ST Johnstone snatched a dramatic late point away to Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday, with Josh Fowler's 90th-minute equaliser securing a 1-1 draw. The Saints, who sit 8th in the table with four points from four games, showed resilience to fight back after Charlie Reilly's 88th-minute opener for the hosts at Dens Park.
How did the late drama unfold?
Dundee looked to have stolen all three points when substitute Charlie Reilly headed home in the 88th minute. Joe Westley's looping header had crashed against the crossbar, and Reilly was quickest to react to nod the rebound past Toby Steward. The home side's lead lasted just two minutes. Under pressure, Owen Bevan played a short pass back to goalkeeper Owen Goodman, whose attempted clearance was poor. The ball fell to Macaulay Tait 25 yards out, and he immediately played it back into the danger area. Josh Fowler, who had come off the bench, controlled the ball, turned, and fired a high shot into the net to spark wild celebrations from the travelling Saints support among the 6,104 in attendance.
What was the pattern of the match?
St Johnstone dominated possession for large periods of a game that lacked consistent quality. They created the first chance when Enes Alic's low cross found Taylor Steven, whose shot from 12 yards was saved by Owen Goodman. The Saints thought they had taken the lead when Steven found the net with a deflected effort after a corner, but referee Ross Hardie ruled it out for a push. Dundee struggled to get on the ball for much of the first half, but their defence, marshalled by Ryan Astley and Owen Bevan, held firm. Goodman made another good stop in a penalty box scramble just before the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern initially. St Johnstone controlled the ball but found it difficult to break down a resolute Dundee backline. The home side should have taken the lead against the run of play on the hour mark. Alan Forrest's clever chipped pass sent Joe Westley racing clear, but with only the keeper to beat, he dragged his shot wide. Dundee grew into the game as it opened up, with Charlie Reilly also blazing a good chance over the bar before his eventual goal.
What does this mean for St Johnstone's season?
The point leaves ST Johnstone in 8th place in the Premiership standings, having taken four points from their opening four matches. Their record shows one win, one draw, and two losses, with six goals scored and seven conceded. They currently trail league leaders Celtic by eight points. Manager Levein will take heart from his team's fighting spirit to earn a draw from a losing position on the road. The team's next challenge is a home fixture against city rivals Dundee United on October 17th, a match you can find on the club's fixtures page. United currently sit 9th, just below the Saints in the table.
Who were the key performers for Saints?
Goalkeeper Toby Steward had a relatively quiet evening thanks to his defence, but was alert when called upon. Centre-back Zach Mitchell made an important block to deny Alan Forrest in the first half. In midfield, the experienced duo of Murray Davidson and Liam Craig worked hard to control the tempo, though clear-cut chances were at a premium until the frantic finale. The impact from the bench proved decisive, with both Macaulay Tait and Josh Fowler involved in the vital equaliser. Defender Souleymane Diabate and midfielder Greg Kiltie were both shown yellow cards during the contest. The match report was filed by James Christie for the Dundee Football Club official website.
ST Johnstone's squad depth will be tested as they prepare for their next Premiership outing. Fans can check the latest player availability on the club's injuries page and view the full standings to track the team's progress. The draw at Dens Park extends their unbeaten run in the league to two matches.
