2019–20 St Johnstone F.C. season

St Johnstone F.C.
2019–20 season
ChairmanSteve Brown
ManagerTommy Wright
StadiumMcDiarmid Park
Perth, Scotland
(Capacity: 10,696)
Scottish Premiership6th
Scottish CupQuarter-finals
Scottish League CupGroup stage
Top goalscorerLeague:
Callum Hendry (7)
All:
Callum Hendry (9)
Highest home attendance8,743 vs Celtic
Lowest home attendance1,497 vs Brechin City
Average home league attendance4,091

The 2019–20 season was the club's seventh season in the Scottish Premiership and their tenth consecutive season in the top flight of Scottish football. St Johnstone also competed in the Scottish Cup and the League Cup.

On 13 March, the Scottish football season was suspended with immediate effect due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak.[1]
On 18 May, the SPFL declared the end of the season determining on an average points per game with the Saints finishing in sixth place, jumping Hibernian in the final standings.[2][3]

Season Summary

Tommy Wright remained as manager for the start of his seventh season in charge. St Johnstone were knocked out of League Cup at the Group Stage after losing three of the four matches played. The Saints were then thrashed 7–0 by Celtic on the opening day of the season. It didn't get much better for the Saints as they slumped to the bottom of the table before the September International break and remained there and were still win-less until mid-October.[4][5] They won both their matches against Hamilton and Hearts to end their win-less run and lift them off the bottom.[6] They went through December with four clean sheets, lifting the club up to ninth in the table.[7] In March, they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Celtic, narrowly losing at home. They were seven matches unbeaten and up to seventh in the League but the season was halted due to the Coronavirus pandemic. On 9 April, the Scottish football season was further suspended until at least 10 June.[8] On 2 May, manager Tommy Wright left the club.[9]

Results & fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

3 July 2019[10] Friendly Glentoran 1–1 St Johnstone The Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland
19:30 BST Allen 34' Report Trialist 20'
6 July 2019[11] Friendly Linfield 2–4 St Johnstone Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland
14:00 BST Lavery 3'
Forde 83'		 Report Swanson 20'
Hendry 70'
McCann 80'
Kerr 86'		 Referee: Ian McNabb
9 July 2019[12] Friendly Greenock Morton 2–3 St Johnstone Cappielow
19:45 BST Nesbitt 56'
Sutton 59'		 Report O'Halloran 15'
Tanser 26' (pen.)
Wotherspoon 49'		 Attendance: 635
Referee: Steven Reid
12 July 2019[13] Friendly Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–1 St Johnstone Grant Street Park
19:45 BST Keatings 35'
Todorov 67'
Machado 85'		 Report Tanser 51' (pen.)

