2020–21 St Johnstone F.C. season

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St Johnstone
2020–21 season
ChairmanSteve Brown
ManagerCallum Davidson
StadiumMcDiarmid Park
Scottish Premiership5th
Scottish CupWinners
League CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Guy Melamed (5)
All: Stevie May (9)
Cup finals colours

The 2020–21 St Johnstone F.C. season was the club's eighth season in the Scottish Premiership and their eleventh consecutive season in the top flight of Scottish football. St Johnstone also competed in the Scottish Cup and the League Cup, winning both competitions. St Johnstone became only the fourth Scottish team, and only the second outwith the Old Firm, to win a Scottish cup double.

Season summary[edit]

After the resignation of Tommy Wright, Alec Cleland took over as interim manager.[1] After sixteen years at the club Steven Anderson left before the season began along with Danny Swanson, Ross Callachan and David McMillan.[2] Former player and assistant manager Callum Davidson was appointed manager.[3] Former striker Steven MacLean retired to become a coach alongside Cleland who returns to his former role.[4] The Saints dropped to the bottom of the table after four games without a goal,[5] but after a 5–3 away win at Hamilton they moved off it.[6]

The Saints reached the final of the League Cup with a 3–0 win against Hibernian.[7] On 28 February 2021, St Johnstone defeated Livingston in the final thanks to a single goal from Shaun Rooney.[8] In doing so, the club won their first League Cup title, their second ever major honour, and ended Celtic's dominating run of having won the last 12 major honours at stake in Scotland.[8]

On 22 May 2021, St Johnstone won the Scottish Cup, defeating Hibs by a score of 1–0 in the final, with Shaun Rooney again netting the winning goal. With the victory, St Johnstone became just the fourth club in Scottish history to win the cup double after Aberdeen, Celtic, and Rangers.[9][10][11]

Results[edit]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season[edit]

21 July 2020 Friendly Aberdeen 1–2 St Johnstone Aberdeen
Anderson [12] Tanser 75' (pen), 80' Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 0
25 July 2020 Friendly St Mirren Cancelled St Johnstone Paisley
[13] Stadium: St Mirren Park
Note: Match cancelled after positive COVID-19 tests

Scottish Premiership[edit]

