Another high for McDiarmid men

ST JOHNSTONE’S 5-1 away success at Motherwell was one of their highs of the season.

Saturday’s triumph, and their 4-0 Dens Park mauling of Dundee, are the highest margins of away victory in the Ladbrokes Premiership this season.

Saints also recorded their first l eague win at Ibrox since 1971 and their wins at Dens and Motherwell were their biggest at these grounds.

They also drew twice away to Celtic and netted a last-minute winner at Hibs.

Their win at Motherwell was a personal triumph for striker Steven MacLean, who was making his last appearance for the club as he is moving to Hearts.

He netted a hat-trick to take his tally of goals for the McDiarmid Park side to 57.

It was fitting that Steven Anderson also netted as it was Macca and Ando who scored the Saints goals in their 2-0 2014 Scottish Cup Final win over Dundee United.

David McMillan, who is replacing MacLean in the Saints front line, netted the other.

Saints team boss Tommy Wright said: “I said t o Steven, ‘Did you go to bed last night thinking, right, I’ll go out with a hat-trick?’. He said, ‘No, I couldn’t sleep’.

“In many ways it’s the perfect send-off for him.

“He has got his hat-trick and David McMillan, who has had a torrid time with injuries, has come on and scored a wonderful goal.

“But it was a great team performance and fully deserved, and for Macca to cap it off with a hat-trick is perfect for him and perfect for the fans. I think they came down in numbers to see him off and he gave them a perfect send-off.

“Players don’t stay at clubs if they’re not doing their job. And he has given me everything.”

Steven MacLean scored a hat-trick in his final outing.