Image source, SNSBenjamin Kimpioka ploughed a tireless but lonely furrow for St Johnstone, his persistence rewarded with a goal. Makenzie Kirk, Jason Holt and Graham Carey all made substantial impacts from the bench.
After “a couple of errors”, Craig Levein opted to remove first-choice goalkeeper Josh Rae from the firing line, taking the stopper not just out of the starting XI, but out of the matchday squad altogether.
Ross Sinclair had not played in over a year as he battled back from an elbow injury, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the opening throes were laced with moments of uncertainty, brought into sharp focus by Dan Casey’s goal. Sinclair’s resilience is not in question, after so long deprived of football, and to give him his due, he finished the game in inspired form, a trio of excellent stops coming just before the cruel blow of Moses Ebiye’s winner.
At the other end, St Johnstone wielded two adept strikers, even shorn of suspended fulcrum Adama Sidibeh, but for an age, they toiled to involve either Nicky Clark or Benjamin Kimpioka where they could influence proceedings. Reasonable spells of possession; little dynamism, verve or promise of an end product.
Levein’s substitutions changed the game, but in truth, a draw would have felt harsh on Motherwell.
Levein takes his team to face his old foes Hibernian in a fortnight. How he’d love to jolt St Johnstone back to winning ways against the side he enjoys beating most.
Image source, SNSBenjamin Kimpioka levelled the game for St Johnstone
Jane Lewis, Brian McLauchlin and Tyrone Smith round up all the deadline defying drama as the Scottish transfer window shuts.
From Celtic's record breaking signing to some high profile departures they discuss all the biggest moves in Scotland and cross to Italy to hear about the excitement as Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay move to Napoli.
Listen to the full episode here.
Craig Levein makes three changes to the St Johnstone side which lost at Tannadice last weekend, including a switch between the sticks, as he targets a first home league win of the season.
Long-term injury absentee Ross Sinclair plays his first match since July 2023 in goal, replacing Josh Rae. Sinclair has been sidelined with an elbow injury suffered in a behind-closed-doors match a year ago.
Graham Carey drops to the bench, with Cammy MacPherson taking his berth in midfield. Striker Adama Sidibeh starts a four-game ban after being red carded against Dundee United.
Jason Holt, who sealed a deadline-day return to the club, is among the substitutes.
Image source, SNSRoss Sinclair has not played a competitive match since July 2023
Image source, SNSJason Holt spent the 2019-20 season on loan at St Johnstone
Jason Holt has re-joined St Johnstone on a two-year deal.
The midfielder returns to Perth having spent a season on loan from Rangers back in 2019-20 under Tommy Wright.
The 31-year-old, who most recently racked up over 100 appearances with Livingston, links up again with Craig Levein who was manager of Hearts when he came through as a youngster.
Holt said "it's great to be back" at McDiarmid Park.
"I have had a spell here before, it was a short one, but it is now great to be back for a longer spell.
“I have really good memories of the club, it is a real family club and the supporters were always brilliant with me.
“It is an exciting time to be at St Johnstone and I look forward to meeting all the players and getting to work.”
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone are close to agreeing a deal with former Rangers and Livingston midfielder Jason Holt.
The 31-year-old is a free agent after his contract with Livingston expired at the end of last season.
As Holt is a free agent there is no urgency to rush this deal through before the 23:00 BST deadline.
However, if the relevant paperwork is completed in time, Holt’s arrival in Perth could be confirmed tonight.
We asked for your views on where St Johnstone still need to strengthen and what deals you would like completed before the transfer window closes.
Here's what some of you said:
Perry: We need a strong midfielder and an experienced goalkeeper, and we need to get more players out on loan who are not in Craig Levein’s plans moving forward.
Paul: After watching the first few games of the season, I think we need a more experienced goalkeeper. Joshua Rae has the potential but I don’t think he is ready to be first choice. I would also like to see a holding midfielder. Aaron Essel is young and will pick up bookings and needs someone to guide him and someone he can learn from.
Image source, SNSTaylor Steven has joined Cliftonville on loan from St Johnstone for the remainder of the campaign.
The attacker, 19, has made 11 appearances for the Saints, including six this season.
Steven impressed on loan at Alloa last season, scoring 10 goals in 32 games.
St Johnstone forward Adama Sidibeh, 26, has been given a four-game ban following his red card against Dundee United. (Sun), external
Liam Gordon departing St Johnstone for Motherwell was the 28-year-old defender's choice, says Saints manager Craig Levein. (Courier - subscription), external
As Friday's 23:00 BST transfer deadline edges closer, where do St Johnstone still need to strengthen and what deals would you like completed before the window closes?
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone have only lost one of their last nine league meetings with Motherwell (W4 D4), going down 2-0 in May 2023.
Five of Motherwell's last seven league visits to St Johnstone have been drawn, including both of the last two, with each side winning once each in this time.
St Johnstone are winless in 10 home league matches (D4 L6), their longest such run in the top flight since another run of 10 from April to November 2001.
Motherwell have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 league games, with that coming in a 0-0 draw with Ross County on matchday one this season.
Dan Casey has recorded more interceptions (8) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season, while he has also made more tackles (9) and blocked more shots (4) than any other Motherwell player.
Image source, SNSAdama Sidibeh says he is "honoured" to retain his place in the Gambia squad.
The 26-year-old St Johnstone forward marked his international debut in June by coming off the bench to score in the 5-1 win over the Seychelles in World Cup qualifying.
He earned his second cap with a start in a 3-2 defeat by Gabon three days later, and will join Johnathan McKinstry’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on September 4 and September 8 against the Comoros and Tunisia.
