2022–23 St Johnstone F.C. season

St Johnstone
2022–23 season
ChairmanSteve Brown
ManagerCallum Davidson
(until 16 April)
Steven MacLean
(Interim from 16 April)
StadiumMcDiarmid Park
PremiershipNinth Place
League CupGroup stage
Scottish CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Stevie May (9)
All: Stevie May (10)
Highest home attendance7,855 vs. Rangers, Scottish Cup, 21 February 2023
Lowest home attendance2,036 vs. Annan Athletic, League Cup, 12 July 2022
Average home league attendance5,323

The 2022–23 season was St Johnstone's tenth season in the Scottish Premiership and their fourteenth consecutively (following four in the former Scottish Premier League) in the top flight of Scottish football. Saints were eliminated from the League Cup at the group stage. They also competed in the Scottish Cup.

Season summary

[edit]

Still managed by Callum Davidson, Saints hoped to improve upon their performance in the 2021–22 season when, after finishing eleventh, they had to win the Premiership playoff to avoid relegation.[1] The team had been in transition since winning the Scottish Cup in May 2021 and Saints were again very active in the summer transfer window which closed on 31 August. The scale of transition is illustrated by the team which played St Mirren three days later on 3 September. Of the 20-man squad who contested the 2021 Scottish Cup Final just 15 months earlier,[2] only nine players remained at the club in some capacity and only Stevie May was in the starting line-up for the St Mirren match with four others on the bench.[3] Among the summer 2022 intake were Drey Wright and Jamie Murphy who had both played for Hibernian in the 2021 final.[4]

Competitions

[edit]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Premiership

[edit]
Main article: 2022–23 Scottish Premiership
30 July 2022 1 St Johnstone 0–1 Hibernian Perth
15:00 BST Report
  • MacPherson 90' (og)
 Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 5,739
Referee: Euan Anderson
6 August 2022 2 Motherwell 1–2 St Johnstone Motherwell
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 4,711
Referee: William Collum
13 August 2022 3 Rangers 4–0 St Johnstone Glasgow
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 48,665
Referee: Nick Walsh
20 August 2022 4 St Johnstone 0–1 Aberdeen Perth
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 5,871
Referee: Craig Napier
28 August 2022 5 Hearts 3–2 St Johnstone Edinburgh
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Tynecastle Park
Attendance: 18,353
Referee: John Beaton
3 September 2022 6 St Johnstone 3–0 St Mirren Perth
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 3,640
Referee: Colin Steven
17 September 2022 8 St Johnstone 0–0 Ross County Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 3,355
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
1 October 2022 9 Dundee United 1–2 St Johnstone Dundee
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 7,977
Referee: David Munro
5 October 2022 7 Kilmarnock 2–1 St Johnstone Kilmarnock
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 4,463
Referee: Alan Muir
8 October 2022 10 St Johnstone 1–2 Celtic Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 7,093
Referee: Euan Anderson
15 October 2022 11 Livingston 1–0 St Johnstone Livingston
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 1,554
Referee: Kevin Clancy
22 October 2022 12 Hibernian 1–2 St Johnstone Edinburgh
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 20,010
Referee: Kevin Clancy
29 October 2022 13 St Johnstone 1–0 Kilmarnock Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 3,995
Referee: Craig Napier
6 November 2022 14 St Johnstone 2–1 Rangers Perth
12:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 7,487
Referee: Steven McLean
9 November 2022 15 St Mirren 2–2 St Johnstone Paisley
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 5,387
Referee: Euan Anderson
12 November 2022 16 St Johnstone 1–1 Motherwell Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 4,055
Referee: Nick Walsh
17 December 2022 17 Ross County 1–2 St Johnstone Dingwall
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,393
Referee: Graham Grainger
24 December 2022 18 Celtic 4–1 St Johnstone Glasgow
12:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 58,635
Referee: Kevin Clancy
28 December 2022 19 St Johnstone 2–3 Heart of Midlothian Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 7,058
Referee: William Collum
2 January 2023 20 St Johnstone 0–1 Dundee United Perth
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 7,116
Referee: Graham Grainger
7 January 2023 21 Aberdeen 2–0 St Johnstone Aberdeen
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 14,202
Referee: Euan Anderson
14 January 2023 22 St Johnstone 2–4 Livingston Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 2,899
Referee: John Beaton
28 January 2023 23 Rangers 2–0 St Johnstone Glasgow
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 49,672
Referee: William Collum
1 February 2023 24 Motherwell 0–2 St Johnstone Motherwell
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 4,131
Referee: Don Robertson
5 February 2023 25 St Johnstone 1–4 Celtic Perth
12:30 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 7,758
Referee: David Dickinson
18 February 2023 26 Dundee United 1–2 St Johnstone Dundee
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 9,796
Referee: Kevin Clancy
25 February 2023 27 St Johnstone 1–1 St Mirren Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 3,828
Referee: Craig Napier
4 March 2023 28 Heart of Midlothian 3–0 St Johnstone Edinburgh
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Tynecastle Park
Attendance: 18,596
Referee: Steven McLean
18 March 2023 29 Kilmarnock 1–1 St Johnstone Kilmarnock
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 4,889
Referee: Chris Graham
1 April 2023 30 St Johnstone 0–1 Aberdeen Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 6,001
Referee: Colin Steven
8 April 2023 31 St Johnstone 0–2 Ross County Perth
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 3,027
Referee: Alan Muir
15 April 2023 32 Livingston 2–0 St Johnstone Livingston
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Tony Macaroni Arena
Attendance: 3,976
Referee: David Munro
22 April 2023 33 St Johnstone 1–1 Hibernian Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 6,787
Referee: Craig Napier
6 May 2023 34 St Johnstone 1–0 Dundee United Perth
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 7,071
Referee: Alan Muir
13 May 2023 35 St Johnstone 0–2 Motherwell Perth
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Referee: Grant Irvine
20 May 2023 36 Kilmarnock 0–1 St Johnstone Kilmarnock
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 6,004
Referee: John Beaton
24 May 2023 37 Ross County 3–3 St Johnstone Dingwall
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,700
Referee: Nick Walsh
28 May 2023 38 St Johnstone 2–0 Livingston Perth
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 4,362
Referee: Graham Grainger

