St Johnstone 1-0 Dundee United: Saints find first home win of 2023
- Published
St Johnstone players celebrate Liam Gordon's breakthrough goal late in the first half
A first home win of 2023 lifted St Johnstone five points clear in the scramble to avoid the Scottish Premiership play-off, ending Dundee United's recent resurgence.
Captain Liam Gordon scored the only goal, drilling home in a crowded penalty box on the stroke of half-time.
United, who had been aiming for a fourth successive top-flight win for the first time in 10 years, lost Charlie Mulgrew to a red card with more than half an hour to play.
Steven Fletcher almost found a spectacular leveller in stoppage time, only for his volley to rattle against the crossbar.
United remain 10th, one place behind St Johnstone, but are now just one point ahead of bottom side Ross County, who beat Livingston in Dingwall.
The hosts, who last celebrated a home success against Rangers on 6 November, looked a little spooked in the opening minutes as United sent men streaming forward, but they gradually got a foothold in a game that was full of endeavour but short on goalmouth action.
Graham Carey whipped a free-kick wide and had a fierce, rising shot pushed away by Mark Birighitti.
United striker Fletcher crashed an early shot on target from the edge of the box, but it was easily beaten away by Remi Matthews.
The breakthrough came late in the first half when the visitors failed to deal with a long throw-in. Hallberg nodded into the path of Stevie May, who missed completely with a swipe, but Gordon followed up to crack a low shot inside a post.
St Johnstone were the livelier side in the early stages of the second half and United's task got even tougher when Mulgrew was ordered off on the hour.
Hallberg wriggled away from the experienced defender, who then hacked the Swede down with a raised, outstretched boot.
The foul was committed deep in the United half but only 10 yards or so from the touchline, which would have left Hallberg with a lot to do.
Fletcher was a whisker away from connecting with a teasing Ilmari Niskanen cross, while Theo Bair squandered a great chance to make the game safe when he blazed a shot over following a good run from fellow substitute Zak Rudden.
Deep into stoppage time, Fletcher thought he had equalised as he thundered a volley against the junction of post and crossbar and the woodwork was still quivering when St Johnstone's interim boss Steven MacLean was celebrating making it four points from his two games in charge.
Player of the match - Liam Gordon (St Johnstone)
The Saints skipper doesn't score many and this was a vital goal for side. He was also solid at the back as the hosts moved to a back four from their long-established three
Change of shape works for St Johnstone - analysis
St Johnstone moved away from the back three that was utilised for most of Callum Davidson's reign and kept their first clean sheet in 10 games.
Gordon and Considine did a good job of keeping the shackles on Fletcher, although they did get lucky when the United striker rattled the frame of the goal right at the death.
The switch of formation gave the hosts an extra man in attack and that resulted in 17 shots, even if most of those were of the non-threatening variety.
Even when it was 11 v 11, Fletcher was too isolated in the United attack, until centre-half Ryan Edwards moved up top for the closing minutes, with Jamie McGrath having a very quiet game amid the hurly-burly of crunching tackles and loose passes in a contest full of endeavour but lacking in composure and quality.
What the managers said
St Johnstone interim manager Steven MacLean: "It's a great three points for us, a good performance as well.
"You can see all the hard work we're doing on the training field coming off and I think we can get better as a team.
"It's only one result, though, and now we look to Motherwell next week. I just want to win the next game. I'm not really interested in what other clubs do or say."
Dundee Utd manager Jim Goodwin: "I knew it would be tight and I always felt the first goal was going to be hugely important. The manner in which we concede is probably what frustrates me most; a long throw-in, we get first contact, then we don't react to the second ball.
"The volley off the bar from Steven Fletcher right at the end was just great technique. If that had gone in, I think it's a fair outcome."
On Charlie Mulgrew's red card... "It was very wide... Loick Ayina was coming round on the cover as well. I don't want to say too much. We'll see on Monday if there are grounds for an appeal or not."
What next?
St Johnstone are at home again next weekend as Motherwell visit Perth, while Dundee United face a nerve-jangling showdown with Ross County at Tannadice.