| 2020–21 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Steve Brown | |||
| Manager | Callum Davidson | |||
| Stadium | McDiarmid Park | |||
| Scottish Premiership | 5th | |||
| Scottish Cup | Winners | |||
| League Cup | Winners | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Guy Melamed (5) All: Stevie May (9)  | |||
  | ||||
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.[1] After sixteen years at the club Steven Anderson left before the season began along with Danny Swanson, Ross Callachan and David McMillan.[2] Former player and assistant manager Callum Davidson was appointed manager.[3] Former striker Steven MacLean retired to become a coach alongside Cleland who returns to his former role.[4] The Saints dropped to the bottom of the table after four games without a goal,[5] but after a 5–3 away win at Hamilton they moved off it.[6]
The Saints reached the final of the League Cup with a 3–0 win against Hibernian.[7] On 28 February 2021, St Johnstone defeated Livingston in the final thanks to a single goal from Shaun Rooney.[8] 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.[8]
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.[9][10][11]
Results
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Pre-season
| 21 July 2020 Friendly | Aberdeen | 1–2 | St Johnstone | Aberdeen | 
| Anderson  | 
[12] | Tanser  | 
Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium Attendance: 0  | 
| 25 July 2020 Friendly | St Mirren | Cancelled | St Johnstone | Paisley | 
| [13] | Stadium: St Mirren Park | |||
| Note: Match cancelled after positive COVID-19 tests | ||||
Scottish Premiership
| 1 August 2020[14] 1 | Dundee United | 1–1 | St Johnstone | Tannadice Park | 
| 15:00 BST | Clark  | 
Report | Craig  | 
Referee: Kevin Clancy | 
| 12 August 2020 3 | Rangers | 3–0 | St Johnstone | Ibrox Stadium | 
| 19:45 BST | Barisic  Kent Aribo  | 
Report | Referee: Euan Anderson | 
| 15 August 2020 4 | Kilmarnock | 1–2 | St Johnstone | Rugby Park | 
| 15:00 BST | Tshibola  Millen  | 
Report | Wotherspoon  O'Halloran  | 
Referee: Andrew Dallas | 
| 20 August 2020 2 | St Johnstone | 0–1 | Aberdeen | McDiarmid Park | 
| 19:30 BST | Craig  | 
Report | Ferguson  Hedges McCrorie  | 
Referee: Willie Collum | 
| Note: Rearranged after postponement, live on Sky Sports. | ||||
| 23 August 2020 5 | St Johnstone | 0–1 | Hibernian | McDiarmid Park | 
| 16:30 BST | Craig  | 
Report | Mallan  | 
Referee: John Beaton | 
| Note: Live on Sky Sports, Liam Craig was sent off after the final whistle | ||||
| 29 August 2020 6 | St Johnstone | 1–0 | St Mirren | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 BST | May  | 
Report | Referee: Kevin Clancy | 
| 12 September 2020 7 | Motherwell | 1–0 | St Johnstone | Fir Park | 
| 15:00 BST | Campbell  O'Hara Watt Carson  | 
Report | Referee: Euan Anderson | 
| 19 September 2020 8 | St Johnstone | 0–1 | Ross County | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 BST | Vigurs  | 
Referee: David Munro | 
| 26 September 2020 9 | Livingston | 2–0 | St Johnstone | Tony Macaroni Arena | 
| 15:00 BST | Tiffoney  Forrest  | 
Report | Referee: Craig Napier | 
| 4 October 2020 10 | St Johnstone | 0–2 | Celtic | McDiarmid Park | 
| 12:00 BST | Report | Griffiths  Klimala  | 
Referee: Nick Walsh | 
| 17 October 2020 11 | Hamilton Academical | 3–5 | St Johnstone | New Douglas Park | 
| 15:00 BST | Hughes  Ogkmpoe  | 
Report | May  Wotherspoon Conway  | 
Referee: Alan Muir | 
| 24 October 2020 12 | St Johnstone | 0–0 | Dundee United | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Andrew Dallas  | 
| 6 November 2020 14 | St Johnstone | 1–0 | Kilmarnock | McDiarmid Park | 
| 19:45 | McNamara  | 
Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Gavin Duncan  | 
| 21 November 2020 15 | St Johnstone | 1–1 | Motherwell | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | May  | 
Report | O'Hara  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven Kirkland  | 
| 24 November 2020 13 | Hibernian | 2–2 | St Johnstone | McDiarmid Park | 
| 19:45 | McGinn  | 
Report | McCann  Wotherspoon  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Kevin Clancy  | 
| 6 December 2020 16 | Celtic | 1–1 | St Johnstone | Celtic Park | 
| 15:00 | Elyounoussi  | 
Report | Kane  | 
Attendance: 0 | 
| 12 December 2020 17 | St Johnstone | 1–2 | Livingston | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | Kane  | 
Report | Guthrie  Robinson  | 
Attendance: 0 | 
| 19 December 2020 18 | St Mirren | 3–2 | St Johnstone | St Mirren Park | 
| 15:00 | Erhahon  Erwin Obika  | 
Report | May  Tanser Kerr  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven McLean  | 
| 23 December 2020 19 | St Johnstone | 0–3 | Rangers | McDiarmid Park | 
| 18:00 | O'Halloran  | 
Report | Roofe  Kamara Hagi  | 
Attendance: 0 | 
| 26 December 2020 20 | Aberdeen | 2–1 | St Johnstone | Pittodrie | 
| 15:00 | Gosgrove  Taylor  | 
Report | Gordon  Hendry  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Alan Muir  | 
| 30 December 2020 21 | St Johnstone | 0–0 | Hamilton Academical | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: David Munro  | 
| 2 January 2021 22 | Ross County | 1–1 | St Johnstone | Victoria Park | 
| 15:00 | Draper  | 
Report | Conway  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Willie Collum  | 
| 12 January 2021 23 | Dundee United | 2–2 | St Johnstone | Tannadice Park | 
| 18:00 | Appéré  Shankland  | 
Report | Melamed  Kane  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Colin Steven  | 
| 16 January 2021 24 | St Johnstone | 1–0 | St Mirren | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | Kane  | 
Report | MacPherson  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven McLean  | 
| 27 January 2021 26 | St Johnstone | 0–0 | Aberdeen | McDiarmid Park | 
| 18:00 GMT | Gordon  | 
Report | Considine  | 
Referee: Don Robertson | 
| 30 January 2021 25 | Kilmarnock | 2–3 | St Johnstone | Rugby Park | 
| 15:00 | Burke  Tshibola  | 
Report | Melamed  Davidson McCann  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Greg Aitken  | 
| 3 February 2021 27 | Rangers | 1–0 | St Johnstone | Ibrox Stadium | 
| 19:45 | Roofe  Hagi  | 
Report | Kane  | 
Referee: David Munro | 
| 6 February 2021 28 | Livingston | 1–2 | St Johnstone | Tony Macaroni Arena | 
| 15:00 GMT | Pittman  | 
Report | Tanser  Rooney  | 
Referee: Euan Anderson | 
| 14 February 2021 29 | St Johnstone | 1–2 | Celtic | McDiarmid Park | 
| 12:00 | Rooney  | 
Report | Édouard  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven McLean  | 
| 20 February 2021 30 | Motherwell | 0–3 | St Johnstone | Fir Park | 
| 15:00 GMT | Report | Melamed  Kerr  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: John Beaton  | 
| 3 March 2021 31 | Hamilton Academical | 1–1 | St Johnstone | New Douglas Park | 
| 18:00 GMT | Callachan  | 
Report | Melamed  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Grant Irvine  | 
| 6 March 2021 32 | St Johnstone | 1–0 | Hibernian | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | Craig  | 
Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: David Dickinson  | 
| 20 March 2021 33 | St Johnstone | 1–0 | Ross County | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | Middleton  | 
Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier  | 
| 10 April 2021 34 | St Johnstone | 0–1 | Aberdeen | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | Report | Hayes  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: John Beaton  | 
| 21 April 2021 35 | St Johnstone | 1–1 | Rangers | McDiarmid Park | 
| 19:45 | Craig  | 
Report | Wright  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Euan Anderson  | 
| 1 May 2021 36 | Hibernian | 0–1 | St Johnstone | Easter Road | 
| 15:00 GMT | Report | Middleton  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Greg Aitken  | 
| 12 May 2021 37 | Celtic | 4–0 | St Johnstone | Celtic Park | 
| 15:00 GMT | Turnbull  Édouard Ajer Dembélé  | 
Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Bobby Madden  | 
| 15 May 2021 38 | St Johnstone | 0–0 | Livingston | McDiarmid Park | 
| 12:30 | Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier  | 
Scottish League Cup
Group stage
| 6 October 2020 | Kelty Hearts | 1–2 | St Johnstone | New Central Park | 
| 19:45 | Tidser  | 
Report | Kerr  Kane  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Alan Newlands  | 
| 10 October 2020 | St Johnstone | 7–0 | Brechin City | McDiarmid Park | 
| 15:00 | May  Wotherspoon Hendry Davidson  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier  | 
| 10 November 2020 | St Johnstone | 0–0 (3–4 p)  | Dundee United | McDiarmid Park | 
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 0 | 
