St Johnstone 2
Dundee 1
League (First Division)

Match Report

"I'm very disappointed with the result, I thought we did enough to get something from the game" said Alex Rae after Dundee had gone down 2-1 at McDiarmid Park.

"We lost two bad goals and that's why we changed at half time - to shore up the defence."

That change saw loanee Jay Shields make his debut at right back as replacement for Greg Strong and Dundee came out in much more lively form after the interval.

"We got the response we wanted from the players after the break and pushed St Johnstone back, Derek (Lyle) had a couple of good chances, but we couldn't get the goal I thought we deserved."

"We showed character in the second half but we missed Andy McLaren though, we lost him to a virus and Bryan Deasley to a hamstring injury late in the week and Bryan McGinty earlier in the week so we were a bit stretched for forwards."

Saints boss Owen Coyle was happy with a return to winning ways after a spell of poor results for his club and was impressed by his side's first half showing.

"I thought we were by far the better team first half, Jason (Scotland) scored two good goals and we dominated. I've got to admit though that Dundee had the better of the second half I thought they looked a decent team today."

He had a bit of praise for Dee goalscorer Gavin Swankie too, describing the striker's dipping shot from just inside the penalty area as "A wonderful finish."

Saints had taken the lead on eight minutes when Darren Sheridan picked up a loose ball in midfield and threaded a pass, through a gaping hole in Dundee's defence, to Jason Scotland who waited till Ludovic Roy advanced before slipping the ball home for. The space and time given to the Trinidadian was shocking and it was no surprise the striker who had failed to score against Dundee in his career to date

ended his Dundee hoodoo. It took only six more minutes before Dundee were level via a great piece of reaction and technique from Swankie, he challenged for Kevin McDonald's lofted pass down the right and as the ball broke free was quick to react and spotting Halliwell slightly off his line clipped a delightful dipping shot over the keeper.

The home side were enjoying the majority of possession though and they were back ahead on 25 minutes, Peter MacDonald made an interception wide on the right and slid the ball to Jason Scotland who jinked clear and slid the ball home.

St Johnstone had a strong claim for a penalty with ten minutes to go until the break as Sheering went down under Dixon's challenge, but referee Mik Ritchie and booked him for his theatrics and subsequent protest.

Dundee should have been level just before the interval as Halliwell made a mess of saving a Gavin Swankie piledriver, the twenty five yarder was straight at the keeper but he failed to hold it and Derek Lyle following up should have netted, though he was at full stretch as his effort went wide of the goal. Dundee had struggled at the back and half time saw Greg Strong withdrawn and a debut appearance at right back for Jay Shields, the youngster fitting in well as Gary Smith moved to central defence to partner Bobby Mann.

The Dark Blues started the second period at pace, pushing St Johnstone back for an extended period, Halliwell again spilled a shot, this time from Rae, but Stanic scrambled the loose ball away, and on the hour Dundee almost leveled, a flowing passing movement climaxing in Derek Lyle playing a perfect one-two with Kevin McDonald and firing a shot past Halliwell but inches wide of the target.

As time went on the pressure on the home defence eased, and the match petered out with Saints hanging on for a win that gets their season back on track, for Dundee though came the end of their mini winning streak.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme