St Mirren were dealt more VAR frustration and ended the game with 10 men for the second week in a row as we lost 3-1 to Dundee United at Tannadice.
Dan Nlundulu scored his first goal for St Mirren to give the Buddies a deserved lead. But the home side levelled late in the half through Zach Sapsford after a dubious free-kick call. Saints looked the more likely to re-take the lead, but found themselves behind when a VAR intervention saw referee John Beaton award United a penalty with less than 10 to play and show a red card to Alex Gogic. Substitute Amar Fatah made no mistake from the spot before Craig Sibbald added a third in the final minute of normal time.
Manager Stephen Robinson made two changes with Conor McMenamin in for the suspended Jayden Richardson, while Jonah Ayunga replaced Mikael Mandron who was only fit enough for a place on the bench.
The Buddies started brightly and would be awarded with the breakthrough on 18 minutes. Declan John's wicked cross was touched onto the bar by United goalkeeper Yevhenni Kucherenko and Nlundulu was quickest to react to rebound, nodding into the net from close-range to score his first for Saints.
Dan Nlundulu celebrates his first St Mirren goal with Mark O'Hara and Jonah Ayunga (Image: Andy Barr)
The forward had a big opportunity to double his tally with five minutes of the first-half remaining. He was first on to a brilliant corner kick delivery from captain Mark O'Hara, but he bulleted wide of target.
Frustratingly, United drew level two minutes later. Shamal George was penalised for seemingly picking the ball up outside the area which saw the goalkeeper cautioned and the hosts awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Sapsford struck low into the bottom corner to make it 1-1. It was a bitterly disappointing moment as the Buddies had looked well in control, limiting United to very little.
Saints almost reacted in the perfect manner with Nlundulu forcing an important save from Kucherenko on 44 minutes as the half drew to a close.
United almost got themselves in front quickly after the restart when a Sibbald pass cut open the Saints defence which saw Panutche Camara run through on goal. George was out quickly to narrow the angle and that saw Camara slide the ball by the far post.
Killian Phillips could have put St Mirren back ahead just after the hour mark but failed to hit the target. Miguel Freckleton's ball into the box was brought down on the chest of Gogic and sat nicely for Phillips to get on to it though the Irishman struck high over the bar.
Most of the game was being played deep in the United half with Saints trying to force the issue in search of a second goal. A number of corners and crosses caused the hosts pressure. Keanu Baccus dragged an effort wide from 20 yards on 64 minutes before Ayunga couldn't get enough curl from a similar position three minutes later. Baccus came close again when he let fly from 25 yards with a strike that flew just wide of the post on 72 minutes.
With less than 10 minutes to go, Dundee United were awarded a penalty after a VAR call. John Beaton was sent to the monitor and subsequently pointed to the spot and showed Gogic a red card for a foul on Nikolaj Moller. Substitute Amar Fatah rolled it home to give the hosts the lead. They wrapped up the points in the final minute of time with Sibbald curling high into the net from the edge of the box.
Full-Time: Dundee United 3-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: George, Fraser, Gogic, Freckleton, McMenamin (King 85), Phillips, Baccus, O'Hara (c) (Taylor 85), John, Ayunga (Mandron 70), Nlundulu (Calvin 85)
Subs: Mullen, Tanser, Donnelly, Idowu, Dijksteel
Dundee United: Kucherenko, Esselink, Iovu (Naamo 73), Sevelj, Camara, Sapsford (Amar Fatah 77), Ferry, Sibbald, Stephenson (Trapanovski 67), Keresztes, Moller (Stirton 90)
Subs: Richards, Eskesen, Dolcek, Cleall-Harding, Beattie
Referee: John Beaton
AR1: David McGeachie
AR2: Alastair Mather
Fourth Official: Duncan Williams
VAR: Gavin Duncan
