Watch Sportscene coverage from McDiarmid
Macleod lashes high into net but Fotheringham levels from close range
McPake puts leaders in front with back-post volley after goalkeeping error
St Johnstone open six-point lead at top; Dunfermline eight behind in fifth
St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic
We're off at McDiarmid Park after a peep from referee Matthew McDiarmid's whistle, both teams in their traditional colours.
Remember to press the button at the top of this page to watch the game via the BBC Scotland channel.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Here come the teams into a busy McDiarmid Park.
Excitement is obviously building in Perth about the prospect of promotion and a league title.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park
The shift in the Perth air is palpable this season.
From the stands to the starting line-up, there’s smiles aplenty - and rightly so.
Simo Valakari and his staff have done a superb job since coming in and they’re really reaping the rewards now.
There’s real belief they could be runaway winners. Well, as much as anyone runs away with this wild league.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
This is the first meeting in five years between Saints and the Pars since the Perth side came out on top after a penalty shoot-out in a League Cup tie at East End Park.
Saints are unbeaten in three meetings, including a 3-1 win at McDiarmid Park in their latest league meeting in February 2012, when both sides were in the top flight.
However, Dunfermline had been unbeaten in their previous five visits and won 1-0 in Perth earlier that season.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
With Andrew Tod only fit enough for the Pars bench, more responsibility falls on the shoulders of Zak Rudden.
The on-loan Livingston striker has made a dream start to life at East End Park, netting twice in his opening two appearances since his arrival just three weeks ago.
The striker has previous experience with the Perth club, having spent four months on loan there in 2023 as they fought against relegation from the Premiership.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Adama Sidibeh opened the scoring for Saints against Raith Rovers last weekend, but the major excitement has been around winger Josh McPake, who scored the second.
The 24-year-old has been a much talked about prospect ever since he emerged from Rangers' youth ranks.
In recent years, he lost his way but now seems to have found a real home at McDiarmid Park, scoring six times in 10 matches - the Championship’s leading scorer.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park
It’s a Long Way to the Top by AC/DC belts around McDiarmid Park.
Folks round here clearly aren’t carried away with St Johnstone’s lofty league position just yet.
Best version of that song btw is from School of Rock.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Dunfermline head coach Neil Lennon is impressed with the way Simo Valakari's squad "have hit the ground running" after a summer rebuild but is still hopeful of a win at McDiarmid Park.
"I always think there will be a little bit of nerves given we are playing against an excellent side," he tells BBC Scotland.
"They are the most consistent team this season and we are away from home.
"But we are obviously off the back of a great performance last week and we are quietly confident we can play well again.
"I'm delighted with the integration of the new players and the players that were here. We've got a healthy young squad that has talent."
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
St Johnstone manager Simo Valikari thinks his side's good start to the season is down to work in pre-season and during training.
"It is all about our behaviours and values and how we want to do things on and off the field," he tells BBC Scotland.
"All of the games have been difficult and maybe the results could have been different, but in most of the games we have been doing the things we have been training to do and the results have followed."
The Finn is expecting "a very tough opponent" as "they have young players with energy and an experienced manager".
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Perhaps not surprisingly, Saints manager Simo Valikari sticks with the same starting XI that won away to Raith Rovers last time out.
Image source, SNSUche Ikpeazu is again on the St Johnstone bench
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
The big news for Dunfermline is that both Tod brothers are on the bench.
Both picked up knocks in last weekend's thrashing of Arbroath, against whom 19-year-old forward Andy scored a hat-trick.
Younger brother John has also been impressive in defence but misses out this time.
Ewan Otoo comes into defence, while Rory MacLeod is in attack.
Image source, SNSEwan Otoo starts for the visitors
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Also as mentioned, the Pars arrive in Perth on the back of a confidence-boosting, five-goal demolition of Arbroath at Gayfield.
Having taken over as head coach in March, Neil Lennon just managed to scrape his side clear of relegation and suffered a 4-1 thumping away to top-flight Heart of Midlothian at the start of the Premier Sports Cup group stage.
But they have only lost once in eight outings since - in the Fife derby away to Raith Rovers.
