2020–21 St Johnstone F.C. season
# 2020–21 St Johnstone F.C. season

The 2020–21 St Johnstone F.C. season was the club's eighth season in the Scottish Premiership and their eleventh consecutive season in the top flight of Scottish football. St Johnstone also competed in the Scottish Cup and the League Cup, winning both competitions. St Johnstone became only the fourth Scottish team, and only the second outwith the Old Firm, to win a Scottish cup double.

## Season summary

After the resignation of Tommy Wright, Alec Cleland took over as interim manager. After sixteen years at the club Steven Anderson left before the season began along with Danny Swanson, Ross Callachan and David McMillan. Former player and assistant manager Callum Davidson was appointed manager. Former striker Steven MacLean retired to become a coach alongside Cleland who returns to his former role. The Saints dropped to the bottom of the table after four games without a goal, but after a 5–3 away win at Hamilton they moved off it.

The Saints reached the final of the League Cup with a 3–0 win against Hibernian. On 28 February 2021, St Johnstone defeated Livingston in the final thanks to a single goal from Shaun Rooney. In doing so, the club won their first League Cup title, their second ever major honour, and ended Celtic's dominating run of having won the last 12 major honours at stake in Scotland.

On 22 May 2021, St Johnstone won the Scottish Cup, defeating Hibs by a score of 1–0 in the final, with Shaun Rooney again netting the winning goal. With the victory, St Johnstone became just the fourth club in Scottish history to win the cup double after Aberdeen, Celtic, and Rangers.

## Results

Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed

## Squad statistics

### Appearances

    As of 22 May 2021

| No. | Pos | Player | Premiership | Premiership | League Cup | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | Zander Clark | 27 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | James Brown | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Scott Tanser | 21+6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| 4 | DF | Jamie McCart | 36 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Jason Kerr (c) | 30 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 2 |
| 6 | DF | Liam Gordon | 35+1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | Craig Conway | 19+8 | 3 | 5+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | Murray Davidson | 14+7 | 1 | 4+2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| 9 | FW | Chris Kane | 17+10 | 4 | 5+3 | 2 | 2+2 | 2 | 39 | 8 |
| 10 | MF | David Wotherspoon | 28+9 | 3 | 7+1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 50 | 6 |
| 11 | FW | Michael O'Halloran | 13+12 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 1+3 | 1 | 32 | 2 |
| 12 | GK | Elliot Parish | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | Craig Bryson | 12+8 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Stevie May | 17+16 | 4 | 3+5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 9 |
| 15 | MF | Charlie Gilmour | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Glenn Middleton | 3+6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1+3 | 1 | 13 | 3 |
| 17 | FW | Guy Melamed | 11+7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 7 |
| 18 | MF | Ali McCann | 31+2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 42 | 2 |
| 19 | DF | Shaun Rooney | 20+8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 5 |
| 20 | FW | John Robertson | 0+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Callum Booth | 15+3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | Zdeněk Zlámal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | Liam Craig | 17+5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| 40 | DF | Samuel Denham | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 46 | FW | Alexander Ferguson | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Player who left the club during the season |||||
| 2 | DF | Wallace Duffy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Danny McNamara | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| 16 | FW | Isaac Olaofe | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | Callum Hendry | 8+8 | 0 | 3+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| 23 | MF | Cammy Ballantyne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | GK | Ross Sinclair | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Team statistics

### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | Hibernian | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 35 | +13 | 63 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 36 | 38 | −2 | 56 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |
| 5 | St Johnstone | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 36 | 46 | −10 | 45 | Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round |
| 6 | Livingston | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 45 | |
| 7 | St Mirren | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 45 | |

* ↑ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
* ↑ St Johnstone qualified as the 2020–21 Scottish Cup winners.

**League Cup table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | STJ | DUN | PET | KEL | BRE |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | St Johnstone | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 | +10 | 10 | Qualification for the Second round | — | 0–0p | — | — | 7–0 |
| 2 | Dundee United | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 8 | | — | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | — |
| 3 | Peterhead | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 8 | | 1–3 | — | — | — | 3–1 |
| 4 | Kelty Hearts | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | | 1–2 | — | 1–1p | — | — |
| 5 | Brechin City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 18 | −15 | 0 | | — | 2–6 | — | 0–2 | — |

