Dundee and St Johnstone played out a 1-1 draw at the Scot Foam Stadium this afternoon. Makenzie Kirk gave Saints the lead late in the first half, but Simon Murray came up with an instant equaliser before the interval. The Dark Blues had the better of the second half without being able to find a winner, though substitute Scott Tiffoney came agonisingly close when a late shot came back off the post.
There were three changes to the Dundee starting eleven. Trevor Carson returned in goal, club captain Joe Shaughnessy came back in central defence to start his first match since April last year, and Cesar Garza started in the midfield. They took the places of Jon McCracken, Ryan Astley and Scott Tiffoney who were all named as substitutes. A positional change saw Josh Mulligan playing further forward on the right with Garza taking a central midfield role.
The Dark Blues started promisingly and worked their way into good positions a few times without being able to find the right final ball. St Johnstone made it easier for the Dee with some carelessness in possession.
After a bright opening 10 minutes the game settled into a low-key affair with little excitement or goal threat. Neither side was willing to take deliberate risks. A goal was more likely to come from a mistake rather than a flash of creative brilliance.
St Johnstone had the first real chance when Drey Wright broke down the left and cut a low pass back for Adama Sidibeh who was guilty of mishitting his shot horribly.
Saints took the lead in the 40th minute. Sidibeh picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park. He sent Sam Curtis into space on the right and Makenzie KIRK scored with a flying header from the cross.
Dundee responded with an equaliser three minutes later and that was a big, big goal for the Dee. Saints had not dealt convincingly with set pieces and the Dark Blues punished their poor defending of a long throw from Aaron Donnelly. Joe Shaughnessy nodded on and Simon MURRAY headed home at the far post. It was vital to prevent St Johnstone from reaching half time a goal ahead and ensure they couldn’t settle on their lead.
Fin Robertson came on for Mo Sylla at half time. Dundee were the better side for most of the second half, but without ever quite clicking into top gear. The Dark Blues repeatedly found promising positions but couldn’t set up good chances. At times there was a reluctance to make the runs or passes that might have opened up Saints, and a preference for safe passes that carried no threat.
There was a bizarre incident just before the hour mark when Saints keeper Sam Fisher lost concentration and picked up a pass only a couple of yards from his own goal. Referee Stephen McLean awarded an indirect free kick on the edge of the six yard box. The whole Saints team was lined up on the goal line and they managed to block Murray’s shot when Cameron touched the ball to the side.
In the middle of the half St Johnstone had a 10 minute spell of purposeful attacking, getting the ball into the Dee penalty area more frequently. The Dark Blues handled it well for the most part and Carson had to make only one save, a fierce angled drive from a very optimistic angle by substitute Ole Svedberg.
With 20 minutes left to play Scott Tiffoney and Charlie Reilly came on for Josh Mulligan and Seun Adewumi.
Donnelly forced Fisher into a smart save, pushing his volley from a corner round the post. Tiffoney came closest to scoring a winner, when he cut inside from the left and smacked a low drive off the post. The resulting corner was half cleared back to Robertson and he showed neat skill to set himself up send an inviting second ball into the danger area. Tiffoney was in space 12 yards out, but he blazed his shot over the bar.
Saints looked as if they were happy to settle for a point in the last 15 minutes but Dundee kept pushing for a winner. In the last minute of added time Fisher had to make a fine save to turn Cameron’s shot from 18 yards over the bar.
A point was less than the fans were hoping for, and the Dark Blues would have been just about worth a win if Tiffoney had had a wee bit more luck or composure at the end. They looked more composed in defence with Joe Shaughnessy back in charge. At least the Dark Blues stopped the dreadful run of defeats. They kept working hard but there was a lack of the confident fluency the team was showing earlier in the season. If that comes back they’ll be ok.
Dundee FC 4-3-3
Carson
McGhee, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly, Larkeche
Garza, Sylla (Fin Robertson at half time), Cameron
Mulligan (Reilly 72), Murray, Adewumi (Tiffoneyl 72)
Unused subs: McCracken (gk), Sharp (gk), Ingram, Astley, Samuels, Lopez.
Goal: Murray (43).
Booked: Garza (foul on Douglas), Murray (dissent).
St Johnstone 3-4-2-1
Fisher
Balodis, Mitchell, Wright
Curtis, Sprangler (c), Holt (Svedberg 63), Douglas
Kirk (Carey 63), Duke-McKenna
Sidibeh (Clark 77)
Unused subs: Sinclair (gk), Steven, Smith, McPake, Watt, Franczak.
Goal: Kirk (40.
Booked: none.
Referee: Steven McLean. Assistants: Frank Connor, Elliott Husband Powton. VAR: Kevin Clancy. Assistant VAR: Graeme Leslie.
Attendance: 7,681.
Report: James Christie.
