St Johnstone 1
Dundee 3
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Dundee are unchanged at Perth, field ing the side that beat Hibs.

Phil Roberts is out of the St Johnstone team through injury and his place is taken by Bobby Thomson.

Mistakes on the tricky surface cause anxiety to both defences. Stewart misses a pass-back and Muir is just a yard slow to take advantage.

The Perth defence is stumbling and slipping as a Wallace cross comes over. They recover before Dundee can profit from the lapse. Dundee's 'keeper Allan slips as a good cross by Cramond arrives. He recovers and regains his balance just in time to whip the ball away from Muir.

Purdie slings a couple of promising balls into the middle which the Perth de fenders scramble away. They can do nothing with a low ball from Hoggan which deceives Robertson and presents a great chance for Wallace. Somehow, the striker sends the ball over the open goal from six yards.

This is a day for the first time move rather than fancy footwork.

The experienced O'Rourke shows how with a quick shot from 20 yards which goes just wide. Hoggan copies his effort and his shot goes into the side net.

Thomson Allan changes his boots as play goes on. A defender's mistake gives Purdie possession in open position 25 yards from goal. The winger shoots as soon as he tames the ball, but there is nothing in his try to trouble Robertson.

Gordon Smith has Saints' best chance so far when a Lambie corner kick is cleared to his toes. His shot is wild and high.

A Charlie Smith free kick from 30 yards is aimed at Allan's right-hand corner. The 'keeper dives to push the ball round and does equally well to save Macdonald's header from a corner kick. A Purdie push on Gordon Smith gives Saints a free kick in a dangerous position. The full-back's cross is too high even for Macdonald.

DUNDEE AHEAD

Dundee go in front in 32 minutes with a well-taken goal. A Mackie cross makes the chance. When Wallace dummies the ball it goes to Ford and is played back to WALLACE whose rising shot gives Robertson no chance.

The big Perth 'keeper gets out of his goal just in time to knock another Mackie offering off Wallace's foot. Gordon Smith moves well as he beats Stewart to cross a tempting ball.

Thomson's weak header goes straight to Allan. Mackie hits a 25-yard shot which swerves and has Robertson turning in his tracks. It's a foot high.

Half-time St Johnstone 0, Dundee 1.

Reflections: On play, Dundee were a shade fortunate to go in front. But this is a day for the chance snappers and this was one chance that was well set up and well taken.

SECOND HALF.

Dundee forwards are looking for a penalty kick when Macdonald stops a Mackie ball in the box. The referee ignores the claim.

Strachan sends a Purdie free kick spinning in the air. Wallace tries a first-time shot as the ball comes down and fails to make contact. A great shot by Caldwell from the corner of the box is punched over the bar by Robertson as he dives to his left.

Dundee are having their best spell and Johnston, cast in an attacking role today, sends in a good ball from the right which finds no takers to pass. A great pass from Hoggan to Strachan and a quick cross to the right sets up Dundee's second goal in 58 minutes. The cross reaches WALLACE, who turns quickly to lash low shot into the net.

Muir has a quick chance to reduce the deficit. From an open position he sends his low shot past the post. Saints send on both substitutes, taking off Charlie Smith and Lambie.

WALLACE HAT-TRICK

In 64 minutes WALLACE completes a fine hat-trick. He is at the near post to meet a low cross from Purdie and with Perth players apparently expecting or hoping for an offside decision Wallace despatches another low shot into the net.

Robertson scrambles to the post to grab a Ford header and another hard-hit shot by the deadly Wallace bulges the side net.

Saints get one back in 73 minutes. From the edge of the box O'ROURKE hits a free kick which goes in off the far side of the bar.

Strachan, with some help from Mackie, survives half a dozen tackles and manages to get in a shot which Robertson does well to reach and hold.

Striker Johnston almost gets his reward with a well hit shot which beats Robertson post and shaves the far post.

Final St Johnstone 1, Dundee 3.

Wallace was the hammer of the Saints, slamming three great goals past a bewildered and sometimes sluggish defence. Dundee were a much improved side in the second half and well deserved their win against a patchy Perth outfit.

Match report written by The Sporting Post