Another loss, but Saints are in a winnable battle

St Johnstone's optimistic new demeanour was dented at Tannadice after a gruelling derby encounter yielded only another narrow defeat. There can be no doubt that Billy Stark has injected an air of belief amongst his new charges, but when you're all alone at the bottom points are extremely hard to come by, even when you're performing well.

It is a situation that opposing manager Alex Smith knows only too well, and he was quick to offer encouragement. "St Johnstone are in a similar position to what we were at this time last year but they are far from being the poorest side in the league and I'm confident they'll get away," he said.

Saints have certainly regained their confidence under Stark. They began far livelier with slick incisive passing combined with fluent attacking in numbers. Such ambition almost reaped rewards in the opening 10 minutes. Twice they should have taken the lead.

Paul Hartley was a menacing figure early on down the left flank, his early spinning cross found Paddy Connolly who - distracted by Jim Lauchlan's slipping - wasted a good opportunity with a frenzied header. Shortly after Hartley eluded several chances on a tremendous 40-yard run, his cross again was perfectly weighted for Peter MacDonald but the youngster's wayward swing never connected. He should have scored.

With the home fans' impatience materialising early after last week's home defeat to Dunfermline they were subdued in the 11th minute. St Johnstone defender Darren Dods may have mistaken this month for December so freely as he aided the opposition. A fortnight ago he scored for Celtic while, yesterday he needlessly handled on the edge of his own area during United's first offensive. Captain Danny Griffen stepped up and whipped a mesmerising strike onto the junction of bar and post, Alan Miller well beaten in goal would have been relieved to see the ball bounce to safety.

So would have the away support who were soon on their feet again when Hartley drove a 30-yard free kick towards the top corner, Paul Gallagher producing a comfortable safe. Then the hosts created their first panic in the opposing defence when a scramble allowed Steven Thompson a half volley shot that Miller clawed away. Twenty minutes of the half remained but there was little to excite the crowds as both sides struggled to find a team-mate, never mind forge an opening. Nearing the interval Hartley flicked to Connolly inside the area, he turned and slumped to the ground under a challenge from Jamie Fullarton. Referee David Somers impressively waved away appeals, which appeared to be the correct decision.

Hartley stood out in the opening half, the diminutive winger had vowed recently that his confidence and ability had been restored under the supervision of Stark and his former manager at Raith, Alex Smith, wholeheartedly agreed. He commented afterwards: "Paul is now playing the kind of football his ability dictates."

There was little change following the interval, more industry, more concentration but still no openings. The situation dramatically changed 10 minutes in. Benito Kemble had been solid at the back for the visitors but when executing a simple back pass he lost his footing and drove the ball into Thompson's path. The lanky forward nipped the ball over the advancing Miller and was unceremoniously taken out by the on-loan keeper. Bizarrely, as he had done in the first half, Somers indicated for play to continue while the home players swarmed around him voicing their complaints at an obvious injustice.

It worked in their favour regardless, Charlie Miller, anonymous throughout began to impose himself on the match. Within a minute Jamie McCunnie and Miller combined for the latter to deliver a magnificent cross from the right. David Hannah rose and nodded a powerful header against the inside of the post, Kemble battered the rebound clear.

The momentum had shifted towards United and in the 64th minute they took the lead. A Miller corner was ignored by the entire visiting defence finding Hasney Aljofree at the back post testing then producing the perfect scissors kick into the bottom corner of the net.

Those expecting the struggling Perth side to now capitulate would have been mistaken, and within two minutes they were level. Man of the Match Hartley pushed forward scurrying towards goal an outstretched Lauchlan leg diverted the ball to Connolly who calmly slotted past the helpless Paul Gallagher.

There was plenty of excitement now available for the spectators as both sides hunted for the winner. It duly arrived with 15 minutes to spare Craig Easton scampering down the right and floating in a deep cross which no blue shirt was capable of heading clear. Hamilton dropped to his knees to angle the ball home with his head and the terracing behind him wildly celebrated. Decisively, only a minute earlier, Dods had departed from the pitch to change his boots, the towering defender's timing unfortunately proved costly for his side.

Hamilton's celebrations were short-lived. Only three minutes later he was dismissed for an altercation with Dods near the touch line. Both were red-carded after the referee ran to consult with his assistants and Dods followed the man he was marking throughout up the tunnel. It was not his day. Many may have written off St Johnstone, who can take great heart from their performance, but the situation was almost identical at United last season and they now find themselves in the SPL's top six.

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