Perthshire Advertiser

Euro dream is closer as the Saints down Dons at Pittodrie

Swanson andThomson net crucial Perth goals

- Matthew Gallagher

Aberdeen ...................... 0 St Johnstone ................. 2

Thomson (centre) is congratula­ted by Easton and Swanson Rewind the clock two years and Pittodrie was the scene for St Johnstone to boost their chance of another Europa League appearance. Not much has changed.

Again the north-east provided a platform for Saints to edge closer to additional football this summer. And for the fans, well, their passports will already be looked out from the back of the top drawer.

Talking of top drawer, Tommy Wright’s squad were just that on Saturday afternoon…

A typical hard-working performanc­e which limited second-from-top Aberdeen to only one shot on target in the whole contest.

The Dons had more of the ball, that was to be expected, but when the Perth players did charge forward in the latter stages, it was in ruthless fashion.

Goals from Danny Swanson – whose contributi­on to the cause can’t be questioned despite signing a pre-contract with Hibs – and then Craig Thomson, his first for the club, pushed Saints clear of fifthplace Hearts.

Some staggering statistics crept out from the woodwork following the game, none more so impressive than the Perth side’s weekend triumph meaning that they are now unbeaten in their last 11 post-split Scottish Premiershi­p matches. Big game players, it would appear.

There was also a new club record set with nine away wins and 31 points chalked up on the road, enough to better any other total set in all previous forms of the Premiershi­p.

 ??  ?? All smiles
All smiles

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