Scottish League Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2022–23 Scottish League Cup

Saints entered the 2022–23 Scottish League Cup at the group stage and were drawn into Group F with Annan Athletic, Ayr United, Elgin City and Queen of the South.[5] Despite being reduced to nine men, Saints held on to draw 0–0 in the opening match at home to Annan Athletic but lost the penalty shootout 5–4. They also lost on penalties to Queen of the South after a 2–2 draw. Victories over Elgin City and Ayr United were a case of too little, too late, and Saints were eliminated from the competition after finishing third in Group F. Annan were the surprise group winners and Queen of the South were runners-up ahead of Saints on goal difference. The top two both qualified for the second round (the last 16).[6]

12 July 2022 1 St Johnstone 0–0
(4–5 p)		 Annan Athletic Perth
19:45
BBC Sport Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 2,036
Referee: Don Robertson
Penalties
16 July 2022 2 Queen of the South 2–2
(4–2 p)		 St Johnstone Dumfries
15:00
BBC Sport
Stadium: Palmerston Park
Attendance: 1,027
Referee: Graham Grainger
Penalties
19 July 2022 3 Elgin City 2–4 St Johnstone Elgin
19:45
BBC Sport
Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 886
Referee: Greg Aitken
23 July 2022 4 St Johnstone 1–0 Ayr United Perth
15:00
BBC Sport Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 2,036
Referee: Gavin Duncan

Scottish Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2022–23 Scottish Cup
21 January 2023 Fourth Round St Johnstone 0–1 Rangers Perth
15:00 BST
BBC Report
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 7,855
Referee: Alan Muir

Squad statistics

[edit]

Appearances and goals

[edit]
As of 28 May 2023[7]
No. Pos Nat Player Total Premiership Scottish Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK England ENG Remi Matthews 35 0 34 0 1 0 0 0
2 DF Malta MLT James Brown 30 1 25+1 1 1 0 3 0
3 DF Scotland SCO Tony Gallacher 5 0 2+3 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF Scotland SCO Andrew Considine 37 1 32 1 1 0 4 0
5 DF England ENG Alex Mitchell 29 1 25+4 1 0 0 0 0
6 DF Scotland SCO Liam Gordon 33 2 31+1 2 1 0 0 0
7 FW Scotland SCO Stevie May 42 10 34+3 9 1 0 4 1
8 MF Scotland SCO Murray Davidson 8 0 2+2 0 0 0 4 0
9 FW Scotland SCO Chris Kane 2 1 0+2 1 0 0 0 0
10 MF Canada CAN David Wotherspoon 23 0 7+15 0 0+1 0 0 0
12 GK England ENG Elliot Parish 6 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
13 DF Australia AUS Ryan McGowan 29 1 28 1 0 0 1 0
14 MF England ENG Drey Wright 40 7 37+1 7 1 0 1 0
16 FW Scotland SCO Zak Rudden 12 1 2+10 1 0 0 0 0
17 FW Canada CAN Theo Bair 31 2 8+19 2 0+1 0 3 0
18 MF Scotland SCO Cammy MacPherson 25 0 18+4 0 1 0 2 0
19 DF Scotland SCO Adam Montgomery 33 1 27+1 0 1 0 4 1
20 GK Scotland SCO Ross Sinclair 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
22 MF Sweden SWE Melker Hallberg 35 3 28+2 2 1 0 4 1
23 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Graham Carey 35 4 24+6 3 0+1 0 4 1
25 MF Scotland SCO Cammy Ballantyne 4 1 3 0 0 0 1 1
26 MF Scotland SCO Connor McLennan 27 1 8+18 1 1 0 0 0
29 FW Scotland SCO Jamie Murphy 29 5 15+9 3 0+1 0 4 2
34 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Daniel Phillips 23 0 17+5 0 1 0 0 0
37 FW Scotland SCO Nicky Clark 21 4 19+1 4 0+1 0 0 0
Departures
5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Dan Cleary 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
11 FW Scotland SCO Michael O'Halloran 8 0 2+2 0 0 0 4 0
15 MF Scotland SCO Charlie Gilmour 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
16 DF Republic of Ireland IRL John Mahon 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
17 FW Finland FIN Eetu Vertainen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 MF Scotland SCO Ali Crawford 19 2 5+12 2 0 0 2 0
27 MF Ukraine UKR Max Kucheriavyi 8 0 2+2 0 0 0 4 0
33 FW Scotland SCO Taylor Steven 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