Scottish Premiership

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Premiership
3 August 2019 1 Celtic 7–0 St Johnstone Celtic Park
15:00 Johnston 9'
Christie 26', 30', 67'
Ntcham 72'
Édouard 80'
Griffiths 86'		 BBC Report Attendance: 58,877
Referee: Kevin Clancy
10 August 2019 2 St Johnstone 2–2 Livingston McDiarmid Park
14:00[14] Kennedy 55'
Hendry 82'		 BBC Report Lawless 13'
Pittman 39'		 Attendance: 2,349
Referee: Andrew Dallas
24 August 2019 3 Hibernian 2–2 St Johnstone Easter Road
15:00 Jackson 25'
Kamberi 69'		 BBC Report O'Halloran 68'
Kerr 90+4'		 Attendance: 15,315
Referee: Don Robertson
31 August 2019 4 St Johnstone 0–1 Kilmarnock McDiarmid Park
15:00 BBC Report O'Donnell 40' Attendance: 3,427
Referee: David Munro
14 September 2019 5 Aberdeen 1–1 St Johnstone Pittodrie Stadium
15:00 Hedges 28' Report O'Halloran 43' Attendance: 13,272
Referee: Steven McLean
22 September 2019 6 St Johnstone 0–4 Rangers McDiarmid Park
12:15 Report Morelos 47'
Goldson 61'
Defoe 88', 90'		 Attendance: 6,251
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Note: Game televised on BT Sport
28 September 2019 7 St Johnstone 0–1 Motherwell McDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Cole 42' Attendance: 2,972
Referee: Gavin Duncan
5 October 2019 8 Ross County 2–2 St Johnstone Global Energy Stadium
15:00 Chalmers 10'
Spittal 68'		 Report May 24'
Kennedy 51'		 Attendance: 4,124
Referee: Euan Anderson
19 October 2019 9 St Mirren 2–0 St Johnstone St Mirren Park
15:00 Obika 37'
Mullen 61'		 Report Attendance: 4,791
Referee: Nick Walsh
26 October 2019 10 St Johnstone 3–2 Hamilton Academical McDiarmid Park
15:00 Wotherspoon 36', 60'
Hendry 88'		 Report Miller 25'
Davies 83' (pen.)		 Attendance: 2,231
Referee: Alan Muir
30 October 2019 11 St Johnstone 1–0 Hearts McDiarmid Park
19:45 Berra 58' (Own goal) Report Attendance: 3,104
Referee: David Munro
2 November 2019 12[N 1] Rangers P–P St Johnstone Ibrox Stadium
9 November 2019 13 St Johnstone 1–4 Hibernian McDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry Yellow card 51'
May 90'		 Report Doidge 2', 17', 58'
Allan 48'		 Attendance: 3,931
Referee: Andrew Dallas
24 November 2019 14 St Johnstone 1–1 Aberdeen McDiarmid Park
15:00 Holt Yellow card 43'
Duffy Yellow card 45'
Kennedy 71'
Davidson Red card 74'
Hendry Red card 78'
Wotherspoon Yellow card 90'		 Report Cosgrove 21'
Logan Yellow card 39'
Bryson Yellow card 76'		 Attendance: 3,917
Referee: Kevin Clancy
30 November 2019 15 Motherwell 4–0 St Johnstone Fir Park
15:00 Cole 29'
Hartley 49'
Carroll 72'
Manzinga 89'		 Report McCann Yellow card 70' Attendance: 4,092
Referee: Euan Anderson
4 December 2019 16 Kilmarnock 0–0 St Johnstone Rugby Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 4,083
Referee: Bobby Madden
8 December 2019 17[N 2] St Johnstone P–P Celtic McDiarmid Park
Report
14 December 2019 18 Heart of Midlothian 0–1 St Johnstone Tynecastle Park
15:00 Report Hendry 74' Attendance: 16,347
Referee: Alan Newlands
21 December 2019 19 St Johnstone 0–0 St Mirren McDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 3,318
Referee: John Beaton
26 December 2019 20 Hamilton Academical 0−1 St Johnstone Fountain of Youth Stadium
15:00 Easton Yellow card 83' Report Davidson Yellow card 59'
McCann 80'
Hendry Yellow card 81'		 Attendance: 1,536
Referee: Gavin Duncan
29 December 2019 21 St Johnstone 1−1 Ross County McDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry 84' Report Vigurs 72'
Graham Yellow card 68' Yellow-red card 90+3'		 Attendance: 2,658
Referee: Bobby Madden
22 January 2020 22 Livingston 1−0 St. Johnstone Almondvale Stadium
19:45 McMillan Yellow card 40'
Bartley Yellow card 44'
Pittman 56'		 Report Kane Yellow card 80' Attendance: 1,140
Referee: Euan Anderson
25 January 2020 23 St Johnstone 2–1 Kilmarnock McDiarmid Park
15:00 McCann 7'
Wotherspoon Yellow card 24', 83'
Hendry Yellow card 89'		 Report Burke 22' (pen.)
Del Fabro Yellow card 79'
Findlay Yellow card 89'
Kiltie Yellow card 90+2'		 Attendance: 2,609
Referee: Alan Muir
29 January 2020 17[N 3] St Johnstone 0–3 Celtic McDiarmid Park
19:45 Report Ntcham 6'
Forrest 20'
Griffiths 26'		 Attendance: 8,743
Referee: John Beaton
1 February 2020 24 St Johnstone 3–3 Heart of Midlothian McDiarmid Park
15:00 May 17', 62' (Penalty)
McCann 52'		 BBC Report Boyce 26'
Naismith 31'
Clare 90+1'		 Attendance: 6,002
Referee: Aitken
5 February 2020 25 Aberdeen 0–1 St Johnstone Pittodrie Stadium
19:45 Report McCann 6' Attendance: 12,552
Referee: Kevin Clancy
12 February 2020 26 St Johnstone 2–1 Motherwell McDiarmid Park
19:45 Hendry 27'
Kane 90+3'		 Report Long 32'
Donnelly Yellow card 69'
Manzinga Yellow card 77' Yellow-red card 82'
Carroll Yellow card 90+1'		 Attendance: 2,655
Referee: Nick Walsh
15 February 2020 27 Ross County 1–1 St Johnstone Global Energy Stadium
15:00 McKay 90+4' Report May 33' Attendance: 3,569
Referee: Colin Steven
23 February 2020 28 St Johnstone 2–2 Rangers McDiarmid Park
13:30 Hendry 8'
Booth Yellow card 63'
May 80'		 Report Kamberi 53'
Aribo 71'		 Attendance: 8,286
Referee: Willie Collum
4 March 2020 29 St Mirren 0–0 St Johnstone Simple Digital Arena
19:45 Report Craig Yellow card 55' Yellow-red card 79' Attendance: 4,287
Referee: Euan Anderson
7 March 2020 30 St Johnstone 1–0 Livingston McDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry 84' Report Attendance: 3,008
Referee: Kevin Clancy
14 March 2020 31[N 4] Hibernian Cancelled St Johnstone Easter Road
15:00
21 March 2020 32[N 4] Celtic Cancelled St Johnstone Celtic Park
15:00
4 April 2020 33[N 4] St Johnstone Cancelled Hamilton Academical McDiarmid Park
15:00
12[N 4] Rangers Cancelled St Johnstone Ibrox Stadium

