Dundee extended their unbeaten Premiership run to six games with a thoroughly deserved Tayside derby win in Perth
The result takes the Dark Blues a point above their rivals in the table.
Saints revealed ahead of kick-off that Steven MacLean and Tam Scobbie have been ruled out with long-term knee injuries, and both were sorely missed.
The visitors were far more inventive up front on an afternoon to remember for Dundee and one to forget for Saints.
The only goal of the game was a Thomas Konrad header in the first half.
On the 20th minute Frazer Wright hit a half-hearted clearance straight to Simon Ferry.
If it had been a lay-off from a team-mate the ball couldn’t have been presented to Ferry any more invitingly.
The former Celtic and Portsmouth man probably should have scored, but definitely should have hit the target. Instead he lashed the ball high and wide to let Wright off the hook.
Dundee got the goal their first half dominance deserved six minutes later.
Saints failed to clear a Philip Roberts corner convincingly and when the ball came back into the box Konrad headed it past Alan Mannus into the bottom far corner.
It was a real struggle for the Perth men at this stage, and the best they could manage in the way of a response was a drilled low ball into the danger area from Dave Mackay, which Kyle Letheren smothered.
Just after the half-hour mark there was a chance to bring the big men forward when a free kick was won by the home team near the goal-line. However, the defenders’ trip into the box was all for nothing as David Wotherspoon overhit them all with his delivery.
There were definite signs of improvement in Saints as half-time approached, and in 37 minutes Gary McDonald made a good near post run, where he was picked out by MacKay. The midfielder’s glancing header flashed past the post.
Tommy Wright would have had a few words to say to his team during the break, but it was Dundee who were on the front foot after the re-start.
On 48 minutes Harkins stabbed the ball through for Greg Stewart. The assistant referee flagged for offside but referee Willie Collum instead awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box to the Dark Blues as Wright had brought down Harkins.
The Dundee playmaker took the set-piece himself and forced a good save out of Mannus, low to the keeper’s right.
On 59 minutes Mannus again had to be at his best to get a hand to a back post shot from Paul McGowan that was heading for the roof of the net.
The last third of the game passed without too much concern for the visitors, who comfortably protected their lead to take the three points back to Dens.