St Mirren suffered just a third league of the season as they fell to a 2-1 loss away to Dundee United.
A late wonder strike from Adam Eckersley wasn't enough to avoid defeat as goals from Mark Durnan and Sam Stanton gave the Tangerines all three points.
United started the better of the two sides with Scott McDonald going close with just five minutes on the clock when he got on the end of a corner. But Saints goalkeeper Craig Samson gathered with ease.
Scott Fraser would have been disappointed that he didn't open the scoring two minutes later after being expertly picked out by Matthew Smith in a good area inside the Buddies box. He looked set to knock the ball beyond Samson only for the ball to get caught up in his feet allowing the keeper to grab hold.
The home side would take the lead on 12 minutes through Mark Durnan. A freekick deep in St Mirren's half was fired into the box by Fraser, with Mark Durnan stooping low to flick a header into top of the Saints net. It looked as though Samson expected it to head over the bar, but to the Buddies disappointment it looped in to draw first blood for United.
St Mirren could have found themselves level mere moments later when Cammy Smith picked out Magennis in the box. It was all set up for the midfielder to equalise but for a good block from Thomas Scobbie.
Saints grew more and more into the game and had two great chances in the space to equalise before the break with Lewis Morgan dragging two shots from good positions wide.
Just as the game was heading towards the interval and vicious shot from Billy King almost saw United double their advantage with the effort fizzing just over the bar.
Half Time: Dundee United 1-0 St Mirren
It was King who had the first real chance after the break with Samson making a good stop to deny the forward.
Then, on the hour mark, a loose pass from Morgan searching for Jack Baird was pounced upon by Fraser who burst through the centre of Saints defence to break clear on goal. But his shot was clawed away by Samson to keep the score at 1-0.
Saints had a number of set pieces opportunities in the second half but were failing to make any count with United keeper Harry Lewis having little to do.
Dundee United thought they had made a set piece of their own count when a free kick launched into the Saints box was put into the net by Scobbie only to be denied by the offside flag.
The Tangerines were starting to turn the screw as they searched for a killer second with time ticking away. Samson did well to save from Fraser on 77 minutes, but two minutes later they'd have their all important second. Substitute Fraser Fyvie played a brilliant ball into the box where he found Scott Fraser, United's best player on the day, in acres of space. The midfielder took it down on his chest before rolling it into the path of Sam Stanton who slammed home to double their advantage.
Saints grabbed a consolation deep into injury time when Adam Eckersley scored a goal of the season candidate with a wonderful volley from 25 yards out. The left back brought the ball down on his chest before lashing it over Harry Lewis and in off the underside of the cross bar.
But coming on 94 minutes it was too little too late for Saints who remain top of the Ladbrokes Championship on goal difference.
Full Time: Dundee United 2-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, Baird, McCart, Eckersley, McGinn, McShane, Morgan, C.Smith, Magennis (Sutton 63), Reilly (Hilson 72)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Stelios, Buchanan, MacPherson, Stewart
Dundee United: Lewis, Murdoch, Durnan, Scobbie, Robson, Fraser, Flood, Stanton, King, M.Smith (Fyvie 69), McDonald (Keatings 83)
Subs Not Used: Deniz, McMullan, N'Koyi, Edjenguele, Allardice
Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Ross Haswell
Attendance: 6,836
