St Johnstone secured their first league win of the season at McDiarmid Park this afternoon while Dundee remain pointless after three games.
Tommy Wright’s side created the better chances over the piece and in striker Tony Watt had the man with the composure to take one.
His second-half goal was the difference between the teams with Dundee simply unable to trouble home keeper Zander Clark enough after falling behind.
There were early chances for both teams with Dundee’s Steven Caulker heading just wide and then Watt tried a curling shot that Dark Blues keeper Jack Hamilton did well to parry.
St Johnstone had to make a change in the 14th minute with Murray Davidson having to be helped off by the medical team with Blair Alston replacing the injured midfielder.
Dundee came close to opening the scoring in the 25th minute with Adil Nabi hitting a long-range drive that Clark tipped over.
Just after the half-hour mark, St Johnstone had two quick-fire opportunities but David McMillan shot over when he should have hit the target and then Matty Kennedy pulled a shot just wide when well placed.
Shortly after, Dundee had two chances of their own with Clark having to parry a Jesse Curran strike from the edge of the box and then Ben Kallman was just inches wide with a shot following some good work by Glen Kamara.
Back came Saints and Kennedy had another fantastic opportunity but he hit his first-time effort from 12 yards straight at Hamilton with the keeper then having to make a vital stop at his near post from a venomous Watt strike.
Two minutes after the restart, Dundee’s Jean Mendy found himself with space and time in the Saints box but he shot tamely at Clark who easily gathered.
However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 51st minute with Watt bursting down the left before calmly slotting low past Hamilton.
Dundee huffed and puffed to no great effect after that but did have a great chance to equalise in the 89th minute however Clark pulled off a superb save to keep out sub Sofien Moussa’s header to ensure his side secured all three points.
