St Johnstone secured an instant return to the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win over Dunfermline at East End Park, courtesy of second-half goals from Reece McAlear and Ruari Paton. This victory propelled the Saints seven points clear of Partick Thistle with only two games remaining in the Championship season.
Having led the table from the opening day, St Johnstone capitalized on Partick Thistle's draw with Airdrie to claim the title at the first opportunity. The Perth side dominated the first half, with Josh McPake posing a constant threat, hitting the underside of the bar, and delivering several teasing balls that Ruari Paton could not capitalize on. Sam Stanton also came close with a long-range effort and inadvertently blocked a goal-bound attempt by Morgan Boyes.
The breakthrough came in the 56th minute when Paton set up McAlear, whose first-time shot from 22 yards took a significant deflection off Charlie Gilmour's boot and deceived goalkeeper Aston Oxborough. St Johnstone doubled their lead in the 72nd minute as Paton drifted between the Dunfermline center-backs and guided a header into the bottom corner from 12 yards following Liam Smith's cross. This win leaves Dunfermline with a five-point lead over fifth-placed Raith Rovers, but they could secure a play-off place before the weekend. St Johnstone captain Jason Holt expressed pride and relief at sealing their return to the top flight after overcoming a challenging period in his career, which included successive relegations with Livingston and Saints.
Holt praised manager Simo Valakari for his positivity and enthusiasm, stating that the players felt free to perform on the pitch without fear of making mistakes, which contributed to their success this season.