Idiots not allowed back to stadium

Mar 3 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

ST JOHNSTONE are bracing themselves for SFA recriminations after incidents marred the weekend derby with Dundee.

Former Perth defender Eddie Malone was struck by a missile and that will be reported to the authorities.

A fan also invaded the field from the Dundee end near the interval and was ushered away by Dens keeper Rab Douglas before being arrested.

Chairman Geoff Brown said: “It’s fools who give clubs a bad name.

“It had nothing whatsoever to do with the football because it was a dull derby and there was little to get uptight about.

“I’m told it was a sweet rather than a coin which was thrown at Eddie Malone. But that doesn’t matter. It’s sad that it happened at all.

“The club would like to track down the culprit to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The culprit won’t be allowed back into the stadium.”

Crowd arrangements are also under the microscope after hundreds of Dundee fans spilled into home section of the main stand and the Ormond stand had to be hastily opened to accommodate a bumper 7000-plus crowd.

Managing director Stewart Duff apologised to inconvenienced fans but noted that Dundee had underestimated their travelling support, which numbered more than 3200.

If that had been indicated in advance by Dundee the Dens fans would have been accommodated in the stands behind the goals.

*If you have any video footage of the disruptions that marred Saturday's game, please send it to digital@perthshireadvertiser.co.uk