2019–20 St Johnstone F.C. season

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.

St Johnstone
2019–20 season
ChairmanSteve Brown
ManagerTommy Wright (until 2 May)
StadiumMcDiarmid Park
Perth, Scotland
(Capacity: 10,696)
Scottish PremiershipSixth place
Scottish League CupGroup Stage
Scottish CupQuarter-Finals
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

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] FriendlyGlentoran1–1St JohnstoneThe Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland
19:30 BST Allen  34' Report Trialist  20'
6 July 2019[11] FriendlyLinfield2–4St JohnstoneWindsor 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] FriendlyGreenock Morton2–3St JohnstoneCappielow
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] FriendlyInverness Caledonian Thistle3–1St JohnstoneGrant 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 1Celtic7–0St JohnstoneCeltic 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 2St Johnstone2–2LivingstonMcDiarmid Park
14:00[14] Kennedy  55'
Hendry  82'		 BBC Report Lawless  13'
Pittman  39'		 Attendance: 2,349
Referee: Andrew Dallas
24 August 2019 3Hibernian2–2St JohnstoneEaster Road
15:00 Jackson  25'
Kamberi  69'		 BBC Report O'Halloran  68'
Kerr  90+4'		 Attendance: 15,315
Referee: Don Robertson
31 August 2019 4St Johnstone0–1KilmarnockMcDiarmid Park
15:00 BBC Report O'Donnell  40' Attendance: 3,427
Referee: David Munro
14 September 2019 5Aberdeen1–1St JohnstonePittodrie Stadium
15:00 Hedges  28' Report O'Halloran  43' Attendance: 13,272
Referee: Steven McLean
22 September 2019 6St Johnstone0–4RangersMcDiarmid 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 7St Johnstone0–1MotherwellMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Cole  42' Attendance: 2,972
Referee: Gavin Duncan
5 October 2019 8Ross County2–2St JohnstoneGlobal Energy Stadium
15:00 Chalmers  10'
Spittal  68'		 Report May  24'
Kennedy  51'		 Attendance: 4,124
Referee: Euan Anderson
19 October 2019 9St Mirren2–0St JohnstoneSt Mirren Park
15:00 Obika  37'
Mullen  61'		 Report Attendance: 4,791
Referee: Nick Walsh
26 October 2019 10St Johnstone3–2Hamilton AcademicalMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Wotherspoon  36', 60'
Hendry  88'		 Report Miller  25'
Davies  83' (pen.)		 Attendance: 2,231
Referee: Alan Muir
30 October 2019 11St Johnstone1–0HeartsMcDiarmid Park
19:45 Berra  58' (Own goal) Report Attendance: 3,104
Referee: David Munro
2 November 2019 12[N 1]RangersP–PSt JohnstoneIbrox Stadium
9 November 2019 13St Johnstone1–4HibernianMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry  51'
May  90'		 Report Doidge  2', 17', 58'
Allan  48'		 Attendance: 3,931
Referee: Andrew Dallas
24 November 2019 14St Johnstone1–1AberdeenMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Holt  43'
Duffy  45'
Kennedy  71'
Davidson  74'
Hendry  78'
Wotherspoon  90'		 Report Cosgrove  21'
Logan  39'
Bryson  76'		 Attendance: 3,917
Referee: Kevin Clancy
30 November 2019 15Motherwell4–0St JohnstoneFir Park
15:00 Cole  29'
Hartley  49'
Carroll  72'
Manzinga  89'		 Report McCann  70' Attendance: 4,092
Referee: Euan Anderson
4 December 2019 16Kilmarnock0–0St JohnstoneRugby Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 4,083
Referee: Bobby Madden
8 December 2019 17[N 2]St JohnstoneP–PCelticMcDiarmid Park
Report
14 December 2019 18Heart of Midlothian0–1St JohnstoneTynecastle Park
15:00 Report Hendry  74' Attendance: 16,347
Referee: Alan Newlands
21 December 2019 19St Johnstone0–0St MirrenMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 3,318
Referee: John Beaton
26 December 2019 20Hamilton Academical0−1St JohnstoneFountain of Youth Stadium
15:00 Easton  83' Report Davidson  59'
McCann  80'
Hendry  81'		 Attendance: 1,536
Referee: Gavin Duncan
29 December 2019 21St Johnstone1−1Ross CountyMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry  84' Report Vigurs  72'
Graham  68'  90+3'		 Attendance: 2,658
Referee: Bobby Madden
22 January 2020 22Livingston1−0St. JohnstoneAlmondvale Stadium
19:45 McMillan  40'
Bartley  44'
Pittman  56'		 Report Kane  80' Attendance: 1,140
Referee: Euan Anderson
25 January 2020 23St Johnstone2–1KilmarnockMcDiarmid Park
15:00 McCann  7'
Wotherspoon  24',  83'
Hendry  89'		 Report Burke  22' (pen.)
Del Fabro  79'
Findlay  89'
Kiltie  90+2'		 Attendance: 2,609
Referee: Alan Muir
29 January 2020 17[N 3]St Johnstone0–3CelticMcDiarmid Park
19:45 Report Ntcham  6'
Forrest  20'
Griffiths  26'		 Attendance: 8,743
Referee: John Beaton
1 February 2020 24St Johnstone3–3Heart of MidlothianMcDiarmid 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 25Aberdeen0–1St JohnstonePittodrie Stadium
19:45 Report McCann  6' Attendance: 12,552
Referee: Kevin Clancy
12 February 2020 26St Johnstone2–1MotherwellMcDiarmid Park
19:45 Hendry  27'
Kane  90+3'		 Report Long  32'
Donnelly  69'
Manzinga  77'  82'
Carroll  90+1'		 Attendance: 2,655
Referee: Nick Walsh
15 February 2020 27Ross County1–1St JohnstoneGlobal Energy Stadium
15:00 McKay  90+4' Report May  33' Attendance: 3,569
Referee: Colin Steven
23 February 2020 28St Johnstone2–2RangersMcDiarmid Park
13:30 Hendry  8'
Booth  63'
May  80'		 Report Kamberi  53'
Aribo  71'		 Attendance: 8,286
Referee: Willie Collum
4 March 2020 29St Mirren0–0St JohnstoneSimple Digital Arena
19:45 Report Craig  55'  79' Attendance: 4,287
Referee: Euan Anderson
7 March 2020 30St Johnstone1–0LivingstonMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry  84' Report Attendance: 3,008
Referee: Kevin Clancy
14 March 2020 31[N 4]HibernianCancelledSt JohnstoneEaster Road
15:00
21 March 2020 32[N 4]CelticCancelledSt JohnstoneCeltic Park
15:00
4 April 2020 33[N 4]St JohnstoneCancelledHamilton AcademicalMcDiarmid Park
15:00
12[N 4]RangersCancelledSt JohnstoneIbrox Stadium

League Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup
16 July 2019[15] GroupMontrose1–0St JohnstoneLinks Park
19:45 Cregg  40'
Masson  72'		 SPFL Report McClean  75' Attendance: 866
Referee: Barry Cook
21 July 2019 GroupSt Johnstone1–2Ross CountyMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Tanser  8' (pen.)
Craig  40'		 BBC Report Mckay  30', 45+1'
Vigurs  40'		 Attendance: 1,648
Referee: Bobby Madden
Note: Game televised on BT Sport
24 July 2019 GroupSt Johnstone4–0Brechin CityMcDiarmid Park
19:45 Tanser  6' (pen.)
Kane  33'
Hendry  74'
Kennedy  76'		 BBC Report Hill  88' Attendance: 1,497
Referee: Steven McLean
27 July 2019 GroupForfar Athletic2–1St JohnstoneStation 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 RoundSt Johnstone3–0Greenock MortonMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Booth  4'
Davidson  57'
May  74'		 Report Attendance: 2,397
Referee: Nick Walsh
8 February 2020 Fifth RoundAyr United1–2St JohnstoneSomerset Park
15:01 Drinan  4' Report Muirhead  18' (o.g)
Hendry  27'		 Attendance: 2,625
Referee: Steven McLean
1 March 2020 Quarter-finalsSt Johnstone0–1CelticMcDiarmid Park
15:00 Christie  81' Attendance: Bobby Madden
Referee: 8,181

Squad statistics

Appearances
As of 7 March 2020
No.PosPlayerPremiershipLeague CupScottish Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK Zander Clark 2902030 340
2DF Wallace Duffy 110300+10 150
3DF Scott Tanser 19+20421+10 272
4DF Jamie McCart 7+100020 100
7MF Drey Wright 16+600030 250
8MF Murray Davidson 1703011 211
9FW Chris Kane 11+121211+20 282
10MF David Wotherspoon 15+631030 253
11MF Danny Swanson 3+404000 110
12GK Elliot Parish 002000 20
14FW Stevie May 20+460031 277
15DF Jason Kerr (c) 2914030 361
16MF Matt Butcher 3+300010 70
17FW Michael O'Halloran 14+102300+10 282
18MF Ali McCann 26+342+1030 354
19MF Jason Holt 15+200000 170
20MF Isaiah Jones 00000+10 10
21DF Anthony Ralston 21+100020 240
22FW Callum Hendry 5+1572+212+11 279
23DF Liam Gordon 1600020 180
24DF Callum Booth 12+100021 151
26MF Liam Craig 9+602010 180
50FW Jordan Northcott 000+2000 20
Player who left the club during the season
4MF Ross Callachan 1+101+1000 40
5DF Madis Vihmann 2+201000 50
6DF Steven Anderson 001000 10
16FW David McMillan 000+3000 30
19DF Ricky Foster 203000 50
20MF Kyle McClean 002+1000 30
33MF Matty Kennedy 16+232+1200 215
38MF Cameron Ballantyne 000000 00
40DF Samuel Denham 000000 00
44MF Shaun Struthers 000000 00
45GK Ross Sinclair 000000 00

Team statistics

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD PPG Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
4 Aberdeen 30 12 9 9 40 36 +4 1.50
5 Livingston 30 10 9 11 41 39 +2 1.30
6 St Johnstone 29 8 12 9 28 46 −18 1.24
7 Hibernian 30 9 10 11 42 49 −7 1.23
8 Kilmarnock 30 9 6 15 31 41 −10 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]

Group B 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 (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 12 2 +10 12 Qualification for the Second Round — 2–0 4–1 — —
2 Forfar Athletic (Q) 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]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Transfers
Main articles: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2019 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2019–20

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. 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. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52710499
  4. "St Johnstone: Tommy Wright's achievements mean no panic at McDiarmid". October 19, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. "St Johnstone: Tommy Wright says he does not feel under pressure". October 21, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "St Johnstone 1-0 Hearts: Own goal piles pressure on Craig Levein". October 30, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. "St Johnstone 0-0 St Mirren: Both clubs slump to just one point above play-off spot". December 21, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  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. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  20. "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". Eveing Telegraph. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  23. "Stevie May returns to St Johnstone after leaving Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019.
  24. "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. "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". May 27, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  30. "Hibs raid Scottish Premiership rivals as they strengthen development squad". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
  31. "Hamilton: Brian Easton rejoins from St Johnstone". May 29, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  32. "Blair Alston: Midfielder joins Hamilton after St Johnstone exit". June 6, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  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". August 1, 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  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.
  46. "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.
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