair, Brookfield.
Goal: McPake (67).
Booked: Carey (dissent).
Dundee FC 3-4-1-2
Carson (c)
Astley, Clark Robertson, Graham
Mulligan, Sylla, Cameron, Tiffoney
Adewumi (Garza 75)
Palmer-Houlden (Main 83), Murray (Ingran 67)
Unused substitutes: McCracken (gk), Sharp (gk), Braybrooke, Vetro.
Goals: Murray (3), Palmer-Houlden (10), Cameron (22).
Booked: Clark (foul on Sidibeh), Mulligan (foul on Kucheriavyi), Murray (not retreating at free kick), Sylla (foul on Sidibeh), Garza (foul on Kucheriavyi).
Referee: David Dickinson. Assistants: Andy Milne, Alastair Taylor. VAR: Alan Muir. Assistant VAR: Alan Mulvanny.
Attendance: 5,256.
Report: James Christie.
