St Johnstone 2 Dundee 0 

by Andrew Muirhead

St Johnstone secured their first major piece of silverware in their 130-year history after they defeated favourites Dundee United 2-0 in the Scottish Cup Final at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon.

Steven Anderson gave the Perth side the lead on the stroke of half-time, punishing United keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak for failing to gather the ball as he came off his line. 

With seven minutes to go, Steven MacLean put the game beyond Dundee after he prodded home St Johnstone’s second of the game, after initially being denied by Czierniak when one-on-one.

After the match, a jubilant Tommy Wright  said: “This is the pinnacle of my career, but it means a lot more to many other people. 

“To our fans, players, staff and Geoff and Steve Brown, who put a lot into this club. 

“Words can’t describe how I feel. We sent out a rallying call to supporters and they answered it. 

“In one-off games it needs a tough side to get the better of us. I felt we had the potential to be a good side and that’s proved to be the case. 

“We believed this could be our year.

“For us to get the first major trophy, words basically can’t describe how I feel. It’s so special to so many people.”

It was the Perth side’s first time in a Scottish Cup final and they certainly had luck on their side at times, as United twice hit the woodwork. 

First through Ryan Dow after a neat backheel came back off the post and a second half free-kick from Nadir Ciftci struck the crossbar before hitting the back of Saints keeper Alan Mannus and being gathered by the grateful shot stopper.

St Johnstone had a goal disallowed in the second half for handball after Stevie May knocked the ball over the line, before MacLean’s goal secured victory.

United manager Jackie McNamara added: “It just wasn’t our day today. The goal going in just before half-time was a real body blow for us but we tried to break them down in the second half and it just wouldn’t go for us.

“We had chances but there’s a thin line between winning and losing sometimes and I’m disappointed with the goals, especially the first one.

‘’I think we can play a lot better. I think we can raise the tempo, which we tried to do more in the second half.

‘’At times it was quite stop-start but we have to congratulate St Johnstone on their victory, you have to give them credit.’’