HENDRY IS THE HERO AGAIN
Striker adds to goals tally and sends Dundee down
TALISMANIC St Johnstone striker Callum Hendry consigned Tayside rivals Dundee to relegation from the Premiership with a vital first-half strike.
With one game remaining, the former Blackburn Rovers attacker’s winner opened up an unassailable six-point gap on the Dens side at the foot of the table.
Perth manager Callum Davidson’s decision to summon Hendry back from a loan in the Championship with Kilmarnock in January has offered a path to salvation for last season’s double cup winners, who appeared destined for the drop at the turn of the year.
Hendry’s eight-goal return from 12 games has ensured Saints can extend their 13-year stay in the top flight if they take care of business in their Premiership play-off against either Arbroath or Inverness Caley Thistle.
Visiting manager Jim Goodwin took full advantage of top-flight security to list a squad tinged with youth. With top-scorer Christian Ramirez allowed to head home early to the United States, 20-year-old Michael Ruth was charged with leading the line.
Initially, Ali Crawford had been listed to start for Saints but Jacob Butterfield was elevated from the bench to Davidson’s starting XI, with Cammy MacPherson drafted in to make up the squad.
Aberdeen had won just once on the road in the last 17 matches, posting a late victory at McDiarmid Park in December last year.
Another stat which didn’t sit easily with nervous home supporters was that the Dons hadn’t lost any of their previous ten trips to Perth.
A fifth-minute Butterfield corner was laid into the path of Melker Hallberg by on-loan Rangers winger Glenn Middleton only for the Swede to miscue his effort with time and space on his side.
The visitors quickly forced a corner of their own but Lewis Ferguson’s back-post header on
Connor Barron’s delivery was ushered wide by home keeper Zander Clark.
Middleton embarked on a direct run in the 14th minute but his powerful effort from 25 yards didn’t threaten the target.
Danger man Hendry pounced on Middleton’s pass three minutes later to secure an early advantage for the Perth side.
His tidy finish from eight yards found the far corner of the net, beyond the reach of keeper Joe Lewis. It proved to be the key moment of the match.
With Aberdeen under the cosh, Middleton tried his luck with a free-kick from 30 yards which forced Lewis to tip over the crossbar at the expense of a corner.
Hendry’s physicality was proving a nuisance to the Dons rearguard but referee David Munro plucked a yellow card from his pocket for a high-footed challenge which left Barron sprawled on the turf.
Dante Polvara tried to prise open the Saints defence with a teasing low cross but Murray Davidson conjured up a vital clearance in his own six-yard box.
The resulting Barron corner again picked out Ferguson lurking in space but the midfielder’s header was easily held by Clark.
Early in the second period, Scotland squad keeper Clark had to sprint from his area to prevent Vicente Besuijen latching on to a precise pass launched in behind the Saints defence by Barron.
Home fans were mightily relieved to see their white-shirted keeper get to the ball fractionally ahead of the Dons attacker.
Perth midfielder Davidson added to his mounting collection of yellow cards for a 55th-minute foul on Ferguson, before visiting boss Goodwin turned to his bench with Jonny Hayes replacing Polvara.
Shaun Rooney might have added to his cult status in Perth by emulating last term’s cup final winning headers in the 57th minute but on this occasion his connection on a Hallberg corner reared up and over the target, leaving the wing-back lashing the netting in frustration.
In their next assault, Hendry crafted an opening on the edge of the box with neat footwork but his rising shot veered over the bar.
Within minutes of being introduced, Connor McLennan found his progress through the heart of the Perth backline thwarted by a foul which earned Saints captain Liam Gordon a booking.
Hayes was forced to limp off 16 minutes from the end after pulling up with no one in the vicinity, providing academy prospect Liam Harvey with a late run.
The youngster was denied a tapin equaliser by a crucial McCart intervention before match-winner Hendry was given a standing ovation from grateful Perth supporters when he left the field in the closing stages.
ST JOHNSTONE (3-5-2): Clark 6; Cleary 6, Gordon 6, McCart 7; Rooney 6, Hallberg 6 (MacPherson 84), Davidson 7, Butterfield 7 (Craig 90), Brown 6; Hendry 8 (Bair 84), Middleton 7. Subs not used: Parish, Mahon, Sang, Ciftci, Gilmour. Booked: Hendry, McCart, Davidson, Gordon, Rooney. ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Lewis 6; Ojo 6, Gallagher 6, Bates 7, Mackenzie 6; Barron 7, Ferguson 6; Besuijen 5, Polvara 6 (Hayes 56, Harvey 74), Montgomery 6 (McLennan 66); Ruth 5 (Kennedy 66). Subs not used: Woods, Considine, McGeouch, Milne, Lobban. Booked: Bates, Ferguson. Man of the match: Callum Hendry. Referee: David Munro. Attendance: N/A.