St Johnstone travel to the CalForth Construction Arena this weekend to face Dundee United in the latest match in their battle against relegation from the Scottish Premiership.
The Saints are currently bottom of the table, having secured 29 points from their 32 league matches this season.
Match preview
© Imago
Last weekend, Simo Valakari's side secured a precious three points against defending champions Celtic to delay the title party at Celtic Park for a little bit longer.
Latvian defender Daniels Balodis scored the only goal of the game in the fourth minute as St Johnstone recorded a rare victory over the Hoops.
Indeed, last weekend's triumph was the first time that the Perth side have tasted success against Celtic since May 2016, ending a lengthy winless streak against the Celts.
Although the unexpected three points were a welcome boost for St Johnstone, they still find themselves five points adrift of 11th-placed Dundee, who managed to secure a 2-0 win over St Mirren last time out.
The Saints are familiar with relegation battles, having finished no higher than ninth in any of the past three seasons.
To stand any chance of survival, the visitors will need to make up that five-point gap between themselves and Dundee, as that would at least put them in a relegation playoff position.
The visitors have struggled for goals this season, with just 33 goals in 32 games, which makes them the second-lowest scorers in the division.
Their form has picked up in recent weeks, however, with their victory against Celtic being their third win in their last six matches in all competitions.
Having won just four of their opening 23 matches this season, St Johnstone now have secured four victories in their last nine league outings, which is a sign that things are at least improving for the visitors.
The 3-0 loss that they suffered to Hibernian at the end of March is also the only game that they have lost in their past six, as they look to pull off a great escape in the battle against the drop.
Despite an ongoing relegation battle, the visitors are still going strong in the Scottish Cup, and if they can repeat the trick of beating Celtic when the two sides meet each other in the semi-final next weekend, then St Johnstone will have a cup final to look forward to in May.
With the league about to split in half for the final five matches after this weekend, the Saints will welcome the opportunity to face sides that are close to them in the standings.
The history books are against the visitors in their relegation battle, as only four sides that have had fewer than 30 points heading into the final five matches have managed to survive since the competition's rebrand in 2013, but should the visitors secure at least a draw this weekend, they will have at least 30 points on the board.
![Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/jim-goodwin.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Before they can focus on that, they have to travel to a Dundee United side that are currently 18 points ahead of them in the table.
The hosts have already secured their place in the top six, having exceeded all expectations of them following their promotion as champions of the Scottish Championship last year.
Should the hosts win this weekend, they could move up to fourth in the table if Aberdeen fail to beat Rangers in their match on Sunday.
There is certainly a buzz around the hosts right now, as their terrific season could potentially see them qualify for European football next term.
One of the reasons that the hosts are having such a great campaign is their strength in defence, as Jim Goodwin's men have conceded just 40 times in their 32 matches so far, a record only bettered by Celtic and Rangers.
Interestingly, the hosts have performed better on the road this season, picking up 26 of their 47 points this season away from home, giving them the third-best away record, once again behind Celtic and Rangers.
That away record includes their last two matches in the league, in which Goodwin's side secured important 1-0 victories over both Ross County and Hearts.
Those two triumphs helped bring a minor blip in their season to an end, as the Terrors have won just three of their past 10 matches in all competitions.
This weekend's visitors will certainly look at the Tangerines with envy, as St Johnstone have the second-worst away record in the league, having secured only 12 points on their travels all season.
The two sides have met twice in the league already this season, with Dundee United coming out on top in both matches, and another win for the hosts this weekend would mark the first time that they have recorded three victories in a row against the Saints since January 2002.
Back in August, Luca Stephenson put the Tangerines ahead, before a late own goal from Jack Sanders ensured that the three points for Dundee United.
In their most recent meeting back in December, Makenzie Kirk put St Johnstone ahead, before goals from Glenn Middleton and Sam Dalby turned the game in Dundee United's favour.
Team News
© Imago
The hosts were boosted by the unexpected return of Declan Gallagher against Hearts following a recent ankle injury, and he is now expected to start once again this weekend.
Dundee United continue to rely on the goals of Dalby, who has netted 14 times in the league this season in an impressive spell on loan from Wrexham.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be missing Bozo Mikulic (ACL) and Sam McClelland (back) for the rest of the campaign.
Elsewhere, Uche Ikpeazu's season continues to be disrupted by injury, and the former Port Vale man is still waiting to make his debut for St Johnstone following three operations this season.
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Walton; Adegboyega, Gallagher, Cleall-Harding, Strain; Ferry, Campbell, Docherty, Stephenson; Moult, Dalby
St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Fisher; Curtis, Balodis, Mitchell, Wright; Carey, Holt, Griffith, Duke-McKenna; Kirk, Sidibeh
We say: Dundee United 2-0 St Johnstone
The visitors are on a high following their shock win over Celtic, but we still expect Dundee United to win this clash.
They are having an excellent season, and they are very strong at the back, so we think they keep a clean sheet here and win relatively comfortably.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