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Premiership
1 August 2020[14] 1 Dundee United 1–1 St Johnstone Tannadice Park
15:00 BST Clark 6' (pen.) Report Craig 55' Referee: Kevin Clancy
12 August 2020 3 Rangers 3–0 St Johnstone Ibrox Stadium
19:45 BST Barisic 21'
Kent 45+2'
Aribo 49'		 Report Referee: Euan Anderson
15 August 2020 4 Kilmarnock 1–2 St Johnstone Rugby Park
15:00 BST Tshibola 61'
Millen Red card 63'		 Report Wotherspoon 85'
O'Halloran 90+4'		 Referee: Andrew Dallas
20 August 2020 2 St Johnstone 0–1 Aberdeen McDiarmid Park
19:30 BST Craig Yellow card 88' Report Ferguson Yellow card 53'
Hedges 82', Yellow card 88'
McCrorie Yellow card 89'		 Referee: Willie Collum
Note: Rearranged after postponement, live on Sky Sports.
23 August 2020 5 St Johnstone 0–1 Hibernian McDiarmid Park
16:30 BST Craig Red card 90+4' Report Mallan 90+1' (pen.) Referee: John Beaton
Note: Live on Sky Sports, Liam Craig was sent off after the final whistle
29 August 2020 6 St Johnstone 1–0 St Mirren McDiarmid Park
15:00 BST May 72' Report Referee: Kevin Clancy
12 September 2020 7 Motherwell 1–0 St Johnstone Fir Park
15:00 BST Campbell 4', Yellow card 87'
O'Hara Yellow card 36'
Watt Yellow card 48'
Carson Yellow card 69'		 Report Referee: Euan Anderson
19 September 2020 8 St Johnstone 0–1 Ross County McDiarmid Park
15:00 BST [1] Vigurs 42' Referee: David Munro
26 September 2020 9 Livingston 2–0 St Johnstone Tony Macaroni Arena
15:00 BST Tiffoney 34'
Forrest 35'		 Report Referee: Craig Napier
4 October 2020 10 St Johnstone 0–2 Celtic McDiarmid Park
12:00 BST Report Griffiths 90'
Klimala 90+3'		 Referee: Nick Walsh
17 October 2020 11 Hamilton Academical 3–5 St Johnstone New Douglas Park
15:00 BST Hughes 40', 79'
Ogkmpoe 44'		 Report May 1', 33'
Wotherspoon 14'
Conway 69', 82'		 Referee: Alan Muir
24 October 2020 12 St Johnstone 0–0 Dundee United McDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrew Dallas
6 November 2020 14 St Johnstone 1–0 Kilmarnock McDiarmid Park
19:45 McNamara 70' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Gavin Duncan
21 November 2020 15 St Johnstone 1–1 Motherwell McDiarmid Park
15:00 May 34 pen.' Report O'Hara 17' Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven Kirkland
24 November 2020 13 Hibernian 2–2 St Johnstone McDiarmid Park
19:45 McGinn 36', 83' Report McCann 35'
Wotherspoon 76'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Clancy
6 December 2020 16 Celtic 1–1 St Johnstone Celtic Park
15:00 Elyounoussi 83' Report Kane 79' Attendance: 0
12 December 2020 17 St Johnstone 1–2 Livingston McDiarmid Park
15:00 Kane 54' Report Guthrie 48'
Robinson 65'		 Attendance: 0
19 December 2020 18 St Mirren 3–2 St Johnstone St Mirren Park
15:00 Erhahon 38'
Erwin 82'
Obika 87'		 Report May 22 pen.'
Tanser 44'
Kerr Red card 45'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
23 December 2020 19 St Johnstone 0–3 Rangers McDiarmid Park
18:00 O'Halloran Red card 83' Report Roofe 24'
Kamara 31'
Hagi 47'		 Attendance: 0
26 December 2020 20 Aberdeen 2–1 St Johnstone Pittodrie
15:00 Gosgrove 45+2 pen.'
Taylor 54'		 Report Gordon 38'
Hendry Red card 90'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
30 December 2020 21 St Johnstone 0–0 Hamilton Academical McDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: David Munro
2 January 2021 22 Ross County 1–1 St Johnstone Victoria Park
15:00 Draper 21' Report Conway 26 pen.' Attendance: 0
Referee: Willie Collum
12 January 2021 23 Dundee United 2–2 St Johnstone Tannadice Park
18:00 Appéré 9'
Shankland 53'		 Report Melamed 16'
Kane 38'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Colin Steven
16 January 2021 24 St Johnstone 1–0 St Mirren McDiarmid Park
15:00 Kane 46' Report MacPherson Red card 55' Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
27 January 2021 26 St Johnstone 0–0 Aberdeen McDiarmid Park
18:00 GMT Gordon Yellow card 81' Report Considine Yellow card 24' Referee: Don Robertson
30 January 2021 25 Kilmarnock 2–3 St Johnstone Rugby Park
15:00 Burke 5'
Tshibola 32'		 Report Melamed 53'
Davidson 68'
McCann 72'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 February 2021 27 Rangers 1–0 St Johnstone Ibrox Stadium
19:45 Roofe Yellow card 21'
Hagi 52'		 Report Kane Yellow card 85' Referee: David Munro
6 February 2021 28 Livingston 1–2 St Johnstone Tony Macaroni Arena
15:00 GMT Pittman 83' Report Tanser 45+2'
Rooney 51'		 Referee: Euan Anderson
14 February 2021 29 St Johnstone 1–2 Celtic McDiarmid Park
12:00 Rooney 50' Report Édouard 60', 62' Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven McLean
20 February 2021 30 Motherwell 0–3 St Johnstone Fir Park
15:00 GMT Report Melamed 19', 50 pen.'
Kerr 45'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: John Beaton
3 March 2021 31 Hamilton Academical 1–1 St Johnstone New Douglas Park
18:00 GMT Callachan 36' Report Melamed 87' Attendance: 0
Referee: Grant Irvine
6 March 2021 32 St Johnstone 1–0 Hibernian McDiarmid Park
15:00 Craig 16' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: David Dickinson
20 March 2021 33 St Johnstone 1–0 Ross County McDiarmid Park
15:00 Middleton 86' Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier
10 April 2021 34 St Johnstone 0–1 Aberdeen McDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Hayes 52' Attendance: 0
Referee: John Beaton
21 April 2021 35 St Johnstone 1–1 Rangers McDiarmid Park
19:45 Craig 90+4 pen.' Report Wright 55' Attendance: 0
Referee: Euan Anderson
1 May 2021 36 Hibernian 0–1 St Johnstone Easter Road
15:00 GMT Report Middleton 22' Attendance: 0
Referee: Greg Aitken
12 May 2021 37 Celtic 4–0 St Johnstone Celtic Park
15:00 GMT Turnbull 23'
Édouard 24'
Ajer 79'
Dembélé 85'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Bobby Madden
15 May 2021 38 St Johnstone 0–0 Livingston McDiarmid Park
12:30 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier

