Dundee United make it hat-trick of wins with narrow victory against St Johnstone

Dundee United made it three Premiership wins in a row with a narrow 1-0 victory over St Johnstone at Tannadice.

Defender Emmanuel Adegboyega was the home hero with the only goal of the game in the first half.

The win lifted the Terrors up to fourth in the table above Aberdeen who play tomorrow, while Saints, who secured a memorable win over Celtic last week, remain bottom.

The Terrors made two changes to the team that beat Hearts at Tynecastle last week with Allan Campbell and Louis Moult dropping to the bench to be replaced by wingers Kristijan Trapanovski and Glenn Middleton.

Saints made one tweak to the side that beat the Hoops with Barry Douglas replacing the injured Drey Wright.

After an even opening, the hosts were first to threaten in the eighth minute when Middleton teed up Will Ferry on the edge of the box and he hit a fierce shot that flew just wide of St Johnstone goalkeeper Andy Fisher’s right-hand post.

That though was a rare opening, with both sides finding it hard to carve out further clear-cut opportunities.

However, the deadlock was finally broken by United in the 25th minute. Ferry delivered a corner from the right with Sam Dalby playing the ball back across goal to Adegboyega and he fired home from close range.

Saints would have been fuming as the corner was needlessly given away.

St Johnstone finally had their first sight of goal when Stephen Duke-McKenna found space inside the Dundee United box but his curling effort sailed just past home keeper Jack Walton’s post.

Saints made the better start after the break and had a chance when Makenzie Kirk ran from the halfway line to the edge of the home box but his low shot sailed wide.

Home defender Declan Gallagher had a chance at a corner, with Fisher having to pull off a vital save to keep out the defender’s header.

Saints were struggling to threaten but Adama Sidibeh came close with a looping header from a Josh McPake cross that flew just wide.

Gallagher then had another opportunity from a Ryan Strain free-kick when he found himself with time and space inside the Saints box but he could only direct his bullet header over.

The pendulum swung St Johnstone’s way again with McPake seeing a long-range effort deflected past a post before United passed up a superb chance to double their advantage when Luca Stephenson picked out Moult with a cutback but the substitute striker’s shot was well-saved by Fisher.

McPake had another chance deep into stoppage time but once more it was deflected wide before another sub Benji Kimpioka fired inches wide.