Saints 0-0 Dundee United

The visitors started with intent and created the first chance after 3 minutes as Marc McNulty fired wide.

Saints though came into the game and went on to dominate proceedings creating numerous chances during the first half.

The second half saw Saints continue to dominate possession with United putting in a strong defensive display. Saints almost got the goal their play deserved late on but United keeper Benjamin Siegrist pulled off an excellent save to deny Murray Davidson.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Kilmarnock a week on Friday, kick off 7:45pm

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Dundee United to McDiarmid Park this afternoon as they looked to build on last Saturday’s 5-3 win at Hamilton Accies. There was one change to the Saints side for today’s Tayside derby as Craig Bryson came into replace Ali McCann who dropped to the bench. Dundee United battled out a goalless draw with Aberdeen at Tannadice last weekend and manager Micky Mellon made two changes to his side for this afternoon’s match. Out went Peter Pawlett and Calum Butcher and they were replaced by Dillion Powers and Marc McNulty.

Before the visitors got the match underway both sides showed their support for the Show Racism the Red Card Campaign. United started brightly and they created the first chance after 3 minutes as Marc McNulty’s angled shot drifted over.

A great long ball forward on 11 minutes by Liam Gordon fell perfectly for Stevie May. The striker took a touch to control the ball before having a shot however, his effort from a tight angle was turned behind for a corner by United keeper Benjamin Siegrist.

Although United started the match with intent Saints soon came into it and as the match approached the half an hour mark they created a couple of chances. On 27 minutes Jason Kerr put his header from a Craig Conway corner wide. Then 3 minutes later good play by Saints saw David Wotherspoon’s cutback blocked. The loose ball eventually broke to Scott Tanser but his curling right foot effort went inches wide of the top right-hand corner.

Saints continued to mount the pressure on the visitors and on 31 minutes they were awarded a free kick after Conway was fouled by Dillion Powers which result in the defender receiving the first booking of the game. Conway took the free kick himself and he floated the ball into the box and Kerr was able to get a head to it but he put his effort wide of the target.

Then a minute later Saints had another shot at goal as Conway cut the ball back to Murray Davidson but his low effort from just outside the box went narrowly wide.

Saints were well on top as the match approached half time and on 41 minutes they had another shot at goal. A slack ball by McNulty was picked up by Craig Bryson and the midfielder wasn’t far away from getting his first Saints goal as his effort went narrowly wide.

Saints started the second half brightly and on 52 minutes they create another chance to take the lead. A great move down the right by Danny McNamara saw the right-back play the ball into the feet of Wotherspoon who tried to make space for himself before unleashing a strike that went wide of Siegrist’s left-hand post. The midfielder then had another shot at goal just before the hour mark but it didn’t trouble the United keeper.

Looking to freshen up his attacking options Callum Davidson made his first change of the match on 65 minutes as Callum Hendry came on to replace Stevie May.

On 72 minutes a quick throw-in taken by Conway saw the ball eventually break to Wotherspoon. The Canadian internationalist unleashed a shot from 20 yards that took a deflection and it looked like the ball was destined for the bottom corner but Siegrist got down well and was at full stretch to make a great save to touch the ball behind for a corner.

Saints were dominating possession and they looked good on the ball, passing it about well. However, United were well organised defensively as they followed the instructions from the side-lines to keep their shape, getting players in key positions to close down Saints players before they could get a shot at goal.

As the half went Saints made a couple more changes as Michael O’Halloran and Ali McCann were introduced into the action.

Saints though almost snatched what would have been a deserved 3 points late on. Wotherspoon’s corner from the right was perfect for Davidson who directed a powerful header goal wards but United were again saved by Siegrist on the line as the Swiss keeper pulled off an excellent save to earn his side a point.

Saints: Clark, Kerr, McCart, Gordon, Tanser, McNamara, Davidson, Bryson (McCann 90), Wotherspoon, Conway (O’Halloran 86), May (Hendry 65)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Rooney, Booth, Craig, Kane

Booked: McCann

Dundee United: Siegrist, Powers, Connolly, Reynolds, McNulty (Smith 70), Clark, Edwards, Robson, Bolton, Harkes, Shankland

Unused Substitutes: Mehmet (GK), McMullan, King, Fotheringham, Appere, Neilson, Watson, Hutchinson

Booked: Powers

Referee: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: BCD

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: David Wotherspoon has a shot at goal during the second half