Dundee United 1 St Johnstone 0

David Goodwillie scored the only goal as Dundee United recorded a narrow home victory against rivals St Johnstone. The crucial strike arrived just after the hour-mark when Goodwillie stabbed home his third goal of the season to finally take the points in a bad tempered clash.

Danger man Goodwillie had already sent a rising shot over during the early stages before Dusan Pernis spread himself superbly at the opposite end to smother from Andy Jackson. Jon Daly then almost got on the end of a Paul Dixon cross as the Arabs replied, while Goodwillie soon found space and delivered a fierce 20-yard shot that Saints keeper Peter Enckelman finally gathered at the second attempt.

The visitors were first to show after the restart with striker Sam Parkin heading over following a cross from Danny Grainger, who then produced a fine save by Pernis from a 56th minute free-kick. Murray Davidson then headed over from the subsequent corner before Goodwillie was on hand to break the deadlock from close-range after Prince Buaben drilled in a shot five minutes later.

But Pernis was again required to keep out a header from substitute Marcus Haber as the visitors searched for an equaliser. Fellow Saints replacement Steven Anderson then appeared to be given a second yellow card late on but still remained on the pitch as the contest reached a significantly delayed conclusion.

As it was the hosts twice went close to increasing their advantage during an extended period of added time as both Goodwillie and Buaben tried to settle any late nerves but without further success.

Dundee United: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Dods, Kenneth (Shala 82), Severin, D. Robertson, Buaben, Gomis (S. Robertson 46), Daly, Goodwillie

subs (unused): Banks, Watson, Cadamarteri, Russell, Dow

Goals: Goodwillie (61)

St Johnstone: Enckelman, MacKay, Grainger, Duberry, Maybury (Anderson 64), Morris, Millar, Davidson (Craig 77), Parkin, Jackson (Haber 64), Myrie-Williams

subs (unused): Smith, May, McIntosh, Samuel

Ref: B. Winter

Att: 7,397

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