Lyall Cameron scores for Dundee UtdImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Lyall Cameron's goal earned Dundee Utd a point

At a glance

  • Premiership top scorer Fowler nets first-half opener for St Johnstone

  • Cameron equalises late on for dominant Dundee United

  • St Johnstone - unbeaten in three - remain fifth with United sixth

Watch St Johnstone v Dundee Utd highlights

17/10/26

ByAmy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park

Dominant Dundee United rescued a well-earned Scottish Premiership draw at St Johnstone to stretch their unbeaten run to four games.

The league's top scorer, Josh Fowler, handed the hosts a first-half lead with his sixth goal of the season, but Lyall Cameron eventually equalised for the visitors with just over 10 minutes left at McDiarmid Park.

Enis Alic's pinpoint cross was perfectly converted by Fowler's left foot, and for long enough, it looked like that was going to secure back-to-back victories for Simo Valakari's side - who were once again forced to defend for much of the game.

United struggled to translate their superiority into goals, with clear-cut chances at a premium in a game which was billed pre-match as a belter, given the good form both sides brought to Perth.

Cameron, who stole the show last weekend against Hibs, had a goal-bound header superbly saved by Toby Steward, but soon sensationally beat the goalkeeper.

On his way down under pressure, the on-loan Rangers midfielder was able to get under the ball and lift it hight into the back of the net, ensuring United remain in sixth place, one spot behind St Johnstone.

Graphic

St Johnstone analysis: Fowler leads from front

Pre-match, Valakari spoke about how much he liked his side "looking comfortable being uncomfortable" in their win at Aberdeen last Sunday.

That was because his attack-minded team were forced to defend with determination, and they did so with aplomb.

While he anticipated a slightly more familiar showing here, that wasn't quite the case. Instead, they once again defended resolutely - just not for long enough.

It would have been quite the achievement had they been able to dig out another three points against the run of play, but you'd imagine few in here will argue this wasn't a fair result.

It seems Valakari knows his starting XI here is his strongest, with Fowler - one of the most talked-aboutplayers in the Premiership at present due to his unconventional rise from junior football via Dubai to the top-flight - leading from the front.

He had to depart at half-time, but his manager explained a flu has been doing the rounds and he was the latest to suffer. Throw some cough sweets his way, pronto…

Dundee United analysis: Wasteful visitors miss chance

For how dominant United were, they were just as weak in front of goal.

In the first half, they had 61% possession. Seventy-one from minute 30-45. In that first half, though, central striker Idjessi Metsoko attempted just five passes and didn't look a threat at all in front of goal.

It's fair to think the 2000 travelling supporters would have been a little jealous at their hosts having Fowler in their armoury.

Zach Sapsford and Lachlan Rose were given 30 minutes and their movement and availability no doubt helped the play-makers such as Cameron.

Until his intervention - and he could have had a second minutes later - it looked like the goal just wasn’t going to come, despite their neat play.

The point will be taken, but on another day - or with another forward line - it could have been all three.

What they said:

St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari: "It was a good football match, United had their moments and played some good football, it was difficult to get close to them, they have players that are in good places, but at the same time we had our moments.

"The goal we scored was a beautiful goal and it changed the game a little bit, so it was a question of whether we could hold until the end. It's difficult to defend to ninety minutes, what we can now improve is these moments when we are 1-0 up, how do we put more pressure on and be more ruthless to get the second goal.

"The intensity was there, a good atmosphere, and both teams really pushed until the end looking for the winner and we very much enjoyed it."

As for top scorer Josh Fowler's substitution, the Finn added: "There is a big flu going around, he ran his chest out so he needed his rest and that's all it was."

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "I didn't think there was a great deal in the first half. St Johnstone get their noses in front and it's a really poor goal from our point of view regarding our decision making.

"We were relatively calm in terms of the play, we just needed to speed the game up. We allowed St Johnstone to get their shape back behind the ball.

"These are the challenges we are going to face through the course of the season. This is why we've done the recruitment that we've done.

"These players are more than capable of unlocking that low block, but the goal we concede is avoidable. It was a combination of errors from us, but great resilience from the players to respond and come from a goal behind and second half we had complete control. On another day, I think we would have won the game."

On Lyall Cameron he added: "Lyall has settled in brilliantly at Dundee United and he is just a terrific midfielder.

His goal was an excellent goal, a really well worked goal from us. I think he'll be disappointed though with the one he had after that. One defeat in our last six, and in the two draws in that spell I feel we should have had more to show for it."

Player of the match

Number: 16 L. Cameron
Average rating 7.50
Number: 1 T. Steward
Average Rating: 4.85
Number: 19 D. Finlayson
Average Rating: 4.67
Number: 11 S. Stanton
Average Rating: 4.64
Number: 2 E. Alić
Average Rating: 4.55
Number: 9 J. Fowler
Average Rating: 4.55
Number: 33 L. Smith
Average Rating: 4.45
Number: 42 R. McAlear
Average Rating: 4.36
Number: 30 J. Cotterill
Average Rating: 4.27
Number: 7 T. Steven
Average Rating: 4.18
Number: 99 R. Paton
Average Rating: 4.17
Number: 8 J. Holt
Average Rating: 4.09
Number: 3 C. Diabate
Average Rating: 3.75
Number: 18 K. Fotheringham
Average Rating: 3.73
Number: 10 J. Gullan
Average Rating: 3.55

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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