Dundee Football Club were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by St Johnstone at Dens Park on Wednesday night after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser. Substitute Charlie Reilly thought he had won it for the Dark Blues with an 88th-minute header, only for Josh Fowler to level two minutes later.
The result leaves Dundee fifth in the Scottish Premiership with seven points from five games, a record of two wins, one draw, and two losses. Their recent form reads DLWWL, and they sit five points behind leaders Celtic. The club's official report, filed by James Christie, detailed a match of missed chances and late drama.
How did the match unfold?
Dundee made three changes from the side that lost to Hibernian, with Bobby Wales handed his first start in place of Bradley Fink. Brad Halliday and Alan Forrest also came into the starting eleven. The first half saw few clear openings. St Johnstone's Taylor Steven had an early shot saved by Owen Goodman, while Alan Forrest saw his effort blocked. The visitors thought they had scored from a deflected corner, but referee Ross Hardie ruled it out for a push.
Goodman was called into action again before the break, making a good stop in a penalty area scramble. After half-time, Joe Westley raced clear onto an Alan Forrest chip but sent his shot wide. Dundee introduced Fink and Fin Robertson just after the hour mark, seeking a spark.
What decided the game?
The breakthrough finally came with just three minutes of normal time remaining. Fin Robertson chased a long ball to the byline and cut it back for Ryan Finnigan to cross. Westley's looping header crashed off the crossbar, and Charlie Reilly was perfectly placed to nod the rebound into the net. The home fans celebrated what seemed a certain victory.
Their joy was short-lived. Under pressure from Fowler, Owen Bevan played a risky pass back to Goodman. The goalkeeper's clearance was poor, finding Macaulay Tait 25 yards out. Tait immediately returned the ball into the box, where Fowler turned and fired high into the net for a 90th-minute equaliser. James Christie noted, "The Dark Blues should have held out for a win, but two minutes later poor defending allowed Josh Fowler to equalise."
What does the data tell us?
Dundee had 41% of possession and won 19 of their 30 aerial duels. Central defenders Ryan Astley and Owen Bevan were dominant in the air, winning all six and six of seven duels respectively. The team's expected goals (xG) total from their previous match against Hibernian was 1.50, while they conceded chances worth 2.70 xG in that defeat. Joe Westley's 83rd-minute header against St Johnstone, which hit the bar, carried a high xG value of 0.87, underlining it was a major opportunity.
You can review the team's detailed performance metrics on our stats page and see how the table shapes up in the standings.
What's next for Dundee?
The focus now shifts to a tough away trip to face Heart of Midlothian on Sunday, September 6th. Hearts currently sit third in the table, making it a significant challenge for Tony Docherty's side as they look to bounce back from this late disappointment. Dundee have scored six goals and conceded four this season for a +2 goal difference. The full schedule for the coming weeks is available on the club's fixtures list. The team will travel to Tynecastle looking to improve on a recent form record that shows one loss from their last outing.
