St Johnstone 0
Dundee 1
League (Premier League)

Match Report

A superb Eddie Annand header made Dundee unlikely winners against their Perth neighbours.

Misplaced passes, lack of control and two teams with little fire-power made it a forgettable match.

But don't let all that detract from the crucial fact that Jocky Scott has his players grafting tirelessly for every ball. Once again they ground out the kind of result that made the Dens Park outfit survivors supreme last season.

If the Dundee manager could only add a touch of width to his attack, then his players would win a bigger percentage of their games.

Sandy Clark was watching his team fail to win for the eighth successive time. Perhaps after the successful season that took them into the UEFA Cup, St Johnstone are a little predictable and easily read.

But the lack of goals is a problem that simply won't go away and, apart from one glaring Nathan Lowndes miss, they offered little up front. Clark tried to vary things with the introduction of Martin Lauchlan after the break, but even his enthusiasm did little to raise Saints' game.

Lowndes should have had Saints ahead in 23 minutes when he collected a Gary Bollan pass. With Dundee claiming off-side, he struck keeper Douglas on the legs with his shot.

Then the former Watford striker saw a fierce drive blocked by Stephen Tweed 10 minutes later. From the rebound, he missed by inches.

Two minutes from half time, Saints paid when Shaun McSkimming flung a corner into the six-yard box and Annand outjumped everyone to turn the ball into the top corner.

Six minutes after the break, Annand latched on to a sloppy header from Danny Griffin but, as he waited for the ball to sit down, Jim Weir nipped it away from his toes.

With nine minutes left, a Kane drive from 25 yards took a deflection and Douglas did well to read the change and save down to his right.

Three players were booked Saints' McQuillan, along with Dundee's McSkimming and Falconer.

Match report written by The Sunday Post