Charlie Reilly celebratesSNS

Charlie Reilly thought he'd secured a late win for Dundee

At a glance

  • Steven's deflected first-half effort ruled out by referee Hardie

  • Westley misses a massive chance for Dundee, shooting wide when clean through

  • O'Reilly heads Dundee into a late lead

  • But Fowler slams in a 90th-minute equaliser for St Johnstone

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

A late St Johnstone equaliser frustrated hosts Dundee who had to make do with a Scottish Premiership point to extend their impressive recent run in the meeting between the sides.

Steven Pressley's men have now lost only one of the last 11 meetings with the Perth club, who showed good battling qualities to make sure they didn't leave empty-handed.

Both goals came from substitutes in the final few minutes, with Josh Fowler replying almost immediately for Saints after Charlie Reilly headed Dundee into the lead.

The late goal flurry was a welcome improvement on what had gone before.

With just three minutes remaining and the game heading for a stalemate, Joe Westley looped a header on to the crossbar and Reilly had the simplest of tasks to nod in the rebound.

St Johnstone had other ideas, however, and were quickly level when Fowler showed excellent composure to curl a powerful shot beyond Owen Goodman in the home goal.

Westley will be feeling his side should have claimed the victory, spurning a glorious chance shortly after half-time when he was played clean through.

Home keeper Owen Goodman was beaten in the opening period by Taylor Steven's deflected effort, but referee Ross Hardie spotted an infringement and instantly ruled it out.

Dundee analysis: Hosts still looking to find their rhythm

Dundee have blown hot and cold so far this season, and did exactly that within the same game here.

A poor first half showing was followed by an improvement after the break and the squandering of the best opportunity of the match.

Only Westley knows how he failed to net when clean through.

There will be parts of the game manager Steven Pressley will be happy with, but he will no doubt be asking his men to be better on the ball for the full 90 minutes.

He's guided his side through two derbies against Dundee United and now St Johnstone, however, taking four from a possible six points.

Given the frenetic nature of these occasions, which frequently replace quality with blood and thunder, he may well be satisfied with that tally.

St Johnstone analysis: Valakari's men need results

Pre-match, manager Simo Valakari said he wanted to prioritise results over performance, having seen his side lose the last two matches while playing pretty well.

Once again, he'll be frustrated that his men did many good things, particularly in the first period, but couldn't find the finishes to give them all three points.

It could, of course, have been a whole lot worse given they trailed late on in the game so the fact his side bounced back from Dundee's opener to claim a point will be a source of some satisfaction.

A draw at Dens is no disaster and four points from their opening four games is not a bad way to mark their return to the division.

If they find more of a clinical edge, St Johnstone will pose plenty of problems for others in the division as the season goes on.

Player of the match

C. Reilly
6.94
18 C. Reilly
6.94
3 I. Odutayo
6.91
4 R. Astley
6.59
21 B. Fink
6.50
5 O. Bevan
6.35
14 A. Forrest
6.19
1 O. Goodman
6.15
8 R. Finnigan
6.10
48 E. Hamilton
6.00
27 J. Bevan
5.83
2 B. Halliday
5.79
19 J. Westley
5.76
10 F. Robertson
5.56
7 D. Wright
5.50
9 B. Wales
5.05
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