League Cup

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup
16 July 2019[15] Group Montrose 1–0 St Johnstone Links Park
19:45 Cregg Yellow card 40'
Masson 72'		 SPFL Report McClean Yellow card 75' Attendance: 866
Referee: Barry Cook
21 July 2019 Group St Johnstone 1–2 Ross County McDiarmid Park
15:00 Tanser 8' (pen.)
Craig Yellow card 40'		 BBC Report Mckay 30', 45+1'
Vigurs Yellow card 40'		 Attendance: 1,648
Referee: Bobby Madden
Note: Game televised on BT Sport
24 July 2019 Group St Johnstone 4–0 Brechin City McDiarmid Park
19:45 Tanser 6' (pen.)
Kane 33'
Hendry 74'
Kennedy 76'		 BBC Report Hill Yellow card 88' Attendance: 1,497
Referee: Steven McLean
27 July 2019 Group Forfar Athletic 2–1 St Johnstone Station Park
15:00 Tapping 2'
Forbes 53'		 BBC Report Kennedy 65' Attendance: 1,009
Referee: Euan Anderson

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Cup
18 January 2020 Fourth Round St Johnstone 3–0 Greenock Morton McDiarmid Park
15:00 Booth 4'
Davidson 57'
May 74'		 Report Attendance: 2,397
Referee: Nick Walsh
8 February 2020 Fifth Round Ayr United 1–2 St Johnstone Somerset Park
15:01 Drinan 4' Report Muirhead 18' (o.g)
Hendry 27'		 Attendance: 2,625
Referee: Steven McLean
1 March 2020 Quarter-finals St Johnstone 0–1 Celtic McDiarmid Park
15:00 Christie 81' Attendance: Bobby Madden
Referee: 8,181