## Transfers

Players in

Date

Player

From

Fee

1 June 2020

Shaun Rooney

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Free

14 July 2020

Danny McNamara

Millwall

Loan

14 July 2020

Isaac Olaofe

Millwall

Loan

31 July 2020

Craig Conway

Salford City

Free

18 September 2020

Craig Bryson

Aberdeen

Free

5 October 2020

Guy Melamed

Maccabi Netanya

Free

4 January 2021

James Brown

Millwall

Loan

25 January 2021

Glenn Middleton

Rangers

Loan

1 February 2021

Charlie Gilmour

Norwich City

Free

7 May 2021

Zdeněk Zlámal

Heart of Midlothian

Loan

Players out

Date

Player

To

Fee

16 May 2020

Danny Swanson

East Fife

Free

29 June 2020

Ross Callachan

Hamilton Academical

Free

10 July 2020

Drey Wright

Hibernian

Free

11 July 2020

Euan O'Riley

Airdrieonians

Free

14 July 2020

Steven Anderson

Forfar Athletic

Free

27 May 2020

David McMillan

Dundalk

Free

30 July 2020

Danny Swanson

East Fife

Free

27 May 2020

Max Johnstone

AFC Fylde

Free

14 September 2020

Cammy Ballantyne

Montrose

Loan

22 September 2020

Olly Hamilton

Cowdenbeath

Loan

25 September 2020

Ross Sinclair

Cowdenbeath

Loan

5 October 2020

Wallace Duffy

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Free

5 October 2020

John Robertson

Forfar Athletic

Loan

27 May 2020

Shaun Struthers

Jeanfield Swifts

Free

1 February 2021

Callum Hendry

Aberdeen

Loan

See also

List of St Johnstone F.C. seasons

References

↑ McFarlane, Jonathan. "Alec Cleland appointed St Johnstone caretaker boss after Tommy Wright exit". Daily Record. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lewis, Jane (27 May 2020). "St Johnstone's Steven Anderson eyes 'next chapter' after 16 years". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 27 May 2020.↑ McLauchlin, Brian (18 June 2020). "Callum Davidson: St Johnstone appoint former player as boss". BBC Sport.↑ "St Johnstone: former player Steven MacLean appointed coach". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.↑ "Celtic earn late win at St Johnstone". BBC Sport.↑ "St Johnstone edge Hamilton in thriller". BBC Sport.↑ Duncan, Thomas (23 January 2021). "St Johnstone 3-0 Hibernian: Perth side stun favourites to reach Scottish League Cup final". BBC Sport.1 2 Lindsay, Clive (28 February 2021). "Livingston 0–1 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2021.↑ "St Johnstone complete dream double after beating Hibs to win Scottish Cup". The Guardian. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.↑ "St Johnstone edged Hibernian to lift the Scottish Cup for a second time and seal a domestic trophy double in the greatest season in the club's history". BBC. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.↑ "St Johnstone complete dream double after beating Hibs to win Scottish Cup". Guardian. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.↑ "PRE-SEASON | Aberdeen 1-2 Saints".↑ "St Johnstone's friendly against St Mirren on Saturday cancelled after Buddies confirm several members of coaching staff have tested positive for Covid-19".↑ "2020/21 Fixtures Announced". perthstjohnstone.co.uk. 6 July 2020.↑ "Summary - Premiership". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.↑ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.↑ "Summary - League Cup Group C". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.↑ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.↑ "Caley Thistle full back will not join St Johnstone until contract runs out". Inverness Courier. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-05-25.1 2 "St Johnstone: Millwall's Isaac Olaofe and Danny McNamara sign on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 July 2020.↑ "Conway: "I'm buzzing to get started"".↑ "Craig Bryson: St Johnstone sign former Aberdeen midfielder until end of season". BBC Sport. 18 September 2020.↑ "SAINTS SIGN STRIKER GUY MELAMED FROM MACCABI NETANYA". St Johnstone FC. 5 October 2020.↑ "James Brown: Millwall full-back joins St Johnstone on loan". BBC Sport. 4 January 2020.↑ "Glenn Middleton: St Johnstone sign Rangers winger on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 January 2021.↑ "Former Arsenal youngster Charlie Gilmour signs for Saints". perthstjohnstonefc. St Johnstone FC. 1 February 2021.↑ "St Johnstone sign Hearts goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal on seven-day emergency loan". glasgowtimes. Glasgow Times. 7 May 2021.↑ "St Johnstone release Danny Swanson as playmaker's third spell at McDiarmid Park comes to an end". www.thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2020.↑ "Danny Swanson Agrees Terms to Join East Fife". East Fife FC. Retrieved 30 July 2020.↑ McGilvray, Andy (2020-06-29). "Hamilton Accies confirm double signing swoop, with more to come". Daily Record. Retrieved 2020-06-29.↑ "Drey Wright: Winger to leave St Johnstone after rejecting new deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2020.↑ "Hibernian sign Kevin Nisbet, Drey Wright & Alex Gogic". BBC Sport. 10 July 2020.↑ "St Johnstone release Danny Swanson as playmaker's third spell at McDiarmid Park comes to an end". www.thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2020.↑ "Danny Swanson Agrees Terms to Join East Fife".↑ "Wallace Duffy signs for ICTFC". ictfc.com. 5 October 2020.↑ "Jeanfield Swifts sign former St Johnstone youngster Shaun Struthers". 28 November 2020.↑ "Dons sign Kamberi, Hornby and Hendry". BBC Sport. 1 February 2021.

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