Mark McGhee's clothes stay on but naked truth looks like relegation for Dundee as St Johnstone recover for precious point

This week began for Dundee with some jocular talk of starvation and no heating, and was then escalated to threats of nudity from their manager Mark McGhee should they defeat St Johnstone. However, the chat now is altogether more serious.

These are the bare facts: the Dees are now in grave danger of being relegated back to the cinch Championship following this 1-1 draw with Saints at Dens Park. With just four games to play in the top flight, bottom-club Dundee are five points adrift of the Perth outfit directly above them. They are still to win under McGhee, who was appointed on February 17 to replace James McPake. Ten matches have come and gone since then. McGhee still thinks they can survive but the writing is on the wall.

Dundee led here, courtesy of a tenth-minute strike from Jordan Marshall, but they paid the price for not taking advantage of a quite rotten first-half performance by St Johnstone. Half-time allowed Callum Davidson’s men to regroup and they were far better in the second half, levelling via Shaun Rooney’s header on 68 minutes.

Given the start to the match, the outcome will be seen as positive for those of a St Johnstone persuasion. Aberdeen and St Mirren lost above them and they are five points behind both teams. Unlike that duo, Saints at least have some momentum. They host the Buddies next weekend and will feel they can still escape a relegation play-off.

Dundee go to Pittodrie next. The Dons are on as bad a run but Dundee, under McGhee, feel like they are sinking. They lack a cutting edge in the final third and concede too many sloppy goals. St Johnstone’s equaliser was an example of that. Spirit is not an issue, but results are.

Backed by a vociferous home support, a Charlie Adam-inspired Dundee