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 7 March 2020
No. Pos Player Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland Zander Clark 29 0 2 0 3 0 34 0
2 DF Scotland Wallace Duffy 11 0 3 0 0+1 0 15 0
3 DF England Scott Tanser 19+2 0 4 2 1+1 0 27 2
4 DF Scotland Jamie McCart 7+1 0 0 0 2 0 10 0
7 MF Scotland Drey Wright 16+6 0 0 0 3 0 25 0
8 MF Scotland Murray Davidson 17 0 3 0 1 1 21 1
9 FW Scotland Chris Kane 11+12 1 2 1 1+2 0 28 2
10 MF Canada David Wotherspoon 15+6 3 1 0 3 0 25 3
11 MF Scotland Danny Swanson 3+4 0 4 0 0 0 11 0
12 GK England Elliot Parish 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
14 FW Scotland Stevie May 20+4 6 0 0 3 1 27 7
15 DF Scotland Jason Kerr (c) 29 1 4 0 3 0 36 1
16 MF England Matt Butcher 3+3 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
17 FW Scotland Michael O'Halloran 14+10 2 3 0 0+1 0 28 2
18 MF Scotland Ali McCann 26+3 4 2+1 0 3 0 35 4
19 MF Scotland Jason Holt 15+2 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
20 MF England Isaiah Jones 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 1 0
21 DF Scotland Anthony Ralston 21+1 0 0 0 2 0 24 0
22 FW Scotland Callum Hendry 5+15 7 2+2 1 2+1 1 27 9
23 DF Scotland Liam Gordon 16 0 0 0 2 0 18 0
24 DF Scotland Callum Booth 12+1 0 0 0 2 1 15 1
26 MF Scotland Liam Craig 9+6 0 2 0 1 0 18 0
50 FW Scotland Jordan Northcott 0 0 0+2 0 0 0 2 0
Player who left the club during the season
4 MF Scotland Ross Callachan 1+1 0 1+1 0 0 0 4 0
5 DF Estonia Madis Vihmann 2+2 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
6 DF Scotland Steven Anderson 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
16 FW Republic of Ireland David McMillan 0 0 0+3 0 0 0 3 0
19 DF Scotland Ricky Foster 2 0 3 0 0 0 5 0
20 MF Northern Ireland Kyle McClean 0 0 2+1 0 0 0 3 0
33 MF Northern Ireland Matty Kennedy 16+2 3 2+1 2 0 0 21 5
38 MF Scotland Cameron Ballantyne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
40 DF Scotland Samuel Denham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
44 MF Scotland Shaun Struthers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 GK Scotland Ross Sinclair 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification or relegation[a]
4 Aberdeen 30 12 9 9 40 36 +4 45 1.50 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
5 Livingston 30 10 9 11 41 39 +2 39 1.30
6 St Johnstone 29 8 12 9 28 46 −18 36 1.24
7 Hibernian 30 9 10 11 42 49 −7 37 1.23
8 Kilmarnock 30 9 6 15 31 41 −10 33 1.10
Source: BBC SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game; 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).[17]
Notes:
  1. ^ All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

League Cup table

Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup § Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS FOR MON STJ BRE
1 Ross County 4 4 0 0 0 12 2 +10 12 Qualification for the Second Round — 2–0 4–1 — —
2 Forfar Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 4 +5 9 — — — 2–1 3–0
3 Montrose 4 1 1 0 2 4 9 −5 5 — 1–4 — 1–0 —
4 St Johnstone 4 1 0 0 3 6 5 +1 3 1–2 — — — 4–0
5 Brechin City 4 0 0 1 3 1 12 −11 1 0–4 — 1–1p — —
Source: [18]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[19]

Transfers

See also

List of St Johnstone F.C. seasons

Footnotes

  1. ^ Match postponed due to Rangers involvement in League Cup. Was not re-scheduled
  2. ^ Match postponed due to Celtic involvement in League Cup. Re-scheduled for 29 Jan 2020
  3. ^ Re-scheduled match after initial postponement
  4. ^ a b c d Match cancelled due to Coronavirus outbreak

