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Attendance: 3,767
St Johnstone logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 32
Apr 3, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Dundee logo

2-0

Hendry (16'), Kennedy (60')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Dundee miss chance to move off bottom of table

Dundee miss chance to move off bottom of table
© Reuters
Hendry and Kennedy on target in 2-0 home success at McDiarmid Park.

Dundee's hopes of climbing off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership were wrecked by a 2-0 defeat at Tayside rivals St Johnstone.

The Perth side, who had netted just five goals since the turn of the year, savoured a hat-trick of wins over their local rivals with strikes from former Blackburn youngster Callum Hendry and winger Matty Kennedy.

It meant a sixth successive defeat for Dundee, with a home game looming against Aberdeen before the split.

Hendry, the 21-year-old son of former Scotland skipper and one-time Dundee defender Colin, celebrated his first appearance of an injury-plagued campaign by opening his league account for the Perth club.

And star turn Kennedy killed off the visitors' hopes of a fightback with a neatly taken second half strike.

Dens boss Jim McIntyre made four changes in the wake of a painful 2-1 defeat from St Mirren, with Darren O'Dea, Kenny Miller, Jesse Curran and Paul McGowan starting.

Opposite number Tommy Wright turned to Hendry and Ross Callachan after his top-six hopes evaporated with a loss at Motherwell.

In a lively opening spell St Johnstone centre Chris Kane thought he had bagged a fifth-minute lead when he stabbed home from six yards after goalkeeper Seny Dieng  managed to fend off Callachan's shot. However, the striker had strayed offside and visiting fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Zander Clark was forced to parry Miller's fierce strike and seconds later the veteran centre-forward rounded the goalkeeper but faced a tight angle and his cutback evaded supporting runner Ethan Robson.

Having been let off the hook Saints secured a 16th minute advantage in their next attack.

Full-back Richard Foster swung over a cross and Hendry's back post touch reared up off the turf to find the far top corner.

Dundee captain Martin Woods let fly from 20 yards on the half-hour mark but Clark dropped to his left to touch a testing snapshot round the post.

Minutes after the restart Dundee midfielder Robson wasted a glorious chance to level by side-footing Curran's cross over the target from six yards.

Only a brilliant Dieng save prevented Kennedy's rising 20-yard effort finding the top corner of the net in the 58th minute.

However, the goalkeeper was helpless on the hour mark when Kennedy accelerated past right-back James Horsfield to plant a low shot into the far corner.

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A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1514104444043
2Aberdeen16104230181234
3RangersRangers1510232791832
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd156632215724
5Motherwell157171823-522
6Dundee165472729-219
7St Mirren165381926-718
8Ross County163671230-1815
9St Johnstone1642101829-1114
10Kilmarnock163581734-1714
11Hearts163491825-713
12Hibernian162681828-1012


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