"It feels amazing to get another call-up to represent my home country," said Sidibeh. "I feel honoured."
Sam Miller
Fan writer
Adama Sidibeh. A player who only turned professional in February after signing from Warrington Rylands and has been linked with every club in the British Isles.
It looks like it's affecting him.
The striker turned in a 'heads gone' display against Dundee United, where he picked up a booking for a 'hand of god' moment.
The same hand later targeting a sensitive area of Kevin Holt's anatomy as well as poleaxing keeper Jack Walton made for a disastrous afternoon and a lengthy suspension.
On the plus side, it may ward off potential suitors for the dynamic forward. With the transfer deadline looming on Friday night, he won't feature again until that window is slammed shut. Every cloud!
Sam Miller can be found at The Dogger Saints Podcast, external
We asked for your thoughts after St Johnstone were beaten 2-0 by Dundee United on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Ian: A bad miss in the first half didn't immediately turn the game, but the gift of a first goal did. Adama Sidibeh should have been subbed, he was off his best and on a yellow. Josh Rae gave up cheap goals again, maybe the step up in level has come too soon for him. Dimitar Mitov was a hard act to follow but Ross Sinclair has to be given a chance now.
Anon: Saints are much better than they were at this stage last season, and they do carry an attacking threat, but they need a ball-playing midfielder who can hold and pass the ball. Goalie is a bit shaky but has potential. Continued improvement needed to survive.
Anon: Once again, Craig Levein doesn't use his subs wisely, in fact he hardly uses them at all. Sibideh should have been subbed after the clash with the goalkeeper, then we wouldn't have a striker facing the possibility of two red cards but no, Levein (allegedly) knows best. Missing the open goal set us back but Rae has to take the blame for both goals.
Watch highlights as Dundee United beat St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has decided to let 22-year-old midfielder Max Kucheriavyi, who will be out of contract next summer, leave McDiarmid Park on loan. (Courier - subscription), external
Dundee United picked up their first league win of the season as they punished 10-man St Johnstone at Tannadice.
After a terrible first half, Liverpool loanee Luca Stephenson put United ahead in the 54th minute when he reacted quickest to a David Babunski rebound.
Soon after Sidibeh's red card, United scored again. Josh Rae missed his punch from a throw-in and Jack Sanders accidentally nodded into his own goal.
What did you make of that, St Johnstone fans? Were you unlucky to lose this afternoon?
What does Craig Levein still need to do in the transfer window?
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
The start of the second-half was more like it from St Johnstone. Benjamin Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh were starting to link with the midfield and Carey was getting on the ball.
He's 35 but the Irishman still has the quality to fire in a game-winning goal - which he very nearly did in the 49th minute.
Then the first goal went in, soft defending and goalkeeping combining to gift United a chance, and the heads went - particularly from Sidibeh.
The Gambian striker has the raw talent to make it at this level but his ill-discipline cost his side and Craig Levein would have every right to be fuming with his striker.
He will now face a ban and the question for St Johnstone is - do they have anyone who can replicate his flair and physical attributes?
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone boss Craig Levein told BBC Scotland: "Going in at half-time I was relatively happy. We'd created chances, I thought we were the better side. Until we lost the goal, I still thought we were pretty good.
"Then we slumped after that. Then the sending off occurs and throws us into a tailspin. It's hard enough getting into a game behind, but being a man down makes it doubly difficult.
"We were good enough to take something from the game but we made mistakes and got punished for it.
"There's not an awful lot wrong. We're still developing relationships between players - defenders and the goalkeeper. We'll keep working on that.
"Some need to go out. We desperately need another centre-back with Sam McClelland being injured. That's something I'll be looking at."
Image source, SNSDundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Graham, Gallagher, Stephenson, Babunski, Sibbald, Holt, Ferry, Trapanovski, Van der Sande.
Substitutes: Richards, Moult, Odada, Middleton, Fotheringham, Docherty, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Ubochioma.
St Johnstone: Rae, Neilson, Sanders, Cameron, Wright, Essel, M Smith, Carey, Raymond, Kimpioka, Sidibeh.
Substitutes: Sinclair, MacPherson, Clark, C Smith, Sprangler, McPake, Kirk, Franczak, Keltjens.
Dundee United defender Vicko Sevelj returns from suspension but has had a tight hamstring and will be assessed. Ryan Strain is out long term with a hamstring problem.
St Johnstone could welcome back David Keltjens but Sam McClelland is out long-term with an Achilles injury and Uche Ikpeazu (knee) is still out.
Image source, SNSLewis Neilson has challenged himself to become an established Premiership player during his loan spell with St Johnstone.
The 21-year-old joined Hearts from Dundee United two years ago and made 16 appearances in his first season at Tynecastle before turning out 43 times for Partick Thistle on loan last season in the Championship.
The defender has started all three games since joining Craig Levein's side and hopes to keep his place to prove he can compete in the top-flight.
"I felt going into pre-season I was ready to play for Hearts but just the size of the squad at the minute – they've got a vast amount of players of really good quality – so just to continue to get the number of games I need, it was better to come to St Johnstone, where I can hopefully play every week," he said.
"Hopefully I can play as many games as I can here and make my mark in the Premiership, and hopefully that will be enough to go and cement a spot at Hearts next season.
"I definitely feel season on season I’ve become a better player.
"Going into Hearts two years ago, I was maybe too young to make a mark and keep my spot in the team but I got some great experiences, like European games, which were massive for me.
"Then I had a really good loan spell at Thistle, where I played 43 games. Especially as a centre-half, it's hard to replicate game-like situations in training so I need to be playing games, like I got last year, and hopefully it looks like I’m going to be getting this year as well."