Scottish League Cup[edit]

Group stage[edit]

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Cup
6 October 2020 Kelty Hearts 1–2 St Johnstone New Central Park
19:45 Tidser 71' Report Kerr 45+2'
Kane 60'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Newlands
10 October 2020 St Johnstone 7–0 Brechin City McDiarmid Park
15:00 May 3', 58', 62'
Wotherspoon 25', 56'
Hendry 88' (pen.)
Davidson 90'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier
10 November 2020 St Johnstone 0–0
(3–4 p)		 Dundee United McDiarmid Park
19:45 Report Attendance: 0
14 November 2020 Peterhead 1–3 St Johnstone Balmoor Stadium
15:00 Rooney 78 o.g.' Report May 49 pen.', 60 pen.'
Kane 77'		 Attendance: 0

Knockout round[edit]

28 November 2020 Second round Motherwell 1–2 St Johnstone Fir Park
15:00 Watt 61' Report Hendry 68'
Wotherspoon 77'		 Attendance: 0
Referee: Alan Muir
15 December 2020 Quarter-final Dunfermline Athletic 1–1
(3–4 p)		 St Johnstone East End Park
19:45
Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson
23 January 2021 Semi-final St Johnstone 3–0 Hibernian Hampden Park
17:30
Report Attendance: 0
28 February 2021 Final Livingston 0–1 St Johnstone Hampden Park
14:00 Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Don Robertson

Scottish Cup[edit]

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Cup
3 April 2021 Third round Dundee 0–1 St Johnstone Dens Park
15:00 Report Melamed 20' Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Napier
17 April 2021 Fourth round St Johnstone 2–0 Clyde McDiarmid Park
12:00 Melamed 6'
O'Halloran 21'		 Report Attendance: 0
Referee: Steven Kirkland
25 April 2021 Quarter-final Rangers 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)		 St Johnstone Glasgow
18:30
Report
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: N/A
Referee: Alan Muir
Penalties
9 May 2021 Semi-final St Mirren 1–2 St Johnstone Glasgow
14:15 McCarthy 86' Report Kane 72'
Middleton 74'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Willie Collum
22 May 2021 Final St Johnstone 1–0 Hibernian Glasgow
14:00 Rooney 32' Report Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nick Walsh

Squad statistics[edit]

Appearances[edit]

