Fans invade as Saints hit the heights Third place and more Euro football

foot touch from eight yards, but the midfielder rattled the post instead of breaking his duck for the season.

But two minutes later Easter Road-bound Liam Craig, such a fine servant to the club, whistled a low, driven half-volley into the bottom corner.

It was his 41st Saints strike and, like Paul Kane’s Euro clincher against Dundee in 1999, it won’t be forgotten any time soon.

Craig, reminiscing about his goal, said: “We had the opportunity to finish third in the league if we beat Motherwell, who had already finished second.

“Midge [Chris Millar] is probably trying to claim an assist for it. I think he got tackled on the edge of the box and it ended up looping in the air and they cleared it.

“It dropped to me and, at that time, I was full of confidence and the team was playing well.

“I was quite far out but it’s a touch with my chest and a half volley into the bottom corner.

“To finish third is still one of my greatest achievements in football. That was us in Europe for the second season running.

“It was my last game for the club before moving onto Hibs.

“Moving on from St Johnstone at that time, to finish with the club in third place - and to have played a part in that - was brilliant.”

The ever unpredictable Nigel Hasselbaink wrapped up the win in the second half when he received a Dave Mackay pass with his back to goal, held firm, turned his marker and swept home a low 12-yarder to bag breathing space.

Murray Davidson came within millimetres of a career best strike with a dipping 74th minute, 18yard volley which battered the crossbar before keeper Hollis scrambled a Mehdi Abeid shot past and Craig lashed a shot over with Saints in search of the third.

Awaiting confirmation of Caley Jags’ demise up north, Saints’ notoriously frugal defence held firm and, unusually for any Perth team with a prize at stake, the countdown to exuberant celebrations and a lap of honour was free of fear and trepidation.

Craig would move on to join Hibernian in the summer of 2013 before returning to McDiarmid Park in 2015, where he now sits second in the club’s all-time appearance list.

This Perth success against Motherwell to clinch third place and European football will forever be ingrained in his mind as a special afternoon.

He added: “I think the six months from the January to the end of the season is probably why I have such a great relationship with the supporters and the club.

“I wanted to finish on a high with St Johnstone. It could actually be the best six month period I played for the club.

“There were three really important goals I scored at the end of the season, starting with the header against Dundee United.

“I think it’s 12 years ago now since I signed for the club and I’ve always been part of a great dressing room and a dressing room that wants to do well.”

To finish third is still one of my greatest achievements in football... that was us in Europe for the second year