Scottish Premiership: Dundee United 0-1 St Johnstone

A mistake by Dundee United goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak helped hand St Johnstone the points at Tannadice.

Gary Mackay-Steven and Nadir Ciftci both passed up early chances before Stevie May's innocuous 30-yard shot squirmed through the Pole's fingers.

Both Jackie McNamara and Tommy Wright were sent to the stand as tempers frayed in the dugout after Farid El Alagui went down in the box.

Mackay-Steven also had a second penalty claim waved away in stoppage-time.

The result means St Johnstone now pull four points clear of Hibernian in the race for a place in the Scottish Premiership's top-six.

It was Wright's side who dominated the early exchanges much to the surprise of the hosts, threatening four times in the opening 10 minutes.

Gary McDonald headed David Wotherspoon's near-post corner wide then Cierzniak had to push May's shot wide after a long ball had caught out Gunning.

Keith Watson scrambled clear Michael O'Halloran's cutback in the six-yard box before May again had an opportunity when he volleyed over from 14 yards.

As the half wore on, United improved and had two great opportunities to net the opener.

Mackay-Steven rounded Alan Mannus but took a touch too many, giving Dave Mackay the chance to get back and block the shot.

Three minutes later, Nadir Ciftci passed up an even better chance, shooting weakly when given a free shot at goal.

Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara was sent to the stand alongside St Johnstone counter-part Tommy Wright

It was a soft goal from May that broke the deadlock just after the restart. Cierzniak looked like he had the St Johnstone striker's effort covered but took his eye off the ball and saw it slip out of his grasp and over the line.

That livened the game up. Mannus saved Ciftci's header and pushed away Ryan Dow's strike before May's looping header landed on the roof of the net.

United threw on El Alagui and Ryan Gauld for the last 20 minutes and both were involved in controversial moments that led to the dismissal of both managers.

The home side felt they should have had a penalty when El Alagui hit the deck after a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge from O'Halloran. Referee Crawford Allan took a good look then decided against pointing to the spot.

When that was followed by Gauld's jinking run being halted abruptly with no free-kick awarded, the United bench reacted furiously, sparking a touchline row between the opposition managers.

Mannus made a point-blank save from El Alagui following Andy Robertson's low cross before Saints survived another penalty claim when Wotherspoon challenged Mackay-Steven in stoppage time.

The defeat means the Tannadice men drop to fifth in the table as they battle for a European spot and brings to an end a run of five consecutive victories.