Archives | St Johnstone 0 Dunfermline 1

Robbie Fraser`s first goal for the club, coupled with two brilliant stoppage time saves from Deniz Mehmet, saw the Pars inflict a first home league defeat this season on Championship leaders St Johnstone.

The flood-gates on the river Tay had been closed due to the danger of flooding and the rainstorms had already forced the postponement of the game along the A90 at Tannadice but conditions at McDiarmid Park were comparatively dry, with only a slight drizzle that didn`t cause too much inconvenience, although the accompanying wind made playing conditions tricky. The big problem was the reluctance of two sets of floodlights to cooperate and at 2:50 pm the match itself was in doubt. A 20 minute delay was announced, but by then the recalcitrant electricals were slowly coming to life and the game was soon underway, just 10 minutes behind schedule.

Neil Lennon had made one change to the team who had knocked Hibs out of the cup with Callumn Morrison replacing Olly Thomas who dropped to the bench. There was a welcome return to the squad for Chris Kane, hoping for an appearance against his former side, Jefferson Caceres dropping out altogether. The home team had been idle the previous week, but were now able to give a debut to recent acquisition Alfredo Agyeman.

The Perth Saints won the toss and opted to defend the empty Willie Ormond stand in the first period. Both teams started cautiously, content to size up the opposition without giving too much away. Callum Morrison was looking lively on his first start for the Pars, whilst Josh McPake was giving the home supporters encouragement every time he got the ball wide on the left. It was Jason Holt who had the first opportunity though, cutting inside early on but skipper Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen stuck out a toe to block a goal-bound shot. In 18 minutes the Pars skipper was found showing his offensive ability, when he strode forward with ball, moved inside then played a lovely cross-field ball to find Fraser in acres of space, but the young wing-back couldn`t find a centre of similar quality and the Saints defence mopped up.

The game briefly sprang to life midway through the period. First a Tashan Oakley-Boothe first time pass sent Morrison clear only for Diabate to haul him down 25 yards from goal. Was it an obvious goal-scoring opportunity? Referee David Dickinson thought not and a yellow card was deemed sufficient punishment. Morrison took the free-kick himself but hit it high over the bar.

Almost immediately after Josh McPake was in on goal, only to be denied by a last ditch tackle from Chilokoah-Mullen.

Toby Steward in the St Johnstone goal was yet to make a save, but in 28 minutes Tod got the break of the ball after a neat-flick and hit a low shot which the keeper had to stretch to save, without being unduly troubled. At the other end Deniz Mehmet had had to make a couple of decent stops from close range, once from Jamie Gullan, and once from McPake.

The Pars finished the half the stronger `“ a nice move culminated in a Rudden cushioned header from a Fraser cross after good work from Matthew Todd, but Morrison couldn`t reach, then two minutes from the break fine interplay between Charlie Gilmour and Rudden saw the former feed Morrison who waited to pick out Zak Rudden as he made a lung-busting run into the box, but he couldn`t direct his glancing header on target.

Half time: St Johnstone 0 Dunfermline 0

The game resumed with no changes in personnel, and the Pars defence were soon caught napping when the runner wasn`t tracked but again Chilokoa-Mullen came to the rescue at the expense of a corner. And then, out of nowhere, the Pars took the lead following a defensive error Morrison chased down a pass-back and rather than make the simple clearance Steward opted to pass the ball out of defence but was a little too firm and FRASER nicked it off Liam Smith and was immediately in the box. With a cross half-expected he positively walloped the ball high into the roof of the net past a startled keeper and the Pars had the advantage.

The home team had to play with more urgency, and nearly equalised from a corner five minutes later, but Chilokoa-Mullen cleared off the line. At the other end a short corner was returned to Todd and his left-footed cross just evaded Rudden and fell to Fraser. With a shot-expected, this time he crossed, but to no advantage.

The Pars were now enjoying their best spell: Abdulai will feel he should have done better when his header from a 66th minute corner was just too high, as will Tod five minutes later when he got two goes at a shot after Rudden had helped the ball along, but he curled his second effort too high as well.

Chris Hamilton had replaced the injured Oakley-Boothe and almost immediately picked up a booking after carrying on playing after the referee`s whistle, and Morrison followed him into the book after an obvious trip; he soon gave way to Olly Thomas.

Meanwhile the home team had made four changes as they sought the equaliser `“ one was Ikpeazu and he had a good chance soon after he came on, but his firm header was misdirected. With a minute of normal time remaining he had an even better opportunity but seemed torn between nodding down to Stanton, or going for goal, and missed both targets. There was still more to come and into the 5th minute of stoppage time a goal-mouth scramble saw Mehmet make two point-blank saves, first from Stanton, then from Ikpeazu, to keep the Saints out, and to clinch the points. Neil Lennon described it an important, and deserved victory.

ST JOHNSTONE: Toby Steward; Cheik Diabete, Martin Boyes, Adam Forrester, Liam Smith (Kai Fotheringham, 70); Jason Holt (c) (Stevie Mallan, 67), Sam Stanton, Reece McAlear, Alfredo Agyeman, (Louis Lloyd 67), Jamie Gullan (Uche Ikpeazu, 67), Josh McPake
SUBS NOT USED: Ross Sinclair, Victor Griffith, Jonathan Svedberg, Matty Foulds, Jack Baird
YELLOW CARDS: Diabate (21), Forrester (78), Boyes (78), McPake (86)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet; Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (c), Nurudeen Abdulai, Kieran Ngwenya; Matty Todd, Charlie Gilmour, Robbie Fraser: Andrew Tod, Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Chris Hamilton,63), Callumn Morrison (Oliver Thomas,74), Zak Rudden (Shea Kearney, 87)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Alfons Amade, Rory Macleod, Josh Cooper, , Chris Kane, Billy Terrell (GK)
SCORER: Fraser (50)
YELLOW CARDS: Hamilton (69), Morrison (73), Rudden (83)

REFEREE: David Dickinson
ATTENDANCE: 5,347
WEATHER: Overcast, slight drizzle 5°C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship (home) v Airdrieonians, Saturday 31st January 2026, kick off 3.00pm

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