Saints began their post-split fixtures with a disappointing defeat to Livingston at The SMiSA Stadium.
Livi had goalie Jerome Prior to thank after a goalless first half, the shot-stopper producing fine saves to deny Richard King, Mikael Mandron and Declan John.
Saints lost Jonah Ayunga to injury in the second half before Livi went in front when Alex Gogic turned Robbie Muirhead's cross into his own goal. The Buddies had plenty of the ball but were unable to make it count and Scott Pittman put the game beyond them when he slammed home the visitors' second with less than 10 minutes to play.
Emergency loan signing Ross Sinclair got the nod over youngster Grant Tamosevicius to replace the injured Ryan Mullen in goal, with Richard King replacing the injured Liam Donnelly the only other change to the side which started at Hampden last Sunday. The visitors also made two changes, Ryan McGowan and Brooklyn Kabongolo coming into the side at the expense of Cammy Kerr and Cirstian Montano.
Saints started on the front foot, Allan Campbell sending a shot high and wide after a couple of minutes, but it was Sinclair who was the first keeper to be called into action as he tipped Joel Nouble's dangerous cross behind before saving a header from Kabongolo. When a Livi free-kick broke down Saints were able to attack on the counter, Declan John's shot being deflected into the side netting for a corner that was taken short before being crossed to Alex Gogic, who headed over. Soon after, another neat bit of play allowed Killian Phillips to find Campbell but he was unable to find the target.
The Buddies were enjoying plenty of possession and Ayunga stung the palms of Jerome Prior with a fierce drive. There had been little danger at the other end but when Alex Gogic was booked for fouling Stevie May it gave the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position which the former St Johnstone forward curled narrowly wide. Ten minutes from the break Saints could have been in front when Campbell picked out King at the back post but Prior produced a great save to deny the defender. The Livi keeper was proving a real thorn in Saints' side, saving Mikael Mandron's cross from John's header before blocking the Welshman's shot as the half drew to a close.
King sent a shot a few yards over as hostilities resumed but the Buddies were dealt a huge blow when Ayunga went down injured following a tackle. The popular forward was clearly in some distress before being stretchered off, Jake Young taking his place, with Roland Idowu replacing King at the same time.
After the changes, the visitors began coming into the game more and midway through the half took the lead, sub Robbie Muirhead firing the ball across goal where the unfortunate Gogic was unable to stop himself turning it into his own net – a VAR check for offside unable to spare his blushes.
Saints nearly drew level when John's deep free-kick was knocked on for Campbell with his volley inches wide of the post. He was replaced by McMenamin with Jayden Richardson coming on for Jacob Devaney at the same time but with less than 10 minutes of normal time to play the visitors put the seal on their first league win on August, Saints being caught short at the back allowing Macaulay Tait to tee up fellow sub Scott Pitman to fire home from close range.
Nine minutes of stoppage time began with Saints skipper Mark O'Hara rattling the woodwork from range but there was to be no late drama this time, with the Buddies still just two points clear of the play-offs.
Full-Time: St Mirren 0-2 Livingston
St Mirren: Sinclair, King (Idowu 56), Gogic, Freckleton, O'Hara (c), Phillips, Devaney (McMenamin 73), Campbell (Richardson 73), John (Tanser 82), Mandron, Ayunga (Young 56)
Subs: Tamosevicius, Falconer, Calvin, Douglas
Livingston: Prior, McGowan (c), Wilson, Kabongolo, Finlayson (Kerr 77), Sylla, Arfield (Pittman 64), Smith, Fati (Montano 40), May (Muirhead 64), Nouble (Tait 64)
Subs: Hamilton, Danso, Zimmerman, McKay
Referee: David Dickinson
AR1: Douglas Ross
AR2: Scott Anderson
Fourth Official: Jamie Wilkie
VAR: John Beaton
Attendance: 5,884