References

  1. ^ "Coronavirus – Joint Response Group Update". SPFL. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. ^ "How does the final Scottish Premiership table look?". BBC Sport.
  4. ^ "St Johnstone: Tommy Wright's achievements mean no panic at McDiarmid". BBC Sport. October 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "St Johnstone: Tommy Wright says he does not feel under pressure". BBC Sport. October 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "St Johnstone 1-0 Hearts: Own goal piles pressure on Craig Levein". BBC Sport. October 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "St Johnstone 0-0 St Mirren: Both clubs slump to just one point above play-off spot". BBC Sport. December 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "Scottish football season suspended until 10 June". BBC Sport. 9 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Wright quits as St Johnstone manager". BBC Sport. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Second pre-season fixture confirmed". saints. 16 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Pre-Season friendly v Linfield confirmed". saints. 1 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Third friendly fixture confirmed". saints. 30 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Fourth pre-season friendly confirmed". saints. 17 June 2019.
  14. ^ GB, Sports Media. "St. Johnstone - News Item". www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk.
  15. ^ "Betfred Cup group stage fixtures | SPFL". spfl.co.uk.
  16. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  17. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group B". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  20. ^ a b "St Johnstone sign up goalkeeper Elliott Parish & defender Wallace Duffy". BBC Sport. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  21. ^ "St Johnstone sign Estonia centre-half Madis Vihmann on loan from Flora". BBC Sport. 26 July 2019.
  22. ^ Masson, James (2 August 2019). "St Johnstone snap up former Man United goalkeeper Max Johnstone". Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  23. ^ "Stevie May returns to St Johnstone after leaving Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Ralston joins Saints on loan from Celtic". BBC Sport. 2 September 2019.
  25. ^ "St Johnstone sign Booth until January". BBC Sport. 16 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Jamie McCart: St Johnstone complete signing of Inverness defender". BBC Sport. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  27. ^ a b "St Johnstone: Matt Butcher & Isaiah Jones sign as Callum Hendry extends contract". BBC Sport. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  28. ^ "Comrie moves to Dunfermline | SPFL". spfl.co.uk.
  29. ^ "Tony Watt exits St Johnstone to join CSKA Sofia". BBC Sport. May 27, 2019.
  30. ^ "Hibs raid Scottish Premiership rivals as they strengthen development squad". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
  31. ^ "Hamilton: Brian Easton rejoins from St Johnstone". BBC Sport. May 29, 2019.
  32. ^ "Blair Alston: Midfielder joins Hamilton after St Johnstone exit". BBC Sport. June 6, 2019.
  33. ^ GB, Sports Media. "St. Johnstone - News Item". www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk.
  34. ^ GB, Sports Media. "St. Johnstone - News Item". www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk.
  35. ^ GB, Sports Media. "St. Johnstone - News Item". www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk.
  36. ^ "Joe Shaughnessy: Southend United sign former St Johnstone captain after trial". BBC Sport. August 1, 2019.
  37. ^ Durent, Jamie. "Cove Rangers sign teenager John Robertson on loan deal from St Johnstone".
  38. ^ "Richard Foster: Ross County resign right-back after St Johnstone fallout". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019.
  39. ^ "McClean departs by mutual consent". St Johnstone F.C. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  40. ^ "Kyle McClean: Former St Johnstone midfielder to join Linfield in January". BBC Sport. 13 November 2019.
  41. ^ "MCMILLAN JOINS FALKIRK". Scottish Professional Football League. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  42. ^ "Steven Anderson". Raith Rovers F.C. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  43. ^ "Ross joins on loan". Dundee FC. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  44. ^ Smith, Tyrone (24 January 2020). "'He can make a difference for us' - St Johnstone's Kennedy joins Aberdeen early". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  45. ^ "Former Ladbrokes Premiership player announces his retirement from football at just 24 for 'personal reasons'". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 18 March 2020.