2022–23 St Johnstone F.C. season

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.

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

Season summary

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

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Premiership
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
            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
            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

              Appearances and goals
              As of 28 May 2023[7]
              No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremiershipScottish CupLeague Cup
              AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
              1 GK England ENG Remi Matthews 3503401000
              2 DF Malta MLT James Brown 30125+111030
              3 DF Scotland SCO Tony Gallacher 502+300000
              4 DF Scotland SCO Andrew Considine 3713211040
              5 DF England ENG Alex Mitchell 29125+410000
              6 DF Scotland SCO Liam Gordon 33231+121000
              7 FW Scotland SCO Stevie May 421034+391041
              8 MF Scotland SCO Murray Davidson 802+200040
              9 FW Scotland SCO Chris Kane 210+210000
              10 MF Canada CAN David Wotherspoon 2307+1500+1000
              12 GK England ENG Elliot Parish 60200040
              13 DF Australia AUS Ryan McGowan 2912810010
              14 MF England ENG Drey Wright 40737+171010
              16 FW Scotland SCO Zak Rudden 1212+1010000
              17 FW Canada CAN Theo Bair 3128+1920+1030
              18 MF Scotland SCO Cammy MacPherson 25018+401020
              19 DF Scotland SCO Adam Montgomery 33127+101041
              20 GK Scotland SCO Ross Sinclair 20200000
              22 MF Sweden SWE Melker Hallberg 35328+221041
              23 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Graham Carey 35424+630+1041
              25 MF Scotland SCO Cammy Ballantyne 41300011
              26 MF Scotland SCO Connor McLennan 2718+1811000
              29 FW Scotland SCO Jamie Murphy 29515+930+1042
              34 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Daniel Phillips 23017+501000
              37 FW Scotland SCO Nicky Clark 21419+140+1000
              Departures
              5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Dan Cleary 20000020
              11 FW Scotland SCO Michael O'Halloran 802+200040
              15 MF Scotland SCO Charlie Gilmour 20000020
              16 DF Republic of Ireland IRL John Mahon 30000030
              17 FW Finland FIN Eetu Vertainen 00000000
              21 MF Scotland SCO Ali Crawford 1925+1220020
              27 MF Ukraine UKR Max Kucheriavyi 802+200040
              33 FW Scotland SCO Taylor Steven 20000020

              Team statistics

              League table
              Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
              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
              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
              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[lower-alpha 1]
              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
              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
              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
              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

              List of St Johnstone F.C. seasons

              References
              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. "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.
              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. 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. "Summer Signings". SPFL. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
              20. "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. 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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