St Mirren rounded off their training camp in Northern Ireland with a win over Linfield at Windsor Park. 

Alex Greive and Jonah Ayunga netted first-half goals as Stephen Robinson's men followed up Monday night's 3-0 win over Crusaders with victory over the NIFL Premiership champions. 

It took the Buddies just 90 seconds to hit the front when Greive capped off a well-worked move. The New Zealand international was on hand to knock Ayunga's ball across into the net from close-range. 

Linfield loanee Daniel Finlayson - who completed his temporary move from the Paisley Saints to Linfield last month - levelled for the home side on 19 minutes. The defender slotted home after being teed up by Stephen Fallon.

Saints re-took the lead on 37 minutes when Jonah Ayunga smashed home a stunning strike from inside the area. And the English forward could have notched his second three minutes later when he sent a free header over from close-range. 

It was Ayunga who came closest to extending Saints lead in the second-half. He showed great footwork to fashion the chance but cracked the effort off the bar with substitute Lewis Jamieson slamming the rebound wide. 

Trevor Carson made a big save in the dying minutes to deny Chris McKee and ensure Saints would go home with two wins in the bag. 

Full-Time: Linfield 1-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Campbell (Dunne 46), Shaughnessy (c), Gallagher (Fraser 60), Strain (Tait 46), Erhahon (Taylor 70), O'Hara (Reid 70), Tanser (Flynn 60), Kiltie (Henderson 60), Greive (Jamieson 60), Ayunga (Offord 70)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky

Linfield: Johns, Roscoe, Finlayson (Pepper 60), Hall (Devine 60), Shields (McClean 46), Trialist (Newberry 60), Mulgrew (Palmer 46), McDaid (McKee 60), Cooper (Millar 46), M. Clarke (A.Clarke 60), Fallon (Stewart 46)
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Archer

St Mirren began their pre-season schedule with a comfortable win over Crusaders at the Seaview Stadium. 

Lewis Jamieson and Mark O'Hara scored within four minutes of each other in the first-half to put St Mirren 2-0 ahead at the break. Kieran Offord then added a third 10 minutes into the second-half to round off a good night's work for Stephen Robinson's men.

The friendly formed the testimonial match for Crusaders' long-serving player Paul Heatley with the Saints squad forming a guard of honour for the 35-year-old.

Saints take part in a guard of honour for Crusaders' Paul Heatley in his testimonial

O'Hara almost put the Buddies in-front on seven minutes but saw his 20 yard strike crack off the post. Trevor Carson made a terrific one-handed stop just before the half hour mark with the Northern Ireland international at full-stretch to turn a Crusaders header away. 

Saints took the lead on 37 minutes when Jamieson showed great instincts to follow up and knock home after Fraser Taylor's initial strike was pushed into his path by goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey. Four minutes later St Mirren added a second when O'Hara headed in from close-range. 

Saints added a third on 55 minutes when Offord finished neatly beyond the Crusaders goalkeeper after a latching on to a brilliant pass from Jonah Ayunga.

Jamieson was unlucky not to grab his second on 78 minutes when he saw an effort come off the post and with five minutes remaining Greg Kiltie was denied by a good save from the Crusaders trialist goalkeeper. 

All in all it was a good night's work for Stephen Robinson's men with players getting vital minutes into their legs as well as number of young players given the opportunity to impress. 

Full-Time: Crusaders 0-3 St Mirren

First-half team: Carson, Strain, Gallagher, Kenny, Tait, Erhahon, Taylor, O'Hara, Jamieson, Henderson, Greive
Second-half team: Urminsky, Fraser, Campbell, Shaughnessy, Tanser, Flynn, Reid, Kiltie, Ayunga, Henderson, Offord

St Mirren finished the season in ninth place in the cinch Premiership following a goalless draw with Aberdeen. 

It wasn't a classic at Pittodrie as neither side could make the breakthrough as the curtain closed on the 2021/22 season.

