Football Oct 27, 2026

St Johnstone 1-1 Dundee United: Lyall Cameron equalises to earn Dundee United a point

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
St Johnstone 1-1 Dundee United: Lyall Cameron equalises to earn Dundee United a point

Lyall Cameron's 79th-minute strike earned Dundee United a deserved 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.

United trailed at half-time to a Josh Fowler goal, the striker's sixth of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

The league's top scorer did not make it out for the second half due to illness and Simo Valakari's side were unable to repeat the trick of last Sunday in Aberdeen when they successfully defended a 1-0 lead.

Jim Goodwin simply had too many creative and attacking options to throw at their hosts.

Despite a decent defensive stand from the hosts, Cameron struck the second goal of his impressive loan spell from Rangers.

The clubs are locked on 12 points in the top half of the table after encouraging starts to the campaign.

The visitors had been dominant for the opening 20 minutes, cutting through Saints at will. Cheick Diabate, on return from suspension, helped them out with jittery early moments.

Jesse Randall was a danger down United's favoured right flank and Dan Finlayson spared Diabate by charging down the winger's netbound shot. Idjessi Metsoko met a Joshua Rawlins cross six yards out but headed weakly into Toby Steward's arms.

On the opposite flank, Michael Forbes sent Daniel Bennie darting down the inside left channel. Diabate's swiped clearance off the QPR loanee's low delivery came within inches of his own net.

Saints settled thereafter and forced Jack Walton into action on 17 minutes. Sam Stanton's shot on the spin was forced away by the United keeper at full stretch.

Four minutes later, the hosts were in front.

United lost track of Fowler as Enes Alic's teasing cross from the left hit the six-yard box. This was perfect preying territory for an on-form scorer and Fowler pounced to prod home.

United failed to recapture their early momentum. Saints keeper Steward coped comfortably in the 40th minute with Dylan Tait's long-range effort.

Ruari Paton came on for Fowler at the break and teed up Taylor Steven. The Scotland Under-21 cap was wayward with his effort.

Paton saw his own shot spilled by Walton who recovered to block from Stanton's follow-up. But that was about all Saints had to offer by way of attacking threat.

It was all United who grew in threat with Zac Sapsford and Lachlan Rose up top. The excellent Finlayson helped Saints defend their penalty box well.

However, they were worn down 11 minutes from time. Randall delivered a low ball into the box and Sapsford's shrewd dummy helped it reach Cameron.

The midfielder was nudged by Liam Smith and a penalty could have been awarded. However, Cameron kept his balance and cool to tuck home high past Steward.

Steward pulled off a great stop after 90 minutes from Sapsford to preserve a point for Saints.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin:

"When you're a goal behind at half-time, you're questioning the character.

"You want to see if the players have what it takes to get themselves back into the game.

"I felt the goal was coming and, if we did get that equaliser, that we would potentially go on and win the game.

"Some of our build-up was a little bit too laboured at times; a little bit too slow.

"We asked the players: Could we speed things up a little bit and play forward earlier? And don't allow St Johnstone to get their shape back behind the ball.

"In the second half, I thought we completely dominated the game."

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari:

"It was a fair result. Both teams made it difficult for each other and were going for the winner at the end. I enjoyed the game.

"Josh (Fowler0 was ill overnight. He decided he could start but after about 35 minutes it looked like he might need to be taken off.

"I couldn't waste a window to make changes, so he was able to push for us to get to half-time.

"Now he needs to recover. It says a lot about Josh that he can still score a goal like that and make the runs he did when feeling ill. I had it earlier in the week, so I know what it's like!

"Getting a chance to score a goal is good medicine for a striker! That's why we love him and he is scoring goals - he has this desire that never goes away."

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