St Johnstone 0
Dundee 0
League (First Division)

Match Report

Dundee started the New Year just as they had ended 2005, with a hard fought 0-0 draw at a difficult venue. But while a draw at Perth is never a particularly bad result, it meant that the Dark Blues lost more ground on league leaders St Mirren who beat Clyde.

Dundee came close just before half-time when Kevin Cuthbert tipped over Paul Dixon's free kick at full stretch, but the Dee survived two second half penalty claims, one for a handball by Scott Robertson, and more fortunately when Dixon got away with a tug at Saints John Hendry.

Steven Craig had failed a fitness test and Simon Lynch came in as the only change from the team who had started against Hamilton. This proved to be a very similar contest, and whilst Saints posed more of a threat than Accies, it was still a reasonably comfortable afternoon for the Dark Blue's back line.

Kevin McDonald was first to try his luck for the Dee with a third minute header from Barry Smith's cross but his effort didn't seriously trouble Cuthbert in the home goal.

Dundee pressed forward in the early stages and in eighteen minutes McDonald played a neat ball into O'Reilly, but the young striker took too long to get the ball under control and ended up firing his effort from the edge of the box well over. Four minutes later, Bobby Mann fired in a free kick which Cuthbert appeared to see late, the keeper doing well to claw the ball around the post, but Saints were beginning to have more of the pressure by then.

They came close in 24 minutes as Sheerin hit a 22- yarder towards the bottom corner, but Scott Murray reacted well to get down and parry the ball to safety. Jason Scotland was showing some nice touches for the home side but his efforts were almost all over elaborate and ended with a Dundee player in possession.

Five minutes from half time Paul Dixon came the closest that anyone would to breaking the deadlock with a vicious dipping free kick that Cuthbert did well to tip over at full stretch.

It was Scott Murray's turn to be involved shortly after the break when he stopped Stanic's effort, and from the resultant corner the ball struck Scott Robertson's arm, but referee Hardie decided that it was 'ball to arm' and waved play on. Former Dee Steven Milne was next to try his luck but Murray was equal to the task.

Dundee hit back and Bobby Mann fired another free kick narrowly wide of the target before Paul Dixon went on a fine 62nd minute run only to blaze his 25 yard right footer over the bar.

Both sides appeared reluctant to push too many people forward, but with quarter of an hour left St Johnstone had a second shout for a penalty and this time Dundee got lucky as Dixon appeared to tug at Henry as the Saints' midfielder raced into the box. Mr Hardie decided that it wasn't a penalty but most in the ground would have given it.

Dundee introduced Bryan Deasley to the action to try to snatch a winner, but although they pressed towards the end there were no more real chances and the game petered out to a goal-less draw, which suited neither side.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme