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St Johnstone went into the Scottish Premier League winter break with victory against Tayside rivals Dundee.

Liam Craig fired in the goal which gave Saints the points in the 33rd minute.

Dundee suffered a blow soon into the second half when skipper Stephen O' Donnell was stretchered off with a serious knee injury.

Saints had more quality and threat about their play and Frazer Wright headed powerfully against the Dundee bar with 17 minutes left.

Steve Lomas's side consolidate their mid-table position while Dundee remain nine points adrift at the bottom of the division.

The only goal of the game came when Gregory Tade's low ball across the box spilled from Rab Douglas' grasp as he and Peter Pawlett collided and the impressive Craig slotted home from 10 yards.

St Johnstone were the dominant side territorially, but chances were few and far between for either team in a first half which lacked fluency.

Dundee's Iain Davidson headed over from a corner and, with the visitors' best chance of the half coming to nothing, Saints held the advantage at the end of a 45-minute spell in which they lost Callum Davidson to injury.

Tade went down under a challenge from Declan Gallagher just after the break, but the hosts' appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Then Rowan Vine whipped a shot wide of the visitor's goal after a quick free-kick from Dave Mackay caught the Dundee defence napping.

A Colin Nish shot on 68 minutes was deflected for a corner as Dundee tried to claw their way back into the match, and moments later, Steven Milne appeared to have a claim for penalty as he went down under a challenge in the box.

Wright nodded against the goal frame and Dundee came close shortly afterwards when Nicky Riley grabbed possession inside his own half and raced fully 50 yards to crack a powerful shot just over.

Deep into stoppage time Saints sub Nigel Hasselbaink had a good chance to double his team's advantage but his shot whipped across the face of Rab Douglas's goal from 14 yards.