Callum: We had to win it for fans

DELIGHTED Boss Davidson

CALLUM DAVIDSON dedicated last night’s win to the St Johnstone fans and admitted it would be great to have their backing at Hampden for the semi-final.

The Perth boss said: “I’m absolutely delighted.

“It’s one of those that we said we’d do for the supporters. We’re back at Hampden for another semi-final and it is really important to have them as last year they were not allowed to come.

“I thought they were brilliant tonight for us. They kept us going all the way through.

“In the first half we probably had the better play but Dundee had the better chances.

“In the second half we weathered the storm and once we scored, we settled down, soaked up pressure and hit them on the counter.”

Davidson was also full of praise for goal heroes, Ali Crawford and Shaun Rooney, who followed up his cup-winning goals from last season with the opener.

He said: “Shaun can keep scoring if he wants! I’m not too bothered whether it was a sclaff or a mishit.

“Ali’s got quality in front of goal and he’s that type of player. He’s a great addition to the team.”

Dejected Dundee boss James McPake saw his side fail to score for the fourth game in a row and said: “It was a hard one to take, particularly after the chances we had in the first half.

“When you are creating gilt-edged chances, you have to take them, particularly against better sides.

“You know that when they get a chance they are going to hurt you and that’s what happened but I can’t fault the effort.

“People can look at us and say we are playing nice football but we are just not putting the ball in the net.

“We are creating chances but that is the frustrating thing for me.”