ANOTHER CUP ROON
Talisman Shaun helps the Saints march on
CUP specialist Shaun Rooney came up with another vital goal to help St Johnstone reach yet another semi-final.
The marauding wing-back set the holders on their way to a Tayside derby success over a batting Dundee side who just couldn’t find a way past the resolute Perth rearguard.
Rooney, who netted the winners in both cup finals last season, broke the deadlock in the second half with Ali Crawford putting the icing on the cake for Callum Davidson’s side.
Saints can now look forward to a return to Hampden for the semi-final but, unlike last season, this time will be allowed to have their fans inside the National Stadium.
The result was a bitter pill for Dundee to swallow with the Dark Blues, currently propping up the Premiership table, having loads of chances only to be denied time and again by St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark.
Dens boss James McPake made just one change to the team that started Sunday’s city derby against Dundee United with Liam Fontaine replacing Ryan Sweeney at centre-half.
Jason Cummings missed out through illness with Charlie Adam still recovering from a groin problem.
Saints manager Davidson brought in Liam Craig and Crawford to replace Michael O’Halloran and the injured Murray Davidson from the team that beat Aberdeen at the weekend.
Stevie May, who scored the winner against the Dons, had to be content with a place on the bench.
There was early pressure from Saints through a deep free-kick from Liam Craig that was easily mopped up by the Dundee defence. Saints striker Chris Kane then tried his luck with a snapshot from the edge of the Dundee box but home keeper Adam Legzdins comfortably gathered.
Opposite number Clark had to look lively to make a fine reaction save when a Paul McGowan corner was turned towards goal by a defender.
The away side were next to have a chance with David Wotherspoon cutting in from the left before hitting a fierce 30-yard shot that was acrobatically tipped over his bar by Legzdins.
But the best opportunity of a pulsating opening period fell to Dundee in the 14th minute.
Griffiths sent a superb cross in from the right and with Jordan McGhee looking certain to score with a diving header, Scotland squad man Clark made a vital point-blank stop.
On-loan Celtic striker Griffiths then had a chance of his own, capitalising on a mistake by Rooney to hit a shot from the edge of the box that just flew past Clark’s right-hand post.
Shortly after, the travelling support were in raptures as Wotherspoon turned McGowan inside out but his skills ultimately counted for nothing with Dundee winning the ball back. Clark came to Saints’ rescue once more in the 31st minute when he dived full length to his left to keep out a Cammy Kerr header.
The Perth men finished the half on the attack with an almighty mix-up in the Dundee defence eventually seeing Glen Middleton try to curl the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle. But the on-loan Rangers player’s effort flew wide.
Seconds after the restart Saints midfielder Crawford became the first player to be booked by referee Steven McLean after bringing down Max Anderson.
Griffiths stepped up to take the free-kick and hit a superb effort from 35 yards that Clark could only parry.
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Paul McMullan was quickest to react to the loose ball but the Perth No.1 made another superb stop to turn his shot to safety.
McGowan then tried to catch Clark out with a chipped effort but the keeper came out on top once more, tipping the shot over his bar.
Saints finally had an opening of their own in the 55th minute but
Rooney’s long-ranger was one to forget with the ball flying well wide.
It was a rare moment of respite for the Perth men with the home team dominating possession. There was a heart-in-mouth moment for Dens defender Jordan Marshall when he was short with a header back to his keeper but Legzdins reacted quickly to snuff out the danger.
Griffiths was looking dangerous but fluffed his lines when presented with the chance of a volley inside the Saints box, hitting a wild effort well wide. However, the deadlock was broken in the 70th minute. A Craig corner from the right was not dealt with by the Dundee defence and the ball fell to Rooney, who hit a shot on the turn that crept past Legzdins. The travelling support were celebrating again in the 84th minute when Booth cut the ball back for Crawford and he calmly slotted the ball past Legzdins from the edge of the box for his first goal for the club. That was the cue for a mass exodus from the home fans.