As of 22 May 2021
No. Pos Player Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland Zander Clark 27 0 7 0 4 0 38 0
2 DF England James Brown 4+1 0 0 0 1+1 0 7 0
3 DF England Scott Tanser 21+6 1 4 0 2 0 33 1
4 DF Scotland Jamie McCart 36 0 6+1 0 5 0 48 0
5 DF Scotland Jason Kerr (c) 30 1 6 1 5 0 41 2
6 DF Scotland Liam Gordon 35+1 1 7 0 5 0 48 1
7 MF Scotland Craig Conway 19+8 3 5+2 0 0 0 34 3
8 MF Scotland Murray Davidson 14+7 1 4+2 1 0+1 0 28 2
9 FW Scotland Chris Kane 17+10 4 5+3 2 2+2 2 39 8
10 MF Canada David Wotherspoon 28+9 3 7+1 3 5 0 50 6
11 FW Scotland Michael O'Halloran 13+12 1 2+1 0 1+3 1 32 2
12 GK England Elliot Parish 9 0 1 0 1 0 11 0
13 MF Scotland Craig Bryson 12+8 0 2+2 0 2+2 0 28 0
14 FW Scotland Stevie May 17+16 4 3+5 5 3 0 44 9
15 MF Scotland Charlie Gilmour 1+1 0 0 0 0+1 0 3 0
16 MF Scotland Glenn Middleton 3+6 2 0 0 1+3 1 13 3
17 FW Israel Guy Melamed 11+7 5 1 0 4 2 23 7
18 MF Scotland Ali McCann 31+2 2 4 0 4+1 0 42 2
19 DF Scotland Shaun Rooney 20+8 2 8 2 4 1 40 5
20 FW Scotland John Robertson 0+5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
24 DF Scotland Callum Booth 15+3 0 7 0 3+1 0 29 0
25 GK Czech Republic Zdeněk Zlámal 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
26 MF Scotland Liam Craig 17+5 2 7 0 3 0 32 2
40 DF Scotland Samuel Denham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
46 FW Scotland Alexander Ferguson 0+1 0 0+1 0 0 0 2 0
Player who left the club during the season
2 DF Scotland Wallace Duffy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 DF Republic of Ireland Danny McNamara 22 1 0 0 0 0 22 1
16 FW England Isaac Olaofe 0+2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
22 FW England Callum Hendry 8+8 0 3+3 2 0 0 22 2
23 MF Scotland Cammy Ballantyne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 GK Scotland Ross Sinclair 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Team statistics[edit]

League table[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
3 Hibernian 38 18 9 11 48 35 +13 63 Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round
4 Aberdeen 38 15 11 12 36 38 −2 56
5 St Johnstone 38 11 12 15 36 46 −10 45 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round[b]
6 Livingston 38 12 9 17 42 54 −12 45
7 St Mirren 38 11 12 15 37 45 −8 45
Source: [15]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).[16]
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
  2. ^ St Johnstone qualified as the 2020–21 Scottish Cup winners.

League Cup table[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STJ DUN PET KEL BRE
1 St Johnstone 4 3 0 1 0 12 2 +10 10 Qualification for the Second round — 0–0p — — 7–0
2 Dundee United 4 2 1 0 1 7 3 +4 8 — — 0–1 1–0 —
3 Peterhead 4 2 1 0 1 6 5 +1 8 1–3 — — — 3–1
4 Kelty Hearts 4 1 0 1 2 4 4 0 4 1–2 — 1–1p — —
5 Brechin City 4 0 0 0 4 3 18 −15 0 — 2–6 — 0–2 —
Source: [17]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.[18]

Transfers[edit]

Main articles: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2020 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2020–21

Players in[edit]

Date Player From Fee
1 June 2020 Scotland Shaun Rooney Scotland Inverness Caledonian Thistle Free[19]
14 July 2020 Republic of Ireland Danny McNamara England Millwall Loan[20]
14 July 2020 England Isaac Olaofe England Millwall Loan[20]
31 July 2020 Scotland Craig Conway England Salford City Free[21]
18 September 2020 Scotland Craig Bryson Scotland Aberdeen Free[22]
5 October 2020 Israel Guy Melamed Israel Maccabi Netanya Free[23]
4 January 2021 England James Brown England Millwall Loan[24]
25 January 2021 Scotland Glenn Middleton Scotland Rangers Loan[25]
1 February 2021 Scotland Charlie Gilmour England Norwich City Free[26]
7 May 2021 Czech Republic Zdeněk Zlámal Scotland Heart of Midlothian Loan[27]

Players out[edit]

Date Player To Fee
16 May 2020 Scotland Danny Swanson Scotland East Fife Free[28][29]
29 June 2020 Scotland Ross Callachan Scotland Hamilton Academical Free[2][30]
10 July 2020 England Drey Wright Scotland Hibernian Free[31][32]
11 July 2020 Scotland Euan O'Riley Scotland Airdrieonians Free[2]
14 July 2020 Scotland Steven Anderson Scotland Forfar Athletic Free[2]
27 May 2020 Republic of Ireland David McMillan Republic of Ireland Dundalk Free[2]
30 July 2020 Scotland Danny Swanson Scotland East Fife Free[33][34]
27 May 2020 England Max Johnstone England AFC Fylde Free[2]
14 September 2020 Scotland Cammy Ballantyne Scotland Montrose Loan
22 September 2020 Scotland Olly Hamilton Scotland Cowdenbeath Loan
25 September 2020 Scotland Ross Sinclair Scotland Cowdenbeath Loan
5 October 2020 Scotland Wallace Duffy Scotland Inverness Caledonian Thistle Free[35]
5 October 2020 Scotland John Robertson Scotland Forfar Athletic Loan
27 May 2020 Scotland Shaun Struthers Scotland Jeanfield Swifts Free[2][36]
1 February 2021 Scotland Callum Hendry Scotland Aberdeen Loan[37]

