Saints 0-1 Dundee United

Although the visitors started strongly the first half was a largely non-event with clear-cut chances few and far between.

Saints were improved in the second half and the closest they came to making the breakthrough was on 75 minutes as James Brown headed wide from a Drey Wright cross.

The only goal of the game came with 9 minutes remaining as Watt did well to spin Liam Gordon just inside the box before firing a low effort into the bottom corner.

Saints pushed for an equaliser and substitute Theo Bair came close to scoring an equaliser in stoppage time however, his effort was cleared off the line by Aziz Behich.

Today’s result sees Saints drop down to seventh in the cinch Premiership.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Aberdeen on Saturday, kick off 3pm.  

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Dundee United to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for their first match of 2023. Despite second half goals from Stevie May and Jamie Murphy Saints lost 3-2 to Hearts last Wednesday evening and there were four changes to the Saints starting eleven this afternoon. Alex Mitchell, James Brown, Daniel Phillips and Jamie Murphy came in to replace Andy Considine, Adam Montgomery, Melker Hallberg and Ali Crawford. Dundee United climbed off the bottom of the cinch Premiership last midweek as they defeated fellow strugglers Ross County 3-0 at Tannadice. Head Coach Liam Fox made three changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s Tayside Derby as Aziz Behich, Kieran Freeman and Tony Watt came in to replace Charlie Mulgrew, Ross Graham and Steven Fletcher.

Prior to the match getting underway there was a minute’s applause for Brazilian football legend Pelé who sadly passed away last Thursday. A true football icon remembered.

PHOTO: The Saints players join in a minute’s applause in memory of Pelé

It was a cold but sunny afternoon in Perth as Jamie Murphy got the match underway for Saints. It was the visitors who got the first sight of goal on 2 minutes as Aziz Behich saw his right footed shot from distance go wide of Remi Matthews’ right hand post.

The Tannadice side were getting the better of the opening exchanges and on 10 minutes Tony Watt picked up the loose ball after Ryan McGowan had blocked a pass. The former Saints forward then advanced with the ball and played a neat one-two with Ian Harkes as he burst into the Saints box however, Graham Carey got back and made a brilliant block as Saints cleared the danger.

The first half was proving to be a half of few clear-cut chances and on 33 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick following a foul on Nicky Clark by Scott McMann. Both Clark and Carey stood over the free kick and it was taken by the latter as he curled his free kick over the wall and inches over the crossbar.

PHOTO: Stevie May gets away from Craig Sibbald

With 6 minutes of the first half remaining a good move by the visitors down the right saw Watt evade the challenge from Liam Gordon before playing the ball into Kieran Freeman who unleashed a strike at goal but McGowan made a brilliant blocked as he turned the ball behind for a corner.

On 48 minutes Daniel Phillips did well to bring the ball down just past the halfway line before playing it into the feet of May. The Saints number seven did well to hold off the challenge from Ryan Edwards and Scott McMann before unleashing a strike which Mark Birighitti got down low to his left to turn it behind for a corner. Then on 52 minutes Saints got another sight of goal as Murphy had a go from distance however, his effort didn’t trouble Birighitti.

Saints were putting in a much-improved performance in the second half and on 56 minutes Clark played a good ball into May whose shot was turned behind for a corner by Edwards. Then 2 minutes later brilliant play by Phillips saw the midfielder win the ball before he showed brilliant skill to take it around Behich however, his strike from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.

PHOTO: Daniel Phillips shoots wide

Saints made their first changes of the game on 65 minutes as David Wotherspoon, Cammy MacPherson and Connor McLennan came on to replace Graham Carey, Jamie Murphy and Nicky Clark.

3 minutes later The Terrors created a great chance to take the lead as Harkes deep cross from the right was cut back by Glenn Middleton at the back post to Watt in the centre of the box however, the volley from the forward didn’t trouble Matthews.

With 15 minutes remaining good work out wide on the right saw Wotherspoon play the ball back to Drey Wright who delivered a lovely cross into the box which was met by James Brown however, he couldn’t direct his header on target.

PHOTO: James Brown heads wide

The breakthrough finally came with 9 minutes remaining as the visitors took the lead. Dylan Levitt played the ball into Watt just inside the box and with his back to goal the forward unleashed a strike on the turn as he guided a low strike beyond Matthews and into the bottom corner of the net.

That goal sparked another change by Saints as Alex Mitchell made way for Theo Bair on 82 minutes. Callum Davidson then made another change shortly after as Michael O’Halloran was introduced into the action, replacing Daniel Phillips.

On 86 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick following a foul on McLennan by Freeman. MacPherson took the free kick and his ball into the box was met by Bair however, he couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball as Birighitti gathered.

PHOTO: Tony Watt scores for Dundee United

Saints continued to push for the equaliser and in the second of the five minutes added on at the end O’Halloran had a shot at goal which went wide. McLennan was next to have a go a minute later as he latched onto a Brown cross from the left however, his effort was saved by Birighitti. The ball then broke to Bair however, Behich cleared his effort off the line as the visitors saw the game out to leave Perth with the 3 points.

Saints: Matthews, Wright, McGowan, Gordon, Mitchell (Bair 82), Brown, Phillips (O’Halloran 85), Carey (Wotherspoon 65), Murphy (MacPherson 65), Clark (McLennan 65), May

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Booth, Kucheriavyi, Crawford

Booked: Gordon, Phillips, Wotherspoon

Dundee United: Birighitti, Smith, McMann, Edwards, Sibbald (Djoum 69), Middleton (Macleod 78), Behich, Levitt (Mulgrew 90+1), Freeman, Harkes, Watt (Anaku 90+1)

Unused Substitutes: Eriksson (GK), Graham, Niskanen, Meekison, Cudjoe

Booked: Sibbald

Scorer: Watt (81)

Referee: Graham Grainger

VAR: Alan Muir

Attendance: 7,116

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Daniel Phillips gets between Ryan Edwards and Aziz Behich