St Johnstone v Dundee: Dundee safe after Lyall Cameron’s brace sinks St Johnstone

Dundee secured William Hill Premiership football next season as the departing Lyall Cameron hit a brace to guide them to a 2-0 win at relegated St Johnstone.

The 22-year-old penned a pre-contract in February to join Rangers but there were no commitment issues on show from Cameron.

He was the star man as Tony Docherty’s team eased away from the relegation play-off place with a well-derserved success.

The diminutive midfielder was everywhere on the McDiarmid Park pitch with a display that was creative, gutsy and clinical.

Saints, in the final game of a 16-year stay in the top flight, failed to muster a shot on target until the 86th minute. The Perth men finished five points adrift at the bottom.

Ultimately, Ross County’s failure to beat Motherwell meant the Dark Blues would have been safe anyway.

But Docherty’s men could not have been more comfortable in looking after business against their Tayside rivals.

Simo Valakari’s side started brightly and went close from a Makenzie Kirk near-post flick on six minutes.

However, Dundee stifled much of that early promise and gradually got on top.

Cameron posted intent with a sweetly-struck 20-yard shot that whistled inches shy of Ross Sinclair’s right-hand post.

On 28 minutes, visiting momentum led to a lead. Trevor Carson’s long kick was claimed by the superior strength of Simon Murray who knocked the ball down to Cameron.

The Ibrox-bound prospect was afforded space by the Saints defence to steer a clinical finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Murray chanced an effort from 40 yards while Saints struggled to settle immediately after conceding. Sinclair’s recovery was awkward but vital.

Graham Carey replaced Stephen Duke-McKenna at the break as Saints tried to recover a foothold in midfield. Yet Dundee continued to threaten.

Scott Tiffoney was denied by the offside flag after darting onto Zayid Larkeche’s through ball and sliding what Dundee thought was their second goal between the legs of Sinclair.

Sven Sprangler charged down Murray’s shot as Dundee piled on the pressure.

Saints never stopped grafting but they only came remotely close thanks to debut substitute Callan Hamill four minutes from time.

The 16-year-old, who has signed for Arsenal, tested Carson from the edge of the box but the goalkeeper was down smartly to smother.

News of Motherwell’s equaliser in Dingwall made for a buoyant visiting end for the final 10 minutes, in the knowledge Dundee were safe.

Those travelling fans, hundreds of whom invaded the pitch at the end, were treated to an extra goal for comfort six minutes in stoppage time.

Carey tripped Larkeche to concede a penalty. There was only one man for that job, with Murray already substituted.

Up stepped Cameron to consummately sweep home with the right foot and round off his Dundee career in style.