Stephen Robinson made three changes to the side that drew with Livingston on Wednesday night with Richard Tait, Alan Power and Jay Henderson coming in for Joe Shaughnessy, Ryan Flynn and Curtis Main. 

The Dons started the brighter of the two sides with Lewis Ferguson's curling effort forcing Alnwick to tip over on six minutes. But the Buddies grew into the game with St Mirren Young Player of the Year Jay Henderson volleying over from 20 yards before Marcus Fraser met a great delivery from Scott Tanser but headed into the arms of Joe Lewis. 

Alnwick made a brilliant one-handed stop to turn behind Connor Barron's strike on 37 minutes. The Aberdeen youngster was found in space in the Saints box by Jonny Hayes, but Alnwick was down quickly to force the strike wide. 

Jak Alnwick kept a clean sheet for the fourth game in a row. It's the first time Saints have kept four consecutive clean sheets in the top-flight since the last two games of 2010/11 and the first two games of the 2011/12 season. 

There was controversy in the final minute of the half when Aberdeen were initially awarded a penalty for a handball from Tanser. But after consulting with the linesman, referee Don Robertson overturned the decision as it appeared that David Bates had pushed the Buddies full-back. 

Eamonn Brophy was introduced on 51 minutes and was inches away from giving Saints the lead within six minutes of his arrival. Good footwork saw the the forward create space inside the box but lashed wide. 

Alnwick did well to push away a powerful strike from Hayes as the game entered the final third. And it was the Dons who could have won it in the closing stages with Alnwick pushing behind a Liam Harvey effort before brilliantly tipping over Declan Gallagher's header from the resultant corner. 

There was just enough time in the game remaining for Saints to give a debut to 16-year-old St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Aiden Gilmartin as the game finished 0-0 and saw the Buddies finish above Aberdeen in the cinch Premiership. 

Full-Time: Aberdeen 0-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Gogic, McCarthy, Tait (Millar 51) Power, Erhahon (Flynn 74), Tanser, Henderson (Brophy 51), Kiltie, Greive (Gilmartin 90)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Thomson

Aberdeen: Lewis, McCrorie, Bates, Considine (Gallagher 49), MacKenzie, Hayes (Kennedy 79), Ferguson, Polvara (Ojo 61), Barron, Besuijn, Watkins (Harvey 61)
Subs Not Used: Woods, Montgomery, McLennan, Ruth, Milne

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Steven Traynor
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan

St Mirren's final home game of the 2021/22 season ended goalless as the Saints drew with Livingston.

It had all the feelings of an end of season game and while both sides had chances throughout the game it didn't feel like either side would make the breakthrough. 

The manager was forced into one change to the side that defeated Dundee on Saturday. Richard Tait missed out with a foot injury and was replaced by Ryan Flynn. 

A minute applause was observed just before kick to pay respect to those that have sadly passed away during the course of the season. 

Respects were paid to those that have sadly passed over the course of the season (Image: Allan Picken)

After a tepid opening 20 minutes both sides created big chances in a frantic five minute spell. It was the visitors who had the first of these when Alan Forrest managed to weave his way past Ryan Flynn and Marcus Fraser before being denied by the feet of Saints goalie Jak Alnwick. 

St Mirren's best chance of the half came three minutes later when Scott Tanser's beautiful delivery from a free-kick on the right met Joe Shaughnessy but crashed off the post before bouncing wide. Caleb Chukwuemeka wasn't far away with a header on 26 minutes - glancing wide from ex-Saint Sean Kelly's cross.

With less than 10 minutes of the half remaining it was Forrest again causing problems for the Saints defence as he burst into the box, but his powerful strike was pushed away by Alnwick.  

It was a third clean sheet in a row for Jak Alnwick (Image: Allan Picken)

And in the final seconds of the opening 45, Joel Nouble broke the offside trap and looked primed to roll into the net only for Shaughnessy to make a brilliant block which allowed Alnwick to gather. 

