27/09/2025 – DUNDEE (H)

Sitting third in the table, unbeaten in 11 home matches, 1 defeat in our last 18 games anywhere, and only behind for a total of 3 minutes in the entire season so far, that’s out of 1140 minutes of play.

Saints legend Jimmy Bone, who was remembered before the match with a 1 minutes applause, would definitely approve. As would supporter Karen Singh, who was given the same on the 51st minute after tragically passing away recently.

This victory was indeed dedicated to Karen, stated Stephen Robinson after the match, proving he has class and understanding of the club, to go with his undoubted ability.

Off the park, it was a gloomy, dreich day, more early autumn than late summer, and in truth it wasn’t a great game.

In fact, it was strangely subdued and pretty flat. Everyone expected Saints to win, including Dundee going by their rather passive approach to the match, where they seemed happy to get back up the road with a 1-0 defeat.

If that was Stephen Pressley’s target, it was achieved thanks to a first half goal by Killian Phillips, the midfielder reacting with the reflexes of a predatory striker to turn a Mandron shot into the net after good build up play by John and Idowu.

This was the Irish internationalists fifth goal of the season, and I genuinely can’t remember a more passionate player to appear in the stripes that had no previous connection to the club or area.

His win at all costs attitude was summed up perfectly after 77 minutes, when he anticipated a pass from the Dundee keeper to his centre back, sprinted 20 yards, won the ball and was fouled earning a free kick deep into Dundee territory.

It’s the sort of handwork, desire and attitude that is typical of him and a Stephen Robinson side.

No team in the country is better at doing the “dirty work” than us, something that has unfairly allowed the team to be labelled “unpleasant to watch”, however it is unfair to expect the media to understand football outside the Glasgow bubble, especially when they are too busy enjoying free entry, food and drink as we spend hundreds of pounds every month following our team.

And what a pleasure and bargain it is. Chris Sutton, the lesser known and older brother of John Sutton, should take heed.

Back to the football, and to perhaps put some extra gloss on the day, this victory against the Dees was achieved without 3 starting players, with Marcus Fraser still missing and joined by captain Mark O’Hara and Keanu Baccus.

Although we are undoubtably stretched, the quality of replacements were high on Saturday.

Richard King, Liam Donnelly and Roland Idowu stepped in, and all three were impressive, particularly Idowu who gave the midfield a different dimension, something needed in a match where we would have a lot of possession.

These games were our Achilles Heel last season, losing all three home matches to Dundee clubs, despite being favourites for all of them and dominating the games, but unable to take the lead in any, costing us late in matches.

This season the squad may be small, but the quality is higher than at any other time under Robinson and that fills us with great optimism for the rest of the campaign.

Another player to make an impact was Fraser Taylor, who made his first appearance for a few weeks, and we still believe the little playmaker has a key part to play this season, especially at home late in matches.

Things are going incredibly well currently, but it’s a tough league as we know, and even one defeat could see us tumble down multiple places, so tight is the division at the moment.

That said, we have momentum, which is an invaluable commodity in football, and in recent seasons multiple clubs have secured European football off the back of one sensational run of form, including us in 2023/24 after our record start to that campaign.

We now return to the scene of our recent League Cup Quarter Final success, Rugby Park, and another opportunity to build on our great start to the season. If you can, get down to Ayrshire and support the team!

COYS!

Dundee Players of the Match:

5 points – Killian Phillips

3 points – Roland Idowu

1 point – Alex Gogic

Check our the Player of the Season race here –

PLAYER OF THE SEASON 2025/26