See also[edit]

List of St Johnstone F.C. seasons

References[edit]

  1. ^ McFarlane, Jonathan. "Alec Cleland appointed St Johnstone caretaker boss after Tommy Wright exit". Daily Record. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Jane (27 May 2020). "St Johnstone's Steven Anderson eyes 'next chapter' after 16 years". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  3. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (18 June 2020). "Callum Davidson: St Johnstone appoint former player as boss". BBC Sport.
  4. ^ "St Johnstone: former player Steven MacLean appointed coach". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Celtic earn late win at St Johnstone". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ "St Johnstone edge Hamilton in thriller". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ Duncan, Thomas (23 January 2021). "St Johnstone 3-0 Hibernian: Perth side stun favourites to reach Scottish League Cup final". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ a b Lindsay, Clive (28 February 2021). "Livingston 0–1 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. ^ "St Johnstone complete dream double after beating Hibs to win Scottish Cup". The Guardian. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  10. ^ "St Johnstone edged Hibernian to lift the Scottish Cup for a second time and seal a domestic trophy double in the greatest season in the club's history". BBC. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  11. ^ "St Johnstone complete dream double after beating Hibs to win Scottish Cup". Guardian. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. ^ "PRE-SEASON | Aberdeen 1-2 Saints".
  13. ^ "St Johnstone's friendly against St Mirren on Saturday cancelled after Buddies confirm several members of coaching staff have tested positive for Covid-19".
  14. ^ "2020/21 Fixtures Announced". perthstjohnstone.co.uk. 6 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Summary - Premiership". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  16. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group C". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Caley Thistle full back will not join St Johnstone until contract runs out". Inverness Courier. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  20. ^ a b "St Johnstone: Millwall's Isaac Olaofe and Danny McNamara sign on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Conway: "I'm buzzing to get started"".
  22. ^ "Craig Bryson: St Johnstone sign former Aberdeen midfielder until end of season". BBC Sport. 18 September 2020.
  23. ^ "SAINTS SIGN STRIKER GUY MELAMED FROM MACCABI NETANYA". St Johnstone FC. 5 October 2020.
  24. ^ "James Brown: Millwall full-back joins St Johnstone on loan". BBC Sport. 4 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Glenn Middleton: St Johnstone sign Rangers winger on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Former Arsenal youngster Charlie Gilmour signs for Saints". perthstjohnstonefc. St Johnstone FC. 1 February 2021.
  27. ^ "St Johnstone sign Hearts goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal on seven-day emergency loan". glasgowtimes. Glasgow Times. 7 May 2021.
  28. ^ "St Johnstone release Danny Swanson as playmaker's third spell at McDiarmid Park comes to an end". www.thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Danny Swanson Agrees Terms to Join East Fife". East Fife FC. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  30. ^ McGilvray, Andy (2020-06-29). "Hamilton Accies confirm double signing swoop, with more to come". Daily Record. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  31. ^ "Drey Wright: Winger to leave St Johnstone after rejecting new deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  32. ^ "Hibernian sign Kevin Nisbet, Drey Wright & Alex Gogic". BBC Sport. 10 July 2020.
  33. ^ "St Johnstone release Danny Swanson as playmaker's third spell at McDiarmid Park comes to an end". www.thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Danny Swanson Agrees Terms to Join East Fife".
  35. ^ "Wallace Duffy signs for ICTFC". ictfc.com. 5 October 2020.
  36. ^ "Jeanfield Swifts sign former St Johnstone youngster Shaun Struthers". 28 November 2020.
  37. ^ "Dons sign Kamberi, Hornby and Hendry". BBC Sport. 1 February 2021.
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