MAGIC NUMBERS
Kane nets first double in three years to steal spotlight from record-breaker Liam on his 442nd appearance for Saints
It was meant to be the day record breaker Liam Craig hogged the limelight in Perth.
The veteran Saints midfielder’s 442nd appearance was overshadowed as man of the match Michael O’Halloran ran amok and striker Chris Kane bagged his first double for three years.
Winless Dundee only sprang to life in the closing stages after defender Ryan Sweeney reduced the deficit to end their five-game goal drought.
Saints boss Callum Davidson was delighted with their seventh successive derby win against the Dens Park side to cap a memorable day for Craig.
He said: “It is unbelievable for Liam. It’s a fantastic achievement and something he has to be really proud of.
“He got a big ovation in the dressing room and rightly so. We talked about it before the game. It was difficult for Liam not to get too emotional.
“It was our best performance of the season. Some of our football in the first half was really good and our first goal was superb. The third just killed off the game.”
The Tayside rivals went into the clash missing key personnel, with Davidson without Liam Gordon, Jamie McCart and departed skipper Jason Kerr, who provided the bedrock of last term’s double cup success.
It meant a debut for on-loan Brighton rookie Lars Dendoncker alongside Efe Ambrose and wing-back Shaun Rooney.
Dens boss James McPake didn’t have his troubles to seek, with Leigh Griffiths fai l ing a f itness test and joining Charlie Adam on the sidelines.
Saints carved out the first opening in the seventh minute when O’Halloran surged into the box and his cutback picked out Stevie May 12 yards out.
The striker lost his balance and his right-foot strike flew inches past the far post with Adam Legzdins beaten.
Saints threatened again in the 21st minute but referee Greg Aitken flashed a yellow card at Kane for dropping too easily under a challenge from Liam Fontaine on the edge of the box.
Kane dusted himself down and made no mistake, finishing off a sweeping three-man attack which shredded Dundee in the 31st minute.
Rooney stroked a perfectly weighted pass forward to exploit O’Halloran’s pace down the flank.
Kane took the teasing cross in his stride and buried a 10-yard snapshot low past stranded Legzdins.
Eight minutes later the pumped-up striker doubled Saints’ lead by sliding in to bundle May’s driven delivery over the line despite the attentions of defenders Fontaine and Lee Ashcroft.
McPake pitched in Cillian Sheridan and Luke McCowan at the break but 34 seconds later Saints were cruising.
O’Halloran was again the provider but this time it was May who took a touch before sliding a close- range finish past Legzdins.
Dundee finally carved out an opening in the 51st minute but Jason Cummings blasted his shot into the away end, where there were more empty seats than at the start of the match.
Rooney almost made it 4- 0 just after the hour but his netbound header was booted off the line by Paul McGowan.
The Dens men got one back 16 minutes from time when Sweeney leapt to power home McGowan’s corner.
Saints sub Glenn Middleton burst clear seconds later but pulled his shot wide of the target.
Perth keeper Zander Clark reminded Scotland boss Steve Clarke of his quality with a rare save to turn Cammy Kerr’s header round the post.