Team statistics

[edit]

League table

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
7 Motherwell 38 14 8 16 53 51 +2 50
8 Livingston 38 13 7 18 36 60 −24 46
9 St Johnstone 38 12 7 19 41 59 −18 43
10 Kilmarnock 38 11 7 20 37 62 −25 40
11 Ross County (O) 38 9 7 22 37 60 −23 34 Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
Source: [8][9]
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).[10]
(O) Play-off winners
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).

Results by round

[edit]
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAAHAHHAAHAAHHAHAAHHAHAAHAHAAHHAHHHAAH
ResultLWLLLWDWLLLWWWDDWLLLLLLWLWDLDLLLDWLWDW
Position10691010998999976665567788888888999999999
Updated to match(es) played on 28 May 2023. Source: SPFL
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League Cup table

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ANN QOS STJ AYR ELG
1 Annan Athletic 4 2 2 0 0 8 3 +5 10 Qualification for the second round — — — p1–1 4–0
2 Queen of the South 4 2 1 0 1 9 5 +4 8 2–3 — p2–2 — —
3 St Johnstone 4 2 0 2 0 7 4 +3 8 0–0p — — 1–0 —
4 Ayr United 4 1 0 1 2 4 5 −1 4 — 0–3 — — 3–0[a]
5 Elgin City 4 0 0 0 4 2 13 −11 0 — 0–2 2–4 — —
Source: [12]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[13]
Notes:
  1. ^ Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Elgin City, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 0–0, with Ayr United securing the bonus point following a 4–3 win on penalties.[11]

Transfers

[edit]
Main articles: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2022 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2022–23

In Scottish football, the summer 2022 transfer window officially opened on 10 June and closed on 31 August.

In

[edit]
Date Player Transferred from Fee Source
16 June 2022 Scotland Andrew Considine Scotland Aberdeen Free [14][15]
16 June 2022 England Drey Wright Scotland Hibernian Free [4][15]
28 June 2022 Scotland Adam Montgomery Scotland Celtic Loan [16]
1 July 2022 Republic of Ireland Graham Carey Bulgaria CSKA Sofia Free [17]
5 July 2022 Scotland Jamie Murphy Scotland Hibernian Free [4]
22 July 2022 Australia Ryan McGowan Kuwait Kuwait SC Free [18]
26 July 2022 Sweden William Sandford Sweden IFK Gothenburg Free [19]
27 July 2022 England Remi Matthews England Crystal Palace Loan [20]
27 July 2022 England Alex Mitchell England Millwall Loan [20]
10 August 2022 Trinidad and Tobago Daniel Phillips England Watford Free [19]
31 August 2022 Scotland Nicky Clark Scotland Dundee United Undisclosed [21][22]
1 September 2022 Scotland Connor McLennan Scotland Aberdeen Loan [23]
31 January 2023 Scotland Zak Rudden Scotland Dundee Loan [24]

