St Mirren won their first Premiership match of the season with second-half goals from Declan John and Mikael Mandron giving Saints three points away to Falkirk.
The victory moves the Buddies to fourth place in the William Hill Premiership and extends our unbeaten league run to four matches.
Manager Stephen Robinson, taking charge of his 400th match as a manager, named the same starting line-up for the fourth game in a row, while welcoming new signing Dan Nlundulu on to the bench as well as the returning Conor McMenamin.
A pretty listless opening to the match was briefly stirred on 24 minutes when a cross from John was met by Jonah Ayunga. The forward was always stretching and couldn't get his header on target. A minute later another dangerous ball from John found Jayden Richardson at the far end of the box. He checked inside before laying off to Killian Phillips on the edge of the area but the Irishman scooped over.
Falkirk then came close three minutes later when Shamal George was caught out by a cross and that allowed Ross MacIver to send a header beyond the Saints goalkeeper. Miguel Freckleton was there to turn the ball over to deny the home side the opener. Lewis Neilson looked like he should have put the John McGlynn's side in front after the ball eventually fell to him from the resulting corner, but he fired over with the offside flag raised in any case. MacIver should have done better when he got himself on the end of a Brad Spencer free-kick just after the half-hour mark. His header was tame though and easy for George.
Saints were forced into a change before the interval when Marcus Fraser, who fell awkwardly in the Saints box and injured his ankle, had to be replaced by Richard King on 42 minutes.
The Buddies came out the better side after the interval and could have opened the scoring a little over 10 minutes after the restart. Richardson's cross picked out Mandron in the box and the forward brought it down on his chest before laying off to Mark O'Hara on the edge of the area. The skipper didn't get the connection he would have wanted as he fired over.
Stephen Robinson's side would make the breakthrough on 64 minutes with John's deflected free-kick finding the net. Mandron was fouled 25 yards from goal with Falkirk captain Spencer booked for the challenge. John stood over it alongside Killian Phillips, but it was the Welshman who shot and it took a big deflection to wrong foot the Falkirk goalkeeper and find the net.
Declan John celebrates goal against Falkirk (Image: Paul Byars)
New signing Nlundulu was given his debut with 20 minutes remaining as he replaced Ayunga and he looked lively in his cameo.
Phillips almost added a second for Saints on 71 minutes when his brilliant run saw him on the end of King's lifted ball over the top. The Irish midfielder brought it down well on his chest before forcing a big save from Bain. It was then the hosts who came close to levelling two minutes later when Calvin Miller's deflected cross almost sneaked in at the back post.
Saints would double their advantage with less than 10 minutes remaining and once again John was integral. His stunning cross was straight on the head of Mandron who cleverly glanced into the net to put Saints on the way to three points.
Mikael Mandron celebrates goal against Falkirk (Image: Paul Byars)
But the Buddies never seem to do things the easy way and that came to pass on 88 minutes when substitute Brian Graham's header reduced the deficit and gave the near 7,000 home support encouragement heading into injury-time. As it were, it was Saints who came the closest to adding to their tally in the final minutes. It would have been 3-1 but for an excellent save from Bain denying a 20 yard strike from King.
The three points make their way back to Paisley and give manager Stephen Robinson the perfect way to mark 400 matches as a manager.
Full-Time: Falkirk 1-2 St Mirren
Stephen Robinson applauds support after winning in his 400th match as a manager (Image: Paul Byars)
St Mirren: George, Fraser (King 42), Gogic, Freckleton, Richardson, Phillips, Baccus, O'Hara (c), John (Tanser 90), Mandron, Ayunga (Nlundulu 69)
Subs Not Used: Mullen, Sobowale, McMenamin, Idowu, Dijksteel, Mooney
Falkirk: Bain, Adams, Neilson, Henderson, McCann, Cartwright, Spencer (c), Miller (Samuel-Ogunsuyi 79), Tait (Agyeman 90), Arfield (Williams 65), MacIver (Graham 79)
Subs Not Used: Hogarth, Oliver, Allan, Lissah, Hart
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: Gary Hanvidge
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 7,460
