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Watch Sportscene coverage from Mc Diarmid Macleod lashes high into net but Fotheringham levels from close range Mc Pake puts leaders in front with back-post volley after goalkeeping error St Johnstone open six-point lead at top; Dunfermline eight behind in fifth Have your say on the action Clive Lindsay St Johnstone 0-1 Dunfermline Athletic Amy Canavan BBC Sport Scotland at Mc Diarmid Park Warra goal that is. One belter of a ball and as sweet as strike as you’ll see - and hear. Some way to silence the Saints supporters. Rory Mac Leod Stunner! Rory Mac Leod starts it and finishes it. He plays the ball wide for Jefferson Cáceres and the former Sheffield United winger's superb ball is volleyed beautifully home into the top far corner from 15 yards. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Dunfermline are starting to look the better side, but they are caught on the break. Ewan Otoo does well to get back to block Kai Fotheringham's shot. From the corner, goalkeeper Mason Munn has to push clear at his front post. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Chance for a shock opener for the visitors. Rory Mac Leod has an opening in front of goal, but the forward makes a hash at connecting with the cross with his volley. From the resulting corner, Kyle Benedictus rises at the back post and his header bounces just wide of the far post, although the offside flag was up. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Dunfermline forward Rory Mac Leod is first to go into the referee's book for a pull back. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Indeed, that's the end for Zak Rudden against his former side. He limps off to be replaced with Andrew Tod. The 19-year-old hasn't trained all week since scoring a hat-trick against Arbroath and was only deemed fit enough for the bench. However, he will have to play at least an hour now. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Dunfermline striker Zak Rudden pulls up injured. He gets back to his feet, but he's obviously struggling before going down again for treatment. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Amy Canavan BBC Sport Scotland at Mc Diarmid Park Simo Valakari getting a few telling offs from the fourth official for venturing out his technical area. Who can blame him for wanting to join in with his players when they’re pulling off passages of play like they are? St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic You would think a Neil Lennon team would be more compact and have more bite about them considering his strengths as a player. However, they are too easily penetrated and second to most balls. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic It's back to Saints spraying the ball about probing for an opening. A few desperate blocks from Dunfermline are keeping them at bay, but it is still backs-to-the-wall. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Dunfermline have settled a bit. Still a bit tentative, but they manage another sight at goal. However, full-back Robbie Fraser's low drive is well wide. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Dunfermline's first venture into the Saints penalty box. Zak Rudden combines with Jefferson Cáceres and the Peruvian winger's cross is met by the head of the former Saints man, but it is straight at on-loan Portsmouth goalkeeper Toby Steward. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Amy Canavan BBC Sport Scotland at Mc Diarmid Park One heck of a start from St Johnstone here. Such lovely stuff, too. Happy fans around us. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Honestly, it could be 5-0 already. Cheick Diabate this time rises to meet a corner, but the big defender heads wide of Dunfermline's far post. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Mason Munn to Dunfermline's rescue. Poor defending allows a cross to find Jack Baird at the back post and the goalkeeper beats away the centre-half's half-volley. Josh Mc Pake then drifts inside from the wing and forces Munn to parry clear at his near post with a powerful low drive/ St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Michael Stewart Former Scotland midfielder on BBC Sportscene Lovely football from St Johnstone. Dunfermline have just got to weather the storm. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Worrying times for Dunfermline. They haven't been out of their own half. Meanwhile, the ball is flashing around dangerously inside the visitors' penalty box amid some desperate clearances. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic It's all St Johnstone at the moment as the Pars make a hash of trying to play out of defence once again. Jason Holt steals the ball and goes down under a challenge from Kyle Benedictus. The Saints midfielder is demanding a penalty kick but is waved away. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic It should be the opener. Dunfermline make a mess of trying to build from the back and Kyle Benedictus is robbed by Josh Mc Pake. However, the winger's shot is pushed wide by on-loan Rangers goalkeeper Mason Munn. St Johnstone 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic Saints are already probing and using the pace of Josh Mc Pake on the left wing. His flick into the six-yard box comes off the chest of teammate Jason Holt but bounces wide of the near post. This video can not be played Watch the goals as St Johnstone overcome Dunfermline in enthralling encounter League leaders St Johnstone came from behind at home to defeat Dunfermline and remain unbeaten in the Scottish Championship. Pre-match attention was paid to winger Josh Mc Pake and the Championship player of the month was the match-winner again for Simo Valakari’s side. Dunfermline goalkeeper Mason Munn - who made a string of strong saves throughout - attempted to leave a routine cross to the back-post and Mc Pake was on hand to poke in the winner late on. Given the hosts’ superb start, it seemed unlikely that it would take so long for them to wrap up their fifth win in six games, but despite their early dominance, their profligacy allowed the visitors to build into an entertaining half. And just before the break, Rory Macleod lashed home at the end of a magnificent move for Neil Lennon’s side to silence a jubilant Mc Diarmid Park. But the home support were soon singing again, though, as Kai Fotheringham poked in his first St Johnstone goal from close range. Valakari’s men didn’t exactly kick on from there and a draw appeared increasingly likely until man of the match Mc Pake secured victory for St Johnstone. But there was time for the leaders to endure a late scare, goalkeeper Toby Steward diving full-length to push a stunning Andy Tod free-kick against a post before the loose ball was scrambled away. St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "We knew were going to play against a tough opponent. We started very well, we created chances, we didn't take them. "Then Dunfermline, credit to Mr Lennon, they changed their shape and scored a great transition goal. "We fixed a couple of things at half time, the chances came and then our goalkeeper made a couple of great saves at the end. " Dunfermline head coach Neil Lennon: "It is a bit unfortunate. One off the post and one off the line then a remarkable save from the goalkeeper at the end. "It denies us a brilliant point against - lets be fair - a top side. They are well-drilled, with loads of quality. "We didn't make a great start, but after we tweaked it a bit, we were great. We are really disappointed not to have taken something from the game. " Last Updated 19th September 2025 at 22: 18 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. 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