YOU’RE 4 IT
Neil’s bust-up steals the limelight from classy Saints
St Johnstone turned on the style but couldn’t savour a terrific Tayside win after a bust-up on the final whistle stole the headlines.
Tommy Wright’s men can be proud of the manner in which they dismantled Neil McCann’s hapless home team who slipped to 10th in the table after a dismal defeat.
Saints stormed ahead through Dundee sub Jordan Piggot t ’ s 24th-minute own goal and never looked back. A Chris Kane double and a further strike from Blair Alston completed a memorable day for the Perth side.
Those who witnessed events turn sour at Dens Park were left to digest furious scenes involving both camps that made the previous 90 minutes instantly forgotten.
Dundee knew a win would see them leapfrog their opponents but instead suffered a massive setback that leaves them fearing a bottomtwo finish and potential play-off.
Striker AJ Leitch-Smith, who had an injury-time winner in Perth just before New Year, began brightly by releasing Jesse Curran whose deep cross almost picked out Roarie Deacon but he couldn’t make connect at the far post with visiting keeper Alan Mannus stretched.
Saints, motivated by the fact they hadn’t beaten Dee his season, were trying to attack at every opportunity.
And Liam Craig saw his free-kick well held by Elliott Parish despite the slippery conditions.
Dundee suffered a blow shortly afterwards as young midfielder Lewis Spence was forced off injured to be replaced by Piggott whose confidence took a major dent when Dundee fell behind.
Steven Anderson chested the bal l down to skipper Joe Shaughnessy whose cutback was directed towards goal by Murray Davidson and the unlucky Piggott deflected the ball into his own net.
Minutes later Saints full- back Scott Tanser struck the post with a curling free-kick after Deacon has been booked for bringing down Davidson on the edge of the area.
Saints were in control so it was no surprise when they went further ahead in 37 minutes.
Steven MacLean dispossessed Josh Meekings who tried to run the ball out of play and Alston squared perfectly for Kane to calmly roll the ball home.
That sparked jubilant scenes in the away end while some home fans headed for the exits.
With just three minutes to go to the break Dundee were livid when Simon Murray was put clean through on goal and preparing to shoot when Tanser came sl iding in to challenge him.
Referee Craig Thomson waved away their strong appeals for a penalty.
Sofien Moussa was thrown on at the start of the second half at the expense of captain Cammy Kerr in a bid to inject some life into Dundee. But it was Saints who piled on more misery in 64 minutes.
Kane was put clean through and his initial effort was saved by Parish only for Alston to bury the rebound from close range.
Two minutes later Kane completed the rout. The big striker pounced on indecision within the Dundee defence and wasted no time in rounding Parish to sweep home to increase the dissent among the home ranks.
Wright was delighted with the display but knows claims of McCann slapping one of his players on the final whistle will take away the shine.
He said: “I’m disappointed this has happened. It will overshadow what is a great result for us.
“It’s hard for managers when they lose games and lose games comprehensively. But there was certainly no problems with the two benches during the game.
“It’s passion on both sides but from our side we did nothing wrong. The match delegate saw something at the end.”
“The important thing was getting the first goal and from then on we went from strength to strength. It was a great display from the lads. “To come here and totally dominate possession, dominate chances and be disappointed it wasn’t more than four because it should have been – it was like the old St Johnstone. “We have started a lot of games well recently but once we got the first goal we were solid and created numerous chances and deserved it.” Dundee need a revival in fortunes to stave off the threat of going down but that won’t be easy with tough games ahead.
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