Dundee 0-1 St Johnstone: Saintly patience still needed

Dundee 0

St Johnstone 1

Milne

ST JOHNSTONE will have to wait just a little bit longer to secure the prize that has been dangled tantalisingly before them these last few weeks. Events elsewhere contrived to put the promotion party on hold, but by the time the dust had settled on their narrow triumph at Dens Park yesterday, they knew they were a step closer to the Premier League.

Never mind Partick's late penalty against Livingston. This was a good day for the prospective champions, who lead their nearest challengers by the same four-point margin they started out with yesterday. The difference now is that there are only two matches left. One more win, against Morton at home next week, and they will be back in the top flight for the first time since 2002.

That they didn't clinch it this weekend was no fault of their own. An early goal by Steven Milne settled the nerves, before a thoroughly professional display confirmed their status as the division's best side. Their only shortcoming was a failure to kill off the match, especially when their opponents were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half.

Mickael Antoine-Curier's blatant elbow on Martin Hardie was about the only mark a half-hearted Dundee side made on this match. They were outplayed for most of it by a side with more hunger, more discipline and more enthusiasm in midfield, where Hardie, Kevin Moon and Paul Sheerin were excellent. "It was a really polished, organised and determined performance, which was exactly what we needed," said Saints' manager, Derek McInnes. "It's in our hands. I always assumed Thistle would win nine points from their last three games, and we would need six. If we show the same appetite next week..."

How St Johnstone's long-suffering supporters would have loved to clinch it at the home of their old enemy. With Dundee not much interested in reciprocating the animosity, it isn't one of Scotland's most bitter rivalries, but there is no mistaking the history. The fans' relationship has never been the same since that fateful day at Muirton Park 47 years ago when each of the two sides required only a draw, Dundee to win the Scottish title, Saints to stay in the First Division. The visitors won 3-0, and the home side were relegated.

In recent times, the Perth club have exacted a measure of revenge, winning 7-2 on New Year's Day 12 seasons back, and qualifying for the UEFA Cup with a 1-0 victory at McDiarmid. Here was another opportunity to balance the books. Around 3,000 made the trip east in preparation for a party, just as they had done to Hamilton two years ago, when James Grady's injury-time goal in Dingwall ripped at their hearts. The pitch was bathed in sunshine, the stand behind Rab Douglas' goal almost full of travelling fans, and the sense of anticipation heightened by an early breakthrough. At the root of it was an inspired touch by Moon, who took out the entire Dundee defence with his first-time pass to Gary Irvine. When the overlapping full-back slammed it into the six-yard area, Milne slid in to convert. "He shaped to shoot," said Milne. "I've seen him do that in training, so I decided to make the run."

It was a dream start for St Johnstone who confirmed the merit in their advantage with a slick, high-tempo game that exposed Dundee's frailties in central defence. The home side were painfully vulnerable to the cross ball, especially when it was delivered by Liam Craig, who filled the visitors' problem left-back position with confidence. As well as covering Dundee's rare forays up the flank, his left foot was a constant threat from the other wing. When Hardie was bundled down just outside the box, Craig's bending, dipping free kick almost caught out Douglas at the far post.

Dundee's defenders then switched off when Irvine hoofed a long ball over the top. Milne, without a marker in sight, couldn't believe his luck, although he was cursing it when his angled shot came off the goalkeeper. Twice more, Craig's crosses troubled the home side, first when Sheerin whistled a volley past the post and then when Kevin Rutkiewicz directed a header narrowly wide. With Dundee virtually anonymous throughout, the only worry for St Johnstone was their failure to take greater advantage. Scoring goals hasn't been their strong point this season, but a second one here was the least they deserved. Instead, they were given the benefit of Antoine-Curier's sending-off. Not a single player contested Mike McCurry's instant dismissal of the striker whose challenge on Hardie horrified all on the St Johnstone bench. As the offender was issued a straight red, Saints' assistant manager, Tony Docherty, raced on to the pitch in disgust, while Hardie was flat out, clutching his face. When the midfielder was replaced by Jody Morris 10 minutes later, he punched the Perspex of the dugout in frustration.

Despite their numerical advantage, on the field as well as the scoresheet, the margin of their lead seemed to dawn on St Johnstone as the game edged towards a nervy climax. On one cruel occasion, news swept through the away end of a goal for Livingston, prompting a wave of misplaced celebration. When the truth eventually filtered through from Firhill, there was disappointment, but one more performance like this, and it will be job done. "If we can win it in front of our own fans, that would be perfect," said Milne. Almost as perfect as doing it in Dundee.