St Johnstone

    • 12-7-19
    • 9th in Scottish Premiership

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    Scottish Premiership

      Ross County down and out after St Johnstone draw

      Ross County were relegated from the Ladbrokes Premiership after a late David Wotherspoon strike saw them held to a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.The Staggies needed to better Partick Thistle's result at Dundee if they were to avoid automatic relegation in the final match of the season.With Thistle drawing at Dens Park, Craig Curran's early goal looked as though it might give the visitors a lifeline in their bid to beat the drop.However Kris Doolan's strike for the Jags midway through the second half turned the afternoon on its head before Wotherspoon's late hit ensured the Highlanders' six-year stay in the top flight would come to an end.With their top-flight status at stake, the Staggies wasted no time in pushing forward and took a fortuitous lead in the third minute.Jason Naismith drove a low effort from outside the area and, with the ball going wide, it deflected off a stray leg and into the path of Curran at the far post who poked it under Alan Mannus despite calls for offside to give the visiting fans a glimmer of hope.Scott Tanser clipped an effort just over for the hosts but they were not at the races in the opening half hour, and could have been two down as Mattias Kait crashed one against the bar from just outside the area with Mannus beaten, before Curran almost caught him out in a one-way first half that saw the hosts manage just one shot.Tommy Wright introduced Stefan Scougall after the break in a bid to increase the home team's tempo and threat in attack.County remained on the front foot, though, and almost scored a carbon copy of the early goal when Naismith drilled a low effort through a mass of bodies and wide before Jamie Lindsay hit a free-kick straight down the middle.The vocal County fans suddenly fell into a hush as news travelled through that Thistle had taken the lead at Dundee, but their side continued to impress on the pitch.The lively Gardyne dispossessed Jason Kerr on the left before hitting wide of the near post from a tight angle, before Liam Fontaine's free header was blocked with 10 minutes to go.Chris Millar came on for his 323rd and final appearance for Saints and the game looked to be fizzling out until Wotherspoon hit a half-volley through a crowd of bodies and beyond a despairing Scott Fox in injury time to confirm Ross County's fate.
      • 5Y
      • PA Sport

        Hamilton effectively retain Premiership status despite St Johnstone defeat

        Hamilton all-but retained their Ladbrokes Premiership status despite a 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone at the SuperSeal stadium.A dull first half came to life just before the break when George Williams and Scott Tanser hit the woodwork for the visitors, who took the lead in the 65th minute with a David McMillan penalty after Hamilton's stand-in keeper Ryan Fulton brought down Williams inside the box.David Wotherspoon fired in a second in the 80th minute but Accies skipper Dougie Imrie reduced the deficit with a header three minutes later.It was too little, too late to prevent defeat although Partick Thistle's 1-0 defeat by Motherwell means, with one game remaining, 10th-place Hamilton are three points better off than the Jags with a vastly superior goal difference.There was little to excite the fans in the opening minutes although there was consternation among the Accies players when midfielder Danny Redmond was booked by referee Kevin Clancy for simulation after going down under a Joe Shaughnessy tackle which looked to be a foul on the edge of the box.In the 32nd minute Hamilton attacker David Templeton, back from a groin strain, drew a free-kick from St Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson 25 yards from goal and his curling shot to the near post was brilliantly parried wide by Saints keeper Zander Clark.Templeton fired the resulting corner out to the other side of the pitch, an error of judgement much more in keeping with the general play.Then Redmond raced clear of the Perth defence and onto a Templeton pass and, under pressure from the back-tracking Liam Gordon, he sent his left-footed shot past Clark's left-hand post.However, it was the Perth side who missed the best chance of the half in the 42nd minute when Williams latched on to Wotherspoon's deep cross from the left only to cushion his shot from four yards onto the post.Accies, relieved at the let-off, ran up the other end and Redmond scooped a shot from 14 yards over the bar.However, St Johnstone came even closer when left-back Tanser rattled keeper Fulton's upright with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.Within three minutes of the restart Clark had to fly to his right to save a close-range header from midfielder Darian MacKinnon but the corner was easily defended.The game became scrappier before Fulton raced from his goal to upend Williams and see Clancy point to the spot, with former Dundalk striker McMillan converting the spot-kick to set Accies nerves jangling.The Lanarkshire side pushed hard for the leveller but with 10 minutes remaining, Wotherspoon sent a drive past Fulton from substitute Stefan Scougall's cut-back but Accies soon responded, with Imrie stooping to head in a cross from substitute Mickel Miller.Hamilton failed to draw themselves level - indeed it looked more likely that Saints would score again - but results elsewhere mean Accies are safe for another season.
        • 5Y
        • PA Sport

