VENUE #102 ST. JOHNSTONE McDiarmid Park

 McDIARMID PARK 

               Home Of:  St. Johnstone

   Ground Opened:  1989
  Previous Ground:  Muirton  Park

         Other Uses:  None

VENUE #102

NEAREST TRAIN STATION

     Perth Railway Station is nearly three miles away from McDiarmid Park, which is really too far to walk. Best bet is to grab a taxi.  You can also get a bus up to the stadium. Just walk straight down the road outside the railway station, for no more than 10 minutes. You will come to the Mill Street Interchange on the right, where from there you can get a number 2 bus direct to the ground for the princely sum of £3.10 return. Not only that, but the Mill Street interchange is right next to a large and welcoming pub, so it's guaranteed that the money you save on taxi fares is wisely invested.

McDIARMID PARK

     The ground was built in 1989, and replaced the former home of Muirton Park. The ground consists of four single tiered stands, that are covered and all seated. Three of the stands are of the same height, with the Main Stand at one side of the ground, being a little taller. Overall the ground has a tidy compact feel to it. There is an electric scoreboard situated in one corner of the ground.

      Away fans are primarily housed in the North Stand will be allocated where up to 2,000 fans can be accommodated. The facilities and view of the playing action are good in this area. For those games where the away side has a large travelling support then the Ormond Stand can also be allocated as well as part of the West (Main) Stand towards the North Stand. 

     For a number of games the Ormond Stand serves as a 'mixed' family stand which is open to both home and away supporters with young families. On occassions when the Ormond Stand is not available to away fans, then Family Tickets can be purchased for the relevant away stand. 

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   MAIN / WEST STAND

 B   NORTH STAND  (AWAY)

 C   EAST STAND

 D   SOUTH / ORMOND STAND

Today's Visitors  DUNDEE  brings the excitement of a local derby to McDiarmid Park with the Dees currently (before the match) in 10th place three places behind the Saints on 19 points and looking as though it's another relegation struggle for them this season.
   Last time out the Dees took on Celtic at Dens Park losing 2-0 to the league leaders.  James Forrest converted Kieran Tierney's low cross to give Celtic the lead in the 8th minute.  Leigh Griffiths wrapped things up two minutes before the break giving the Dees no chance of recovering anything.
   In the 28 years McDiarmid Park has been open Dundee have visited 29 times,

just over once for each year, the Dees have won 8 times losing 10 times with 11 draws. The first game between them here was a 4-4 draw on 2nd of December 1992.  On New Years day here 1997 there was an embarrassment here for the Dees losing 7-2.  Last time out here for these two here was on the 11th April 2015 with the Saints winning 1-0 with a goal from Brian Graham in the 26th minute.  

ST. JOHNSTONE ... 0   DUNDEE ... 2

     The Saints were all at six's and sevens throughout this game handing the Dees the three points.  It only took Dundee 3 minutes to open the scoring when some shoddy play by the home side led to a Dees attack in which Leitch-Smith flicked on a cross with his head to find Marcus Haber who smashed the ball between Zander Clark's legs into the net.

     It looked as though the Saints players had had a night on the lash prior to this game for going behind didn't inspire a spark of resilience just more reckless play which saw two dangerous challenges the first when Denny Johnstone flew in two footed on Glen Kamara which referee Willie Collum defined as a yellow card to the disgust of the Dundee supporters. 

     The second though produced a straight red from the said referee when Richard Foster's late high challenge which caught the knee of Paul McGowan made the official strive to cut out any more of St. Johnstone's bullying tactics.

     After the break the Saints manager Tommy Wright made changes to his side reducing them to 3 at the back and it seemed to be working with the home side producing some good football and pushing the Dees back into their own penalty area.  The wizardry of Stefan Scougall was a pleasure to watch as he ran the ball from his own half, his pace and trickery bemused the Dees midfield and defence but the ex- Sheffield United attacking midfielder was left to his own resources as team mates were unable keep up with fiery pace.

     St. Johnstone piled on the pressure for most of the second half but their reduced number began to show toward the end of the game and as Dundee scored early on in the game they made sure of the the points in the first minute of injury time when substitute Faissal El Bakhtaoui stole the ball in midfield and played A Jay Leitch-Smith through for the ex Crewe Alexandra striker to hit a 20 yard shot into Zander Clark's far corner of the net.   

                             MATCH DETAILS