Saints, though, beat Rovers 2-0 in Kirkcaldy last weekend as they made up for the previous weekend's mini slip-up - a 1-1 draw at home to Greenock Morton.
Indeed, the only side to beat St Johnstone this season in 10 outings are top-flight Motherwell, who won 1-0 in Perth after extra-time in the League Cup quarter-finals.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
As mentioned, St Johnstone have made an almost perfect start to the season as Simo Valikari's side look to make a quick return to the Premiership after relegation last term.
The Perth side sit top of the table, three points ahead of Raith Rovers, Partick Thistle and Arbroath.
Tonight's visitors, Dunfermline, are a further two points back but in good heart after thumping Arbroath 5-0 away from home last weekend as they look to end a 13-year absence from the top flight.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
St Johnstone: Steward, Diabate, Holt, Svedberg, Sidibeh, Foulds, Baird, Fotheringham, McPake, Forrester, McAlear.
Substitutes: Sinclair, Tumilty, Boyes, Griffith, Gullan, Ikpeazu, Sprangler, Wanner, Franczak.
Dunfermline Athletic: Munn, Chilokoa-Mullen, Benedictus, Otoo, Gilmour, Rudden, Kearney, Caceres, Amade, MacLeod, Fraser.
Substitutes: Terrell, Hamilton, Ritchie-Hosler, Abdulai, Kane, Cooper, A Tod, J Tod, Oakley-Boothe.
St Johnstone v Dunfermline Athletic (19:45)
Never mind Kilmarnock against St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup, Real Betis against Real Sociedad in La Liga, or even Stuttgart versus St Pauli in the Bundesliga.
The Scottish Championship is where it's at - here at least - with leaders and title favourites St Johnstone hosting an in-form Dunfermline Athletic side hoping to narrow the gap at the top.
Stay with us for the build-up, live action and post-match reaction on the BBC Scotland channel and here online.
Image source, SNSWatch the goals as St Johnstone overcome Dunfermline in enthralling encounter
League leaders St Johnstone came from behind at home to defeat Dunfermline and remain unbeaten in the Scottish Championship.
Pre-match attention was paid to winger Josh McPake and the Championship player of the month was the match-winner again for Simo Valakari’s side.
Dunfermline goalkeeper Mason Munn - who made a string of strong saves throughout - attempted to leave a routine cross to the back-post and McPake was on hand to poke in the winner late on.
Given the hosts’ superb start, it seemed unlikely that it would take so long for them to wrap up their fifth win in six games, but despite their early dominance, their profligacy allowed the visitors to build into an entertaining half.
And just before the break, Rory Macleod lashed home at the end of a magnificent move for Neil Lennon’s side to silence a jubilant McDiarmid Park.
But the home support were soon singing again, though, as Kai Fotheringham poked in his first St Johnstone goal from close range.
Valakari’s men didn’t exactly kick on from there and a draw appeared increasingly likely until man of the match McPake secured victory for St Johnstone.
But there was time for the leaders to endure a late scare, goalkeeper Toby Steward diving full-length to push a stunning Andy Tod free-kick against a post before the loose ball was scrambled away.
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "We knew were going to play against a tough opponent. We started very well, we created chances, we didn't take them.
"Then Dunfermline, credit to Mr Lennon, they changed their shape and scored a great transition goal.
"We fixed a couple of things at half time, the chances came and then our goalkeeper made a couple of great saves at the end."
Dunfermline head coach Neil Lennon: "It is a bit unfortunate. One off the post and one off the line then a remarkable save from the goalkeeper at the end.
"It denies us a brilliant point against - lets be fair - a top side. They are well-drilled, with loads of quality.
"We didn't make a great start, but after we tweaked it a bit, we were great. We are really disappointed not to have taken something from the game."
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 16 |
| |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 10 |
| |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 10 |
| |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| |
| 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| |
| 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 3 |
| |
| 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 2 |
|
Manager: Simo Valakari
Formation: 4 - 5 - 1
Manager: Neil Lennon
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
Manager: Simo Valakari
Formation: 4 - 5 - 1
Manager: Neil Lennon
Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2
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