Dundee 1-1 St Johnstone: Hosts slip closer to relegation after losing lead
- Published
Shaun Rooney's header was enough to earn St Johnstone a vital point
Mark McGhee believes his pre-match psychology worked, despite Dundee slipping closer to Scottish Premiership relegation after failing to hold on to a precious lead against St Johnstone.
Shaun Rooney's header cancelled out Jordan Marshall's opener to earn the Perth side a draw and leave Dundee five points adrift at the bottom.
Dens Park boss McGhee, who had vowed to "go naked for a week" if his side earned a first win in 10 said: "Of course it worked. You can't say it didn't work because we drew the game."
He added: "At half-time, it looked like there was only going to be one winner. So of course it worked and it'll work going into the remaining games because we are not conceding.
"We have four games left - anything can happen - and as long as our players remain in the frame of mind they've still got a chance of winning football matches."
St Johnstone's win also moved to within five points of Aberdeen and St Mirren in their bid to avoid the relegation play-off.
"A monster day" is how McGhee had described it, a comment overshadowed by his psychological mind games - declaring he would go without heating and go on a strict diet in the build-up, then promising his players he would strip naked if they won.
Dundee faced a side trying to exorcise demons following a chastening 7-0 thrashing away to leaders Celtic last time out. And St Johnstone looked like they were still under a cloud as their Tayside rivals sprang into an early lead.
Max Anderson bore into the box and Paul McGowan steered the ball into the path of Marshall, who drilled the ball low into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Before that Jamie McCart had lobbed over, but it was McGhee's men who continued to press. Charlie Adam's free-kick whizzed across the box but couldn't find a blue shirt. Then the midfielder picked out Ryan Sweeney, but he headed over.
After that, though, St Johnstone woke from their slumber. Nadir Citci's rasping drive was tipped over by Ian Lawlor, before Callum Hendry nipped into the box but poked his effort wide.
And after half-time, the Perth side continued to crank up the pressure. Callum Booth and Ciftci had shots blocked inside the six-yard box as Dundee threw bodies on the line to hold onto their lead.
However, from a corner kick they were finally beaten when Hallberg picked out Rooney, who powered a header past Lawlor.
It set up an electric finish. Lawlor had to scramble to push a Booth shot around the far post, then Sweeney was close to restoring Dundee's lead when he headed over.
However, it remained a goal-apiece with the visitors the happier of the two sides in the battle to beat the drop.
Man of the match - Shaun Rooney
Rooney's equaliser put the icing on the cake on a battling performance from the St Johnstone defender
What did we learn?
Dundee had showed bottle to come from behind in their two previous games to secure draws with Aberdeen and Dundee United. When they got their noses in front this time, you sensed it could be their day.
But they never worked visiting goalkeeper Zander Clark after that. Adam's set-pieces were dangerous but not enough. And although they defended stoutly, they fell short in attack.
At the other end St Johnstone, after a slow start, began to look more like the side that have now avoided defeat in six of their last 10 games, with the seven-goal demolition by Celtic very much a blip.
And after keeping Dundee at arm's length, they have every right to believe they can catch St Mirren and Aberdeen.
What did they say?
Dundee manager Mark McGhee: "I think a draw was a fair result. There was a lot of pressure in the second half, we couldn't really get out the same way we did in the first half.
"When we got the goal I thought we were going to kick on because I felt as if that was the mood we were in, the goal wasn't a surprise to me, but the second half was disappointing."
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "I'm really pleased with the courage my players showed. We didn't quite get there in the first half, we didn't create enough chances, but in the second half we got the goal we deserved.
"Both teams were fighting for their lives, and I'm pleased with the point."
What's next?
St Johnstone are at home to relegation rivals St Mirren on Saturday 30 April (15:00 BST), while at the same time Dundee travel to face Aberdeen.