Liam runs on empty after his level best

AFTER an 18-month wait for a goal, Liam Craig would love to have conjured a celebration to match his stunning volleyed equaliser.

But with no supporters inside Tannadice for the first day of the Premiership season, the St Johnstone midfielder found himself running into a void after securing a point for 10-man Saints.

‘I didn’t know what to do because of the empty stands,’ he admitted. ‘It’s been so long since I scored, never mind in front of supporters!

‘It’s never going to be the same without fans because the noise is what makes a good goal look like a very good goal.’

Craig’s strike was one in the eye for those who claimed Saints would struggle to maintain standards following the departure of Tommy Wright earlier this season and was also a moment of personal redemption after he had given away the penalty from which Dundee United took the lead.

He had no issue with Kevin

Clancy there but disputed the referee’s decision to show a yellow card after Liam Smith’s shot cannoned into his arm.

‘My arm was up but the ball hit my side first,’ insisted the 33-year-old. ‘I can see why he’s given it but it was a harsh booking for deliberate handball.

‘There was a bit of relief on a personal level after giving away the penalty and I’m just glad I was able to make amends.

‘The key thing was how we responded after not starting the game well and the pleasing thing for the manager is the character we showed. That’s never been in question at this club.’

This was an encouraging start for Saints boss Callum Davidson.

However, he admitted forward Michael O’Halloran was on the verge of being substituted before Clancy issued his red card.

‘It was a sending-off,’ admitted Davidson. ‘He got away with one a few minutes before it and we were actually debating whether to take him off or not.

‘We made a bad start, gave away the penalty and struggled. After the red card, we got them together at half-time and I felt we were the better team in the second half.

‘It felt like a competitive game to me. It was a tough baptism of fire but the players played with a real tempo and attitude.’