Dundee United 1 St Johnstone 2

Despite a much improved performance in an entertaining encounter, United failed to take any points from visitors St Johnstone at Tanndice today. Summary by Gordon Aitchison After an enthralling first 45 minutes of football, St Johnstone headed into the changing rooms leading 2-1. In an end to end half United looked like they would be entering the break in front, after a fantastic headed goal from Billy Mckay in the 33rd minute. United had held the upper hand with a new formation proving difficult for the Perth Saints to get to grips with. The combination of Telfer, McGowan and Mckay were testing the Perth Saints defence time and again and they deservedly took the lead when Telfer and McGowan played a lovely one two in the box, allowing the Aussie to fire a cross into the box. Mckay beat Anderson to the cross and the ball nestled behind Mannus much to the delight of the tangerine half of the Tannadice crowd. Saints could have levelled almost instantly when Dave McKay fired a free kick off the inside of Szromnik's right hand post with the keeper beaten all ends up. Ten minutes after United took the lead Saints equalised with a simple goal, a corner from Wotherspoon was met perfectly by the onrushing Chris Kane and, despite Charlie Telfer's efforts on the line, the ball bulleted into the roof of the net. Only two minutes later Saints went ahead with a fortuitous goal. O'Halloran, who had been kept quiet the whole game drove a cross into the box, firstly Shaughnessy, then McLean attempted to fire the ball goal bound, as it pinged around the box, Murray Davidson made the final contact and the ball ended up just over the line, in off the upright. A half that  promised so much for United ended up with the team leaving the field wondering how they were behind.... For all of the attractive football on show in the first half, the second half can only be described as a war of attrition. United poked and prodded at the Saints defence in every way they could but could not find an equaliser. Saints determined to hang on to their slender advantage. In fact it was Saints who came closest to adding to the goals when Kane was brought down in the box by Dillon and referee Thomson pointed to the spot. Stevie McLean blasted the penalty high into the Eddie Thompson stand. United had their own penalty claim, when Caddis appeared to take the feet from McGowan in the box, but the referee booked the United player for simulation. For all of the battling that United did there was little to trouble Saints keeper until the ninetieth minute when Spittal’s drive drew a fantastic, acrobatic save from Mannus. In spite of two corners in the final three minutes of added time, United could not find a way through on goal and the referee drew the game to a close to a chorus of cheers from the Perth fans. If points were awarded for effort United would have won all three, as has been all to often this season they left the pitch with none. Teams: United: Szromnik, Dillon (C), Dixon, Souttar, Mckay, Rankin, McGowan, Telfer (Fraser 58), Durnan, Gunning, Spittal. Unused Subs: Zwick (GK), Murray, Spark, Kuhl, Donaldson, Robson. Saints: Mannus, MacKay (C), Anderson, Millar, Davidson, MacLean, Wotherspoon (Caddis 50), Shaughnessy, Easton, Kane (Sutton 75), O'Halloran. Unsed Subs: Clark (GK), Scobbie, Fisher, Thompson, Hurst.