          Motherwell 1-5 St Johnstone

          Steven MacLean rounded off his St Johnstone career in style with a 25-minute hat-trick in a 5-1 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park.The 35-year-old produced a masterclass in penalty-box forward play in his 203rd and final game for Saints before a summer move to Hearts.MacLean will sit out Tuesday's game on Hamilton's artificial surface because of long-standing knee problems and is suspended for the final match of the Ladbrokes Premiership campaign, but he ensured Saints have a real chance of claiming a seventh-place finish.The hosts could have all but wrapped up seventh with victory but they lost their three-point lead and saw a healthy goal advantage cut to two thanks to some uncharacteristically sloppy defending.Motherwell rested central defender Cedric Kipre and wing-back Richard Tait as Stephen Robinson begins to rotate his squad ahead of the William Hill Scottish Cup final but they conceded as many goals in nine first-half minutes as they had in their previous five matches with Steven Anderson also capitalising.Substitute Gael Bigirimana pulled one back but David McMillan scored his first St Johnstone goal three minutes later.Motherwell brought in Barry Maguire and Elliott Frear and were the more enterprising team in a largely uneventful opening half hour.But the game turned in the 31st minute when Richard Foster was given plenty of time to pick out a cross from the byline. He found MacLean, who peeled into space before guiding a header into the corner of the net from 12 yards.Saints doubled their lead five minutes later after Motherwell failed to deal with David Wotherspoon's free-kick into the box. Trevor Carson could not palm Murray Davidson's header any further than his six-yard box and Anderson crashed the ball into the roof of the net.MacLean made it three when Saints broke after a heavy tackle on Chris Cadden. George Williams released Matty Willock, whose low cross was turned inside the near post.Wotherspoon came close just after the break and the hosts knew it wasn't their day when Nadir Ciftci failed to beat Zander Clark after Frear's cross found him three yards out.MacLean soon netted his 57th goal for Saints when he stabbed the ball home from close range after Wotherspoon scuffed a shot when presented with yards of space following a short free-kick.Williams shot wide after a 50-yard run before MacLean went off to a hero's reception from the travelling support and a hug from Tommy Wright as he made way for McMillan in the 64th minute.Bigirimana headed home from close range in the 78th minute after Ryan Bowman's shot came off the underside of the bar but former Dundalk striker McMillan soon headed home Foster's deep cross to mark his second appearance for Saints with his first goal on his comeback from injury.
          • 5Y
          • PA Sport

          St Johnstone

          SOCCER

            Alan Archibald hails Partick Thistle's fighting spirit

            Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald hailed the spirit of his side as they battled back to secure a vital point in a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.The Jags kept their top-flight survival prospects alive with a last-gasp equaliser from the penalty spot at McDiarmid Park when substitute Conor Sammon calmly sent Saints keeper the wrong way.Thistle were trailing to a first-half header from Saints skipper Joe Shaughnessy before substitute Ryan Edwards was sent flying by Liam Craig two minutes from the end.The result edged the Glasgow side two points clear of Ross County at the foot of the table.They are four points behind Hamilton and Dundee in the battle to avoid the relegation play-offs.Thistle now face the Staggies on Friday and then welcome Motherwell to Firhill before heading for Dundee on the final day of the season.Archibald said: "We're delighted Ryan won the penalty and Conor slotted it away."It showed a real spirit. People thought we'd come here and win just because we have a good record here."But other teams have a lot to play for and St Johnstone were very good at stopping us playing."We didn't have any flow to our play and our levels were below last week."But the lads kept going and showed huge spirit."It's not just the point or the fact we are unbeaten for two games, which might sound a bit pathetic, but the psychological boost going in to the Ross County game is the biggest thing."It's a massive game for us."Almost overlooked in a dramatic finale, eighth placed St Johnstone officially nailed down their Premiership status for next season.But there was no masking the frustration of manager Tommy Wright, who was not convinced by referee Alan Muir's decision to penalise Craig for the trip on Edwards."The referee is adamant because he gave it very quickly," he said."I'm not sure he has a great view of it and whether or not Liam gets enough of a contact I'm not sure."But all round it is a rank bad goal and something that has cost us three points because we were the better side."We were controlling the game, not under any real pressure and should have seen the game out."
            • 5Y
            • PA Sport

