St Mirren are going back to Hampden and will face Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final after we defeated Partick Thistle.
Goals from Dan Nlundulu and Jake Young gave Stephen Robinson's men a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time. Ben Stanway pulled one back for Thistle with a stunning strike a little after the hour mark. But the Buddies saw the game out to secure a place in the last four where we'll take on Celtic in a repeat of the Premier Sports Cup final.
Young was one of two changes for Saints as he came in along with Declan John in place of Roland Idowu and Scott Tanser.
It was the visitors who threatened first with eventual goalscorer Stanway curling an effort off the post from 20 yards in the opening two minutes. Saints then rattled the post themselves on five minutes when Killian Phillips rose the highest to a Mark O'Hara cross, but saw it crash off the woodwork.
Bar those two early opportunities, it was a fairly uneventful opening 30 minutes at The SMiSA Stadium. It would, however, be stirred by a VAR check for handball that saw Saints awarded a penalty. Keanu Baccus' cross came off the arm of Robbie Crawford and Nlundulu rolled home from 12 yards to give us the lead.
The Buddies looked to add a quickfire second with John volleying into the arms of Thistle goalkeeper Josh Clarke on 36 minutes.
Saints were dealt a huge blow five minutes before the end of the half when Marcus Fraser went down with what appears to be a broken collarbone. He was replaced by Richard King who was booked almost immediately after his introduction for a foul on Alex Samuel.
Stephen Robinson's side controlled the remainder of the half and looked to add a second before the break. Clarke saved from both Miguel Freckleton and John as we ticked into five minutes of injury-time at the end of the first 45. The Saints dominance would be rewarded when Young netted his second in as many games. Phillips' pressing saw him rob the ball deep in the Thistle half with the break of the ball falling for Nlundulu who fed it to his right for Young. The forward took it first time, striking hard and low beyond Clarke at the near post to give us a 2-0 advantage at the interval.
Jake Young wheels away after goal against Partick Thistle (Image: Allan Picken)
Saints looked to pick up where the left off as the second-half began. John rifled into the side net inside the opening minute of the second 45. Thistle almost reduced the deficit two minutes later with Shamal George making a brilliant save to turn away Samuel's strike.
The visitors would find themselves back in the game when Stanway pulled a goal back on 61 minutes. Patrick Reading floated a corner to the edge of the area where it met the unmarked Stanway. His finish was brilliant as he volleyed home from 18 yards.
The manager responded by making a double change that saw Jacob Devaney replace Keanu Baccus and Jalmaro Calvin come on for Young. But it was Thistle who were looking the more threatening as they searched for a leveller. Ex-Saint Tony Watt flashed an effort wide on 72 minutes. As the game heading into its closing moments, Thistle substitute Ricco Diack headed an Aidan Fitzpatrick cross just wide, while Ben McPherson sliced a half volley inches by the far post in added time.
The Buddies would see the game out to ensure a return to Hampden where we'll meet Celtic next month.
Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Partick Thistle
St Mirren: George, Fraser (King 40), Gogic, Freckleton, Richardson, Phillips, Baccus (Devaney 64), O'Hara (c), John (Tanser 80), Nlundulu (Idowu 80), Young (Calvin 64)
Subs: Mullen, Donnelly, Campbell, Etete
Partick Thistle: Clarke, McPherson, Ashcroft, O'Reilly, Reading, Crawford (Diack 74), Stanway, Letsosa (Turner 74), Watt, Samuel, Fitzpatrick
Subs: Budinauckas, Logan, McBeth, Dolan, Gray
Referee: David Dickinson
AR1: Calum Spence
AR2: Chris Rae
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan
VAR: Greg Aitken
Attendance: 5,548
