Saints 0-0 Dundee

Soutar was a great keeper when he played against us for Alloa and Brechin whilst he was on loan at them and he was superb again today. Charlie Adam had three or four efforts superbly saved by him, whilst Stewart Kean was unlucky with a couple and John Sutton was also denied on a few occasions. Dundee rarely threatened and will need to greatly improve if they want to have any chance of winning the league.

Saints went with the same team that beat Ross County last week, even the substitutes were the same. Dundee made a few changes, with useless defender Adrian Madaschi missing from the final sixteen.

Saints got off to the better start, Adam denied by Soutar inside five minutes after Kevin McGowne knocked Simon Lappin's free kick into his path. Adam let fly from the edge of the area, only for Soutar to pull off a brilliant save. It was a situation that would sadly be repeated throughout the afternoon.

Tam McManus decided to provide some comedy relief at Love Street today in a fine demonstration on how to throw tows out of the pram. Midway through the first half he dived at the edge of the Saints penalty area. Any contact was slight and outside the box. After not getting the penalty, McManus punched the ground in frustration and shortly afterwards needed treatment on his arm/shoulder. Was it because he'd dived into the ground so hard or punched it so hard?

Saints dominated the rest of the first half but Soutar was impossible to find a way past, with Sutton being unlucky when he saw his great shot on the turn parried, and David van Zanten put the rebound just over.

Saints picked up from where the left off after the break, almost going ahead inside thirty seconds when Stewart Kean's volley flashed just wide. Sadly, Soutar also picked up from where he left off, continually thwarting Adam, Sutton and Kean.

Dundee's best chance came with twenty minutes to go when Craig O'Reilly, on for the fed up McManus, burst through one on one with Chris Smith. However, the striker stumbled and even gave Smith time to spill the ball before he gathered it properly, and the chance was gone.

After that it was nearly all Saints but Soutar wasn't for giving in. Still, at least we didn't miss any glaring sitters.

The main concern after today will be the injury to Kevin McGowne, who had to go off midway through the second half, and the knock to Smith, who had to have treatment a few times. Hopefully both will be fit for the midweek trip to Stranraer.