Dundee United too strong for Saints as survival hopes rise
Dundee United boosted their Ladbrokes Premiership survival hopes with a 1-0 win at St Johnstone in which they played with 10 men for the final half-hour.
Mixu Paatelainen's Tangerines resolutely defended a first-half lead secured by Saints transfer target Ryan Dow to close the gap on second-bottom Kilmarnock to five points, with a game in hand. St Johnstone could not capitalise on the dismissal of Coll Donaldson on the hour mark.
United posted their first win at McDiarmid Park for four years against a team portrayed as a bogey side, and St Johnstone slipped to fifth with the setback. However Tommy Wright's side are still strongly placed to finish in the top six for the fifth year in a row.
Despite pre-match concerns, Saints duo Danny Swanson and Murray Davidson passed late fitness tests.
On-loan West Ham full-back Kyle Knoyle was handed his first start for United, with Ivory Coast international Guy Demel also included by Paatelainen.
The visitors threatened within 40 seconds of kick-off when Dow's burst of pace carried him clear, but the unattended John Rankin failed to make the most of the cross with a heavy touch in front of goal, allowing Darnell Fisher to mop up the danger.
Injury-plagued home captain Chris Millar was withdrawn in the 14th minute suffering from a groin strain, with Simon Lappin taking over in midfield.
Home goalkeeper Alan Mannus twice denied United an opener in the space of 60 seconds, getting a vital touch on Donaldson's powerful back-post header before blocking Henri Anier's angled strike with defender Tam Scobbie unable to halt his progress.
But the Northern Ireland goalkeeper allowed unmarked Dow's close-range touch from Billy Mckay's cross to squirm from his grasp and trundle over the goal-line for what proved to be a 22nd-minute winner.
Tannadice defender Callum Morris was cautioned by Willie Collum for scything down David Wotherspoon but the referee waved aside home striker Steven MacLean's penalty pleas when he tangled with Gavin Gunning on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Seconds from the break Joe Shaughnessy rose to power a header goalwards but United midfielder Paul Paton's presence prevented it finding the net.
On the hour mark United were reduced to 10 men when Donaldson was red-carded for downing Chris Kane, although Knoyle might have got across to cover.
Davidson pounced on a penalty-box scramble in the 65th minute but his scooped shot clipped the crossbar.
Then Gunning wasted a chance to ease United nerves 17 minutes from the end after mayhem ensued in the six-yard box, slashing his shot off target.
Source: PA