Knockout round
| 28 November 2020 Second round | Motherwell | 1–2 | St Johnstone | Fir Park | 
| 15:00 | Watt  | 
Report | Hendry  Wotherspoon  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Alan Muir  | 
| 15 December 2020 Quarter-final | Dunfermline Athletic | 1–1 (3–4 p)  | St Johnstone | East End Park | 
| 19:45 | 
  | 
Report | 
  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Don Robertson  | 
| 23 January 2021 Semi-final | St Johnstone | 3–0 | Hibernian | Hampden Park | 
| 17:30 | Report | Attendance: 0 | 
| 28 February 2021 Final | Livingston | 0–1 | St Johnstone | Hampden Park | 
| 14:00 | Report | 
  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Don Robertson  | 
Scottish Cup
| 3 April 2021 Third round | Dundee | 0–1 | St Johnstone | Dens Park | 
| 15:00 | Report | Melamed  | 
Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier  | 
| 17 April 2021 Fourth round | St Johnstone | 2–0 | Clyde | McDiarmid Park | 
| 12:00 | Melamed  O'Halloran  | 
Report | Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven Kirkland  | 
| 25 April 2021 Quarter-final | Rangers | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p)  | St Johnstone | Glasgow | 
| 18:30 | Report | 
  | 
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium Attendance: N/A Referee: Alan Muir  | |
| Penalties | ||||
Squad statistics
Appearances
- As of 22 May 2021
 
| No. | Pos | Player | Premiership | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1 | GK | 27 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| 2 | DF | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | 21+6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 4 | DF | 36 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 5 | DF | 30 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| 6 | DF | 35+1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 1 | |
| 7 | MF | 19+8 | 3 | 5+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| 8 | MF | 14+7 | 1 | 4+2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 28 | 2 | |
| 9 | FW | 17+10 | 4 | 5+3 | 2 | 2+2 | 2 | 39 | 8 | |
| 10 | MF | 28+9 | 3 | 7+1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 50 | 6 | |
| 11 | FW | 13+12 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 1+3 | 1 | 32 | 2 | |
| 12 | GK | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 13 | MF | 12+8 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 14 | FW | 17+16 | 4 | 3+5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 9 | |
| 15 | MF | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 16 | MF | 3+6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1+3 | 1 | 13 | 3 | |
| 17 | FW | 11+7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 7 | |
| 18 | MF | 31+2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| 19 | DF | 20+8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 5 | |
| 20 | FW | 0+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 24 | DF | 15+3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 25 | GK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 26 | MF | 17+5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| 40 | DF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 46 | FW | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Player who left the club during the season | ||||||||||
| 2 | DF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | DF | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| 16 | FW | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 22 | FW | 8+8 | 0 | 3+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| 23 | MF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 45 | GK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Team statistics
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1] | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 5 | St Johnstone | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 36 | 46 | −10 | 45 | Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round[lower-alpha 2] | 
| 6 | Livingston | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 45 | |
| 7 | St Mirren | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 45 | 
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).[16]
Notes:
- ↑ 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 | Team | 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 | — |