Guy gives Saints the edge as Dundee pay the penalty
SCOTLAND supporters have grown rather fed up of seeing
Israel over recent years.
St Johnstone fans, however, will never tire of watching Guy Melamed.
After an international break in which the familiar foes did Steve Clarke’s World Cup qualifying hopes no favours, a striker who can’t make the Israeli squad did the business for his club.
A sixth goal in 10 games from Melamed secured a first ever Scottish Cup win at Dens Park for St Johnstone.
Saints shook off a rusty start in style after 20 minutes as their front two of Stevie May and Melamed paired up to spectacular effect.
Liam Fontaine failed to guide a header back to his keeper from Jason Kerr’s long ball and May stole and cut back to Melamed.
The striker’s side-foot finish was of the slow-motion variety but was placed inside the far post and just beyond the reach of Adam Legzdins.
Saints boss Callum Davidson said: ‘Guy is out of contract at the end of the season, so we will see how he gets on. That’s among the priorities, so we’ll work away at it. The goal was something we worked on, slide ball down the side, great run by Stevie and Guy has that quality and that habit. It was a good finish.’
Dundee, meanwhile, struggled to find space to play striker Danny Mullen in for a first-half chance.
Adam, Declan McDaid and Paul McMullan all tried from long range, with McMullan striking the crossbar.
Dundee thought they were level five minutes into the second half, only for a controversial flag to deny them.
A rare spill from Zander Clark from Jordan Marshall’s cross allowed Mullen to prod home from close range.
But, after consulting the far-side official, referee Napier ruled the goal out for offside.
Dundee manager James McPake’s protests earned him a yellow card.
He wasn’t finished after the game, accusing Napier of guessing at the offside call.
‘We scored a perfectly good goal,’ said McPake. ‘I’ve seen it from three different angles and not changed my mind. He’s guessed it.
‘Credit if he’s got it right. What a call if he has. They initially gave the free-kick for a foul on the goalkeeper and quickly changed their mind to offside.
‘When you’re on top, it’s really crucial you get a goal. If it’s an honest mistake, I accept it, but it shouldn’t be down to guessing.
‘You have to be 100-per-cent right. But, listen, we lost because they scored and we couldn’t.’
Dundee were gifted a chance to draw level with 15 minutes left.
Mullen was bundled over by Clark as the keeper raced out to punch the ball clear inside the area and referee Napier awarded a penalty.
Clark went low and left to smother Charlie Adam’s penalty at the second attempt.
It was a fantastic save and augurs well for a deep run in another competition.