The Paisley Saints probably started the brighter of the two sides and Mark Roberts missed a good chance. Just after (or was it before, I forget), St. Johnstone took the lead. Jamie McGowan should really have put the ball out for a throw in, but instead gave away a corner. Paul Hartley swung it in and Ian Maxwell rose to bury a free header past Ludovic Roy.
Minutes later it was 2-0. St. Johnstone won a free kick, correctly in my opinion, and Hartley played it in for Peter MacDonald to head home from close range. MacDonald was unmarked, and headed from not far off the ground. A training ground move, why on earth Saints didn't manage to stop another free header after the first goal was beyond belief.
Shortly after Martin Cameron hobbled off to be replaced by Jamie Dunbar, with Ricky Gillies moving up front. Not good news.
The remainder of the first half was pretty dull, with St. Johnstone going close again from another free kick. This time Hartley had a shot, which went just over the bar.
Half time the, and 2-0. St. Johnstone deserved their lead, but to be honest they weren't much better than the Paisley Saints. For the first 20 minutes of the second half, Saints came out fighting.
Dunbar was first to go close, when a shot similar to his one against Clyde was superbly touched over the bar by Kevin Cuthbert. Mark Roberts then had a shot well saved by Cuthbert, but he only managed to parry as far as Gillies, who headed home for 2-1. Game on.
Saints huffed and puffed but didn't manage it, despite a few efforts. Then, with 15 minutes remaining, the game was over. St. Johnstone won another free kick, hartley swung it in and Darren Dods headed it in to make it 3 headed goals from 3 set pieces. Shocking defended meant all three players were unmarked. You'd think we'd learn.
Hartley was taken off shortly after. He didn't score, but did the damage with the set pieces. Late on Saints came close when Gillies smacked a header off the post. Full time, 3-1, and another poor performance. We can't defend set pieces. We don't look dangerous from set pieces. We have a poor first touch.
Only Gillies, once moved up front, and Dunbar got passmarks. Arbroath twice in a week now, we must win to stay up.