St Johnstone notched their first league win of the season with a 2-1victory over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Graeme Jones had fired the visitors into the lead with a well-worked goal after only 11 minutes.

Saints then took control of the game and there was no surprise when Kiegan Parker added a second after 24 minutes.

United's increased work-rate was rewarded in the 63rd minute when Hasney Aljofree was on hand in a packed goalmouth to deflect a David Hannah shot into the net.

But although United pressed for an equaliser the Saints defence held firm for a hard fought victory.

It was the visitors who threatened first, forcing a corner after only two minutes. And when Paul Hartley's corner came in Darren Dods was unlucky not to get a header in on goal.

But in 11 minutes the visitors took a deserved lead with a simply worked goal.

Tommy Lovenkrands split the United defence with a slide-rule pass and found Jones bearing through on goal.

The big Englishman steadied himself and slipped a ball under United keeper Alan Combe from the edge of the box for his third goal of the season.

In the 18th minute Lovenkrands should have made it two but his attempted lob lacked the height to beat Main.

Minutes later Saints defender Mohammed Sylla combined well with Jones before shooting straight at Main.

And there was no surprise in the 24th minute when Saints doubled their lead.

Parker dispossessed David McCracken on the left, cut inside and drove the ball low past Combe from 16 yards.

United should have halved the deficit on the half-hour mark with their first real chance of the game.

Jason de Vos floated a ball from way down the left into an unmarked Alex Mathie.

But the ex-Ipswich striker somehow managed to head the ball past the post from only six yards out.

It was a bad miss from Mathie who shook his head in recognition of just how good a chance he had passed up.

It was the home side who had the first attempt on goal in the second-half after only two minutes of the restart. Mathie tried his luck from 20 yards but the shot was too close to Main's body.

The visitors seemed content to sit on their lead, inviting United to attack whilst they looked to hit the home side on the break. But after 63 minutes United pulled a goal back following a frantic goalmouth scramble.

Hannah got a shot in which sped through a crowded goalmouth. Luckily for United, Aljofree was on hand and deflected the ball into the net.

In the 71st minute Jones nearly restored Saints' two-goal lead when a shot from 16 yards crashed off the bar.

But the home side continued to dominate possession without being able to find a way through the visitors' defence.

At times, Saints' defending was desperate but in the end they held out for a hard-fought victory.