Out

[edit]
Date Player Transferred to Fee Source
25 May 2022 Scotland Shaun Rooney England Fleetwood Town Free [25]
27 May 2022 Nigeria Efe Ambrose Scotland Greenock Morton Free [26]
27 May 2022 Turkey Nadir Ciftci Free agent Free [26]
27 May 2022 Scotland Liam Craig Retired Free [26]
27 May 2022 England Jahmal Hector-Ingram Free agent Free [26]
3 June 2022 Scotland Craig Bryson Scotland Stenhousemuir Free [26][27]
12 June 2022 Scotland Jordan Northcott Scotland Brechin City Free [26][28]
16 June 2022 Scotland Sam Denham Scotland East Fife Free [26][19]
17 June 2022 Scotland Callum Hendry England Salford City Free [29]
30 June 2022 Finland Eetu Vertainen Northern Ireland Linfield Loan [30]
18 July 2022 England Jacob Butterfield England Scunthorpe United Free [26][31]
28 July 2022 Republic of Ireland Dan Cleary Republic of Ireland Shamrock Rovers Free [20][32]
28 July 2022 Scotland Alex Ferguson Scotland East Fife Loan [19]
28 July 2022 Scotland Ross Sinclair Scotland Montrose Loan [19]
16 August 2022 Scotland Charlie Gilmour Scotland Cove Rangers Loan [19]
16 August 2022 Scotland Taylor Steven Scotland East Fife Loan [19]
13 January 2023 Republic of Ireland John Mahon Republic of Ireland Sligo Rovers Free [33]
16 February 2023 Ukraine Max Kucheriavyi Scotland Falkirk Loan [34][35]
24 February 2023 Scotland Ali Crawford Scotland Greenock Morton Loan [36]
24 February 2023 Scotland Michael O'Halloran Scotland Cove Rangers Loan [37]

See also

[edit]

List of St Johnstone F.C. seasons

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Campbell, Andy (23 May 2022). "St Johnstone 4–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle". BBC Sport.
  2. ^ Lindsay, Clive (22 May 2021). "Scottish Cup Final". BBC Sport.
  3. ^ "Line-ups: St Johnstone v St Mirren". BBC Sport. 3 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Jamie Murphy: Ex-Rangers, Motherwell & Hibernian winger signs one-year deal with St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Scottish League Cup: Aberdeen face Raith re-match, Hibs to meet Bonnyrigg Rose". BBC Sport. 25 May 2022.
  6. ^ McPheat, Nick (23 July 2022). "Scottish League Cup: St Johnstone exit as eight sides progress". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "St Johnstone Stats". Sky Sports. 24 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Scottish Premiership Table". BBC. 12 May 2024.
  9. ^ "cinch Premiership League Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  10. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League (Rule Number C35-C37)" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  11. ^ "SPFL Statement 14/07/22". SPFL. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Aberdeen Football Club Confirms Player Departures". www.afc.co.uk. Aberdeen FC. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  15. ^ a b Coyle, Andy (16 June 2022). "Drey Wright and Andy Considine join St Johnstone on free transfers". STV Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Adam Montgomery: Celtic send left-back to St Johnstone on loan". BBC Sport. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Carey signs on at St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Ryan McGowan: St Johnstone sign former Australia and former Hearts defender". BBC Sport. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g "Summer Signings". SPFL. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "St Johnstone sign Remi Matthews and Alex Mitchell on one-year loan deals". BBC Sport. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  21. ^ Gallagher, Matthew (31 August 2022). "New striker Nicky Clark on feeling wanted at St Johnstone and his "brilliant" McDiarmid memories". Daily Record.
  22. ^ "Nicky Clark: Striker joins St Johnstone from Dundee United". BBC Sport. 31 August 2022.
  23. ^ Smith, Aidan (1 September 2022). "St Johnstone complete Connor McLennan transfer as Aberdeen forward joins on loan". Yahoo! Sport.
  24. ^ "Rudden Signs for Saints on loan". St Johnstone FC. 31 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Shaun Rooney: Fleetwood sign St Johnstone defender on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h Coyle, Andy (27 May 2022). "Ciftci and Bryson leave St Johnstone as club details squad exits". STV Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Squad Update: June 3rd 2022". stenhousemuirfc.com. Stenhousemuir FC. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  28. ^ Lorimer, Scott. "Brechin City sign Jordan Northcott on permanent deal from St Johnstone". The Courier. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Callum Hendry: Salford City sign striker after St Johnstone exit". BBC Sport. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Linfield announce the return of striker Eetu Vertainen". Belfast Live. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Jacob Butterfield signs for the Iron". www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  32. ^ "Shamrock Rovers sign ex-Dundalk defender Dan Cleary". The42. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  33. ^ "John Mahon returns to Sligo Rovers as St Johnstone stint comes to an end". The Independent (Ireland). 13 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  34. ^ "Max Kucheriavyi heads to Falkirk on loan". St Johnstone FC. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  35. ^ "MAX KUCHERIAVYI JOINS FALKIRK". Falkirk FC. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  36. ^ "Ali Crawford heads out on loan". St Johnstone FC. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  37. ^ "Michael O'Halloran heads to Cove on loan". St Johnstone FC. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
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