St Johnstone and St Mirren still seeking first win at end of August

St Johnstone's Liam Craig greets his former team-mate and St Mirren left-back Scott Tanser.

Richard Tait had the best chance for the home side but was denied at the back post by Zander Clark just before half-time.

Glenn Middleton struck the bar in the final minute of the game for the visitors before Ethan Erhahon was sent off for St Mirren.

The home side had made three changes from the team beaten 6-0 at Celtic Park. Out went the suspended Alan Power, Greg Kiltie and Ryan Flynn, replaced by Eamonn Brophy, Charles Dunne and Tait.

St Johnstone, in turn, had six new faces in the starting line-up following their European exit on Thursday night at the hands of LASK, with Middleton, James Brown, Callum Booth, Murray Davidson, Chris Kane and Michael O'Halloran all dropping out.

In their place came Reece Devine, David Wotherspoon, Stevie May, Liam Craig, Callum Hendry and Hayden Muller.

It was Wotherspoon – eligible for league action despite his red card in Europe – who had the first chance, a curling effort that was well clutched by Jak Alnwick.

The home side then thought they had grabbed an early lead when Conor McCarthy headed in Scott Tanser's free-kick only to be flagged for offside.

Clark then had to move fast to get down to Curtis Main's driven effort with Jamie McGrath's rebound attempt blocked by Muller.

May then had a chance but sent his shot well over the crossbar before Hendry's diving header was parried by Alnwick.

Clark then showed why he has been called up for Scotland duty this week with a brilliant stop to deny Tait at the back post in the closing seconds of the first half.

St Mirren started the second half on top, but McCarthy could not convert Tanser's free-kick from close range before Middleton had a stab on goal well saved by Alnwick and then cracked the bar with a free-kick.

Erhahon was then shown a second yellow card for a foul on Kane.