St Mirren became the first side into the hat for the quarter-finals of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup after Roland Idowu's extra-time winner saw off Airdrieonians at The Albert Bartlett Stadium.
It wasn't a vintage performance from Saints, but Stephen Robinson's men got the job done to ensure a place in the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2022.
A stunning finish from Jacob Devaney gave the Buddies a deserved first-half lead. But Airdrieonians drew themselves level in the second 45 and took the game to extra-time. It looked like we'd be heading to penalties once again, only for substitute Idowu to fire home the winner with four minutes remaining.
The manager made just one change to the side that defeated Hearts in the William Hill Premiership on Tuesday night. That saw Jake Young come in for the injured Dan Nlundulu. It was Young who had the first opportunity with six minutes on the clock. He picked the ball up and struck low from 20 yards, but Airdrieonians goalkeeper Harry Stone was equal to the effort as he held.
Saints were in control in the opening stages of the match and that paid off on 19 minutes when Devaney produced a bit of magic to score his first goal for the Buddies. Mikael Mandron played a lovely ball round the corner for the the loanee who took one touch before beautifully guiding the ball into the top corner of the net.
Jacob Devaney celebrates his first St Mirren goal (Image: Craig Brown)
The Buddies almost added another four minutes later when Jayden Richardson forced a big save from Stone. Richardson was involved again just after the half hour mark when his low pass almost found Mandron who was ready to tap in from close range. He was denied that opportunity by a vital interception from Craig Ross who turned it behind for a corner.
The hosts steadily started to grow into the match and had a strong penalty appeal turned down with just over 10 minutes of the first-half remaining. Jamie Barjonas was through on goal and went down under the challenge from Richard King. It did look like the home side had a strong case for a spot-kick, but referee Kevin Clancy was unmoved which drew plenty of ire from the home support. Their frustration was almost compounded when Mandron immediately had the chance to double St Mirren's advantage when he won the break of the ball on the edge of the Diamonds' box. But the forward sent the shot wide of target.
Airdrieonians started the second-half the better, but failed to create anything clear cut to worry Shamal George in the St Mirren goal. Charlie McArthur passed up a half decent opportunity on 55 minutes when he slammed into the side net. That miss was nearly punished when substitute Idowu, who replaced the injured Young in the first-half, missed a big chance to double our lead. He found himself in a good area but got the shot all wrong and sent well wide of target.
The home side fired a huge warning signal just after the hour mark when Lewis Strapp lashed a curling effort inches over the bar from 20 yards. That prompted a double substitution from Stephen Robinson as he introduced Conor McMenamin and Kion Etete in place of Richardson and Devaney.
But the warning wasn't heeded as the hosts would get themselves level on 65 minutes. Euan Henderson scoring a tidy finish from inside the Saints box to make it 1-1. The goal looked like it may spark Saints back into life after a fairly listless start to the second-half with Idowu forcing a terrific save from Stone. But the Buddies lacked the quality required in the final third with the final chance of the 90 coming a minute before the end when Idowu shot just by the far post.
As was the case in the previous round, Saints were going to have to go at least 120 minutes. Stephen Robinson made a further change at the beginning of extra-time, replacing Etete with Malik Dijksteel as he looked for his side to have more width. But he was dealt a further blow 10 minutes into extra-time when the Dutchman picked up a groin injury and had to be substituted as well. Jalmaro Calvin was his replacement and the young Jamaican forward was agonisingly close to regaining Saints' lead when he turned an Idowu cross inches wide at the beginning of the second period of extra-time.
It was the Buddies who looked the more likely and we would eventually find a winner with four minutes remaining. George's free-kick drifted all the way to Idowu inside the box and he lashed home first time to put us into the last eight.
Full-Time: Airdrieonians 1-2 St Mirren (AET)
St Mirren: George, Fraser (c), King, Freckleton, Richardson (McMenamin 63), Phillips (Donnelly 111), Devaney (Etete 63, Dijksteel 91, Calvin 102), Gogic, John, Young (Idowu 35), Mandron
Subs: Mullen, Tanser, Sobowale
Airdrieonians: Stone, MacDonald (Devine 65), Ross, McArthur, Strapp, McMaster (c) (Constable 90), Barjonas (Gallagher 78), Telfer (McGrattan 72), McKinnon (Hastie 118), Mochrie, Henderson,
Subs: Melrose, McGinty, Aird, Smith
Referee: Kevin Clancy
AR1: Graeme Stewart
AR2: Scott Anderson
Fourth Official: Euan Anderson