            St Johnstone

            SOCCER

              Dundee 2-1 St Johnstone

              Sofien Moussa headed a late winner as Dundee manager Neil McCann had the last laugh following his simmering dispute with St Johnstone counterpart Tommy Wright.Hearts-bound striker Steven MacLean marked his 200th game for St Johnstone with an 85th-minute strike which looked set to earn a point for the visitors at Dens Park.But Moussa headed home three minutes later from Cammy Kerr's free-kick to hand Dundee three precious points in their quest to secure Ladbrokes Premiership safety. The Tunisian forward was also credited with the first-minute goal which sent Dundee on their way to a 2-1 victory.The build-up to the Tayside derby had been dominated by ongoing tensions between both mangers following a disagreement in the immediate aftermath of St Johnstone's 4-0 win at Dens Park six weeks ago. There were six bookings this time but no major flashpoints.McCann was in the stand after ultimately being handed a one-game ban for his part in a tussle with goalkeeper Zander Clark, who came into the Saints team after serving a two-match suspension.The Dundee boss declared on the eve of the game that he had no intention of speaking to Wright after the Saints boss claimed his club had come out on the right side of the affair, and added that the Northern Irishman was ``not welcome in my room either''.Wright responded with a wave as he was jeered by the home fans in the 5,592 crowd on his way to the dugout but his team found themselves behind moments later.O'Hara hit Kevin Holt's free-kick off the inside of the post and Moussa made sure the ball went over the line, although it may have already done so.The visitors showed a decent response as they pinned Dundee back. Joe Shaughnessy shot over after a free-kick into the box and Elliot Parish made a brilliant close-range stop after Matty Willock turned and shot.But Dundee came back into it late in the half. Craig Wighton had an effort deflected wide after drifting inside several players on his first start of the season following a serious knee injury.Simon Murray shot just wide after Glen Kamara's cutback and then forced a decent near-post save from Clark as Dundee kept their opponents at bay in the early stages of the second half.The hosts had an escape in the 64th minute when Shaugnessy's acrobatic volley bounced off the bar from 12 yards out.Murray had a free-kick pushed away by Clark but Dundee paid for sloppy defending as Holt and Kerr failed to clear and MacLean slotted home from 12 yards.But Moussa delivered a perfect riposte as Dundee moved six points clear of bottom club Ross County.
              • 5Y
              • PA Sport

                Saints and Motherwell draw mid-table clash

                Motherwell avoided defeat and any obvious injury problems ahead of the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals as they held St Johnstone to a goalless draw in Perth.The teams remain locked together in mid-table in the Ladbrokes Premiership after a forgettable encounter which was lacking in meaningful incident apart from a brief flurry of chances either side of half-time.Motherwell were without the injured Nadir Ciftci, Charles Dunne and Allan Campbell before their trip to Hampden to face Aberdeen, the latter two more as precautions, although the on-loan Celtic striker has a chance of overcoming an ankle injury.Barry Maguire was handed a debut in a back three while midfielders Gael Bigirimana and Liam Grimshaw were handed chances to stake a claim for a semi-final appearance.But there was little to catch the eye at McDiarmid Park.Both sides had seen their top-six hopes evaporate in the previous week to leave them probably playing for seventh and eighth spot and a £60,000 difference in prize money.The teams were tied on 37 points before the game and there was nothing between them in a first half that was devoid of noteworthy action until the final 10 seconds, when Saints midfielder Murray Davidson shot just wide from 22 yards after being found in space by Steven MacLean's square pass.There was more goalmouth action in the first four minutes of the second half than the whole of the opening period. Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson held a free-kick from Greg Tanser before stopping David Wotherspoon's volley.Wotherspoon soon hit another free-kick wide and Curtis Main produced Motherwell's first decent effort when he got away from Jason Kerr and curled just wide of the far post.Main was substituted along with Elliott Frear in a clear sign Stephen Robinson had one eye on the semi-final, and the visiting manager handed Andy Rose a timely comeback from a knee injury in the 73rd minute as Maguire went off following an assured introduction to first-team football.Bigirimana tried to make his mark with an ambitious effort from a free-kick which Alan Mannus spilled for a corner, before setting up Grimshaw with a brilliant piece of skill and a decent cross. But the former Preston midfielder's last-minute effort was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.
                • 5Y
                • PA Sport

