St Johnstone 0-0 Dundee United: Saints earn point despite Melker Hallberg red card
Report and highlights as 10-man St Johnstone hold Dundee United to a goalless draw; Swedish midfielder Melker Hallberg was controversially sent off for a second yellow card in second half; Dundee Utd move into top six while second-bottom Saints go a point clear of basement side Dundee
Saturday 5 February 2022 21:41, UK
Dundee United edged into the top six after being forced to settle for a 0-0 Tayside derby draw with 10-man St Johnstone.
A share of the spoils eased the battling Perth side a point ahead of relegation rivals Dundee in the Scottish Premiership basement.
But United fans voiced their frustration at being unable to penetrate a Perth side one man down for the final 36 minutes after Swedish midfielder Melker Hallberg was controversially sent off for a second yellow card.
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Deep in stoppage time Saints substitute Glenn Middleton was denied a winner by a brilliant save by Tangerines 'keeper Benji Siegrist.
The Perth side's manager Callum Davidson stood by the same starting XI who ended a 12-game run without a win at Livingston in midweek.
United boss Tam Courts made three changes from the derby draw with Dundee, with on-loan Arsenal midfielder Tim Akinola making his debut alongside Peter Pawlett and Liam Smith.
Saints came within inches of the opening goal in the 18th minute.
Referee Colin Steven infuriated the Tangerines by waving play on when Ian Harkes tumbled under a challenge from Hallberg.
The St Johnstone midfielder strode forward and picked out Ali Crawford with his cutback only for the midweek match-winner to crash a 12-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar.
In their next attack, Callum Hendry unleashed a teasing angled shot goalwards but 'keeper Siegrist touched it away for a corner.
Former Saint Tony Watt tested home keeper Zander Clark from 20 yards but opposite number Siegrist had to dive full length to turn aside a fierce Hendry snapshot from the edge of the box as Saints finished the first half strongly.
Seconds after the restart roving United full-back Smith was denied the opener by a vital defensive header by Callum Booth.
At the other end, Siegrist was alert to the danger posed by a Stevie May shot low at the corner.
In the 54th minute Saints were reduced to 10 men when ex-Hibs player Hallberg was sent off when a pull on Harkes prompted a second yellow card, to the fury of the player and manager Davidson, who was booked minutes later for dissent.
The Perth side were forced to mount a rearguard action but only lived dangerously when Watt's shot on the turn clipped the outside of the post 16 minutes from the end.
Davidson: Hallberg dismissal 'really soft'
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson expressed his frustration at losing recent recruit Melker Hallberg, saying: "I'm not happy with the sending off. I didn't think there was anything in it and I still don't after watching it back.
"If you are going to book players for what Melker did then every player on the pitch is going to get booked.
"For me it is really soft and another disappointing decision against us. It could have cost us the three points and it means we lose an important player for the next game.
"I was told it was a tug and then told it was an arm around the neck. I still can't see any of those."
Courts frustrated at missed opportunity
Despite easing into the top six, Dundee United manager Tam Courts accepted travelling fans were frustrated at passing up the opportunity to go fifth in the Premiership table.
"Probably the worst thing that could have happened to us was actually St Johnstone going down to 10 men because they have probably then decided that a point is what they were targeting," he said.
"I think for the fans when Saints go down to 10 men they are probably thinking, 'here we go, we are going to get the points'.
"When they see us having wave after wave of attack and not getting the breakthrough I can totally understand the frustration. The frustration is there for me, for the players even more so.
"We now need to now make sure we get three points and make sure we get through in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. If we do that it will have been a really good fortnight for us."
What's next?
St Johnstone travel to St Mirren on Wednesday - kick-off 7:45pm - while Dundee United host Motherwell on the same day, also at 7:45pm.
