St Johnstone have been Promoted back to the Premiership at the first time of asking after a convincing win away at Scottish Cup finalist Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline came into this one off a huge win at Hampden on penalties against Falkirk and will take the last play-off spot with a win tonight, they also had two wins a draw and a defeat in the league going into this one.
Saints could book their place back in the top flight of Scottish football with a victory here tonight, and are unbeaten in 12 with their last loss coming against tonight’s opponents at McDiarmid Park back in February.
Neil Lennon made five changes to the team that got that historic win at Hampden as Chris Hamilton, Shea Kearney, John Tod, Josh Cooper and Tashan Oakley-Boothe came in for Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Alfons Amade, Charlie Gilmour, Robbie Fraser and Chris Kane.
Simo Valakari made one change to the team that won 4-0 at home against Airdrieonians as Jack Baird made way for Matthew Foulds.
The first glimpse of a chance came when Callum Morrison looked to be through on goal but some great defensive running from Liam Smith saved St Johnstone from a real problem early on.
St Johnstone responded with a couple of corners but they came to nothing as Saints looked to impose themselves on the game.
Jamie Gullan was next to try and get a shot away this time St Johnstone but his shot was blocked for a corner.
Gullan then smashed the crossbar from close range as the large away crowd at the other end of the ground was certain he had put them in front.
James McPake showed good strength against Shea Kearney to get the ball across to Gullan who miss hits the ball and Liam Smith’s shot was deflected wide.
McPake robs Nurudeen Abdulai of the ball at the edge of the box and gets it across to Ruari Paton, who’s near post shot is again deflected for a corner, but nothing comes of it.
Sam Stanton took a long-3range effort next on a bouncing ball that didn’t drop too far over the crossbar and had Aston Oxborough in Dunfermline’s goal scrambling back.
Josh Cooper got Dunfermline’s first real chance in a while, but it was easily blocked and cleared by Saints skipper Jason Holt.
Reece McAlear had another shot for St Johnstone but he dragged it well wide as the game remained goalless as we reached the last 10 minutes of the half.
Gullan got another shot off for Saints after good hold-up play by Paton, but his shot was an easy save for Oxborough.
Andy Tod got his first real involvement right before the break but his shot was high and wide of Toby Steward’s goal.
Right from the kick off of the second half Saints were up the park again, Gullan and McPake linked well but Gullan pulled his shot well wide of the goal.
Dunfermline had a nice break up the pitch and the ball lands at the feet of Kieran Ngwenya but the centre half batters the ball way over the bar.
St Johnstone finally made a breakthrough as McAlear’s deflected shot wrong-footed Oxborough and flew into the net to give Saints a well deserved lead just before the hour mark.
Toby Steward completely misses a clearance that wasn’t helped by a bobble in the park and almost tees it up perfectly for Callum Morrison, but the Saints keeper managed to scrape it away at the second attempt.
Liam Smith had another chance from a difficult angle and his shot went just over the bar as St Johnstone looked to make sure of the three points and the league title.
Saints got their second of the game with just over 15 minutes to go as Smith’s cross was headed in by Paton as it looked as if Simo Valakari’s team would be back up in the Premiership next season.
Dunfermline responded well after the second goal, but their lack of quality in the final third made it difficult to break down the St Johnstone defence.
The final whistle blew and confirmed that St Johnstone would again be a Premiership club, bouncing straight back up after relegation last season.
Next up for Dunfermline is a trip back to Hampden, lesser Hampden this time to face Queens Park in their penultimate league fixture.
As for St Johnstone, they have a Friday night game next, at home against Raith Rovers where they will be paraded as champions of the Scottish Championship.
Dunfermline Athletic
Aston Oxborough, Kieran Ngwenya, Chris Hamilton (Chris Kane 53’) , Matty Todd (Rory MacLeod 76’), Shea Kearney, Nurudeen Abdulai, Andrew Tod, John Tod, Josh Cooper (Alfons Amade 53’), Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Charlie Gilmour 33’), Callum Morrison (Lucas Fyfe 76’).
St Johnstone
Toby Steward, Cheick Diabate, Morgan Boyes, Jason Holt, Jamie Gullan (Taylor Steven 71’), Sam Stanton (Kai Fotheringham 90+1), Matthew Foulds, Ruari Paton, Josh McPake, Liam Smith (Adam Forrester 90+2), Reece McAlear.