                  Aberdeen reel in Rangers with victory against St Johnstone

                  Aberdeen moved level on points with second-placed Rangers in the Ladbrokes Premiership with a 4-1 win against St Johnstone.Ryan Christie and Stevie May's first-half goals were added to by Greg Stewart's brace after the break, while on-loan Manchester United midfielder Matty Willock scored for the visitors. Derek McInnes' men took full advantage of Rangers' draw against Motherwell, who are the Dons' opponents on Tuesday when a point will move them into second.It was a slow start, and although Stewart saw an early shot blocked, it was St Johnstone who had the better of the early chances.Liam Craig sent a 25-yard free-kick over the crossbar and Chris Millar's snap-shot from the edge of the area was deflected off target.On-loan Aberdeen midfielder Christie curled narrowly wide of the upright after being slipped in by May on the right, but things were generally quiet in front of goal until the game exploded into life after 34 minutes. May charged down a St Johnstone clearance in the centre circle and a fortunate bounce saw the ball fall to Gary Mackay-Steven. His through-ball found Christie, who was forced wide by Saints goalkeeper Alan Mannus but kept his cool to open the scoring through a ruck of bodies from six yards.Two minutes later Mackay-Steven played a reverse pass to May, who was denied by Mannus, and soon after the former St Johnstone striker hit the crossbar from a Graeme Shinnie cross, with Mannus denying Christie on the rebound. But May would not be denied and got himself on the scoresheet four minutes before half-time. He sent a low shot across Mannus and into the bottom-right corner after Christie's clever pass left him in acres of space. And the home side kept the momentum going into the second half, adding a third goal in the 51st minute. Andrew Considine swung over a superb cross from the left to fellow full-back Shay Logan at the back post. His header looked destined for the net but Stewart got the final touch from close range. A bad afternoon for St Johnstone was compounded only three minutes later when half-time substitute Blair Alston was injured as he tried to keep the ball alive in the corner.Logan saw another header pushed on to the crossbar as the home side searched for another goal, but it was the visitors who pulled one back.Liam Craig's inswinging corner was headed home by Willock, with the aid of a deflection off May. But any hopes of a comeback were extinguished with eight minutes left when Stewart added a fourth for the Dons with a superb half-volley from the edge of the area.
                  • 5Y
                  • PA Sport

                    McMann's early own goal proves decisive as Saints sink Hamilton

                    An own goal from Scott McMann was enough for St Johnstone to claim a scrappy 1-0 win at home to Hamilton.Saints kept alive their slim hopes of sneaking into the top six and climbed above Motherwell in the Ladbrokes Premiership after doing just about enough to see off a disappointing Accies.McMann inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net after just five minutes to give the hosts a lead they never looked like giving up, eventually going on to claim a second win in three matches.Buoyed by their recent form - a win over Dundee and a point against Hibernian - Saints were quick off the blocks in the opening minutes.The on-loan George Williams was a lively presence in attack for the hosts after being given a free role by Tommy Wright and it was the attacking midfielder who won the corner down the left that led to the opener.Blair Alston's whipped delivery was flicked on by Liam Craig and the ball appeared to deflect in off McMann under pressure from Steven MacLean to give Saints an early lead.Chris Kane almost doubled the lead five minutes later as another Saints corner caused chaos in the Accies defence, the ball eventually dropping to the in-form striker whose poke was cleared off the line by Rakish Bingham.There was little to separate the two sides after that, with the visitors unable to make any significant impression in the final third in what was a poor first-half performance in which they were lucky not to be further behind.Two changes at the break from Martin Canning saw the visitors come out with much more intent, but there was little encouragement for the visitors until the final quarter of the match.With 20 minutes to go, Alan Mannus was finally called into action and he was unconvincing as he came to punch a Dougie Imrie corner and could only find Darian McKinnon on the edge of the box, and the midfielder's well-struck half-volley was saved on the line by a grateful Mannus.David Templeton, who was unusually quiet, then whipped a free-kick straight at the keeper before seeing a low drive from outside the area deflected wide.Imrie's near-post header almost caught Mannus out in a manic six-minute spell, before Saints broke down the other end and Kane saw a fierce effort well-saved by Gary Woods.Hamilton's threat fizzled out in the final 10 minutes, with Saints happy to hang on and pick up another three points, moving them above Motherwell into seventh in the table.
                    • 5Y
                    • PA Sport
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                    2022-23 SPFL Ladder

                    TeamGPWDLGDP
                    Celtic383233+8099
                    Rangers382954+5692
                    Aberdeen3818317-457
                    Heart of Midlothian3815914+654
                    Hibernian3815716-252
                    St Mirren38121016-1846
                    Motherwell3814816+250
                    Livingston3813718-2446
                    St Johnstone3812719-1843
                    Kilmarnock3811720-2540
                    Ross County389722-2334
                    Dundee United388723-3031

                    2022-23 Team Leaders

                    Scottish Premiership

                    7

                    Stevie MayF #7

                    9
                    Matches37
                    Assists6
                    14

                    Drey WrightM #14

                    7
                    Matches38
                    Assists1
                    37

                    Nicholas ClarkF #37

                    4
                    Matches23
                    Assists2

                    Rankings

                    Scottish Premiership

                    Goal Difference
                    -18
                    Tied-7th
                    Goals Scored
                    41
                    8th
                    Assists
                    20
                    Tied-8th
                    Goals Conceded
                    59
                    Tied-5th
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