The start of the second-half played out much like the beginning of the first with it taking until just after the hour mark for the first real opportunity. Alnwick made a terrific save to push a strong Devlin strike over the bar. 

Saints were in the ascendancy in the closing stages with Greive going close with 12 minutes to go when he flicked a Kiltie ball from the left just by the near post. Conor McCarthy had a good chance on 87 minutes when he rose the highest to head a Tanser corner wide. Substitute Jay Henderson looked like he was going to win it for Saints a minute later when his shot beat the goalkeeper only for Livi captain Devlin to clear off the line.

Livingston could have stolen all three points at the death but Odin Bailey's effort in the final moments crashed off the bar. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Livingston

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), McCarthy, Flynn (Henderson 76), Gogic, Erhahon (Power 77), Tanser, Kiltie, Greive, Main
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Millar, Gilmartin, Brophy

Livingston: Konovalov, Devlin (c), Longridge (Obileye 81), Fitzwater, Kelly, Pittman (Sibbald 81), Boyes, Holt (Omeonga 73), Forrest (Bailey 63), Nouble, Chukwuemeka (Soto 63)
Subs Not Used: Maley, Montano, Lewis, Shinnie

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Alan Newlands

Attendance: 4,454

St Mirren secured their status in the cinch Premiership after a dominant performance against Dundee. 

Goals either side of half-time from strikers Alex Greive and Curtis Main gave Saints a 2-0 victory and that result saw Saints move above Aberdeen into ninth and to within three points of seventh spot. 

The Saints couldn't have wished for a better start - taking the lead with just four minutes on the clock. Charlie Adam inexplicably played the ball across the face of the Dundee box straight to Greive who knocked home from close range. 

The Buddies almost had a second on 20 minutes when Main rose above the visitors defence to power a header towards the far corner, but Dundee goalkeeper Harry Sharp made a wonderful save to tip it wide. 

Greg Kiltie was inches away from making it 2-0 three minutes later when he drove an effort wide from 20 yards. 

After a comfortable first-half for Saints, the away side came out the brighter after the interval and had two big chances in the space of two minutes to level. Jak Alnwick made a brilliant one-handed save on 47 minutes to claw away Ryan Sweeney's header before a stramash in the box saw the ball fall to Jordan McGhee just a few yards from goal, but the defender knocked it off the post with Alnwick managing to gather. 

Saints weathered that early storm and doubled their advantage 10 minutes into the second-half. Main brought down Marcus Fraser's cross-ball with an incredible first touch before lashing a thunderous effort into the top corner. 

Curtis Main got his reward for a big performance as he slammed home the second goal (Image: Allan Picken)

That goal killed the game off with Stephen Robinson's side able to see the rest of the match out comfortably to ensure Premiership football next season and continue the push for a seventh place finish. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-0 Dundee

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), McCarthy, Tait, Gogic, Erhahon (Power 77), Tanser, Kiltie (Flynn 82), Main (Brophy 90), Greive (Henderson 90)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Gilmartin

Dundee: Sharp, Kerr, Sweeney, McGhee, Marshall, McCowan (McMullan 61), McGowan (Byrne 66), Adam (Mulligan 61), McGinn, Mullen, Rudden (Anderson 74)
Subs Not Used: Welsh, Fontaine, Chapman, Robertson, Daley-Campbell

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Chris Graham

Attendance: 5,564

St Mirren picked up an important three points after winning at McDiarmid Park for the first time since 2014.

Greg Kiltie's second-half goal was enough to give the Paisley Saints a 1-0 win and move Stephen Robinson's side eight points clear of St Johnstone in the cinch Premiership.

The manager made three changes from the side that lost to Hibernian last weekend with Alex Gogic, Kiltie and Alex Greive coming in for Alan Power, Ethan Erhahon and Eamonn Brophy. 

The Buddies almost got off to the perfect start with just 30 seconds on the clock. Greive darted beyond two St Johnstone defenders as he burst into the box and forced a big save from Zander Clark who got a strong hand to the New Zealand forward's strike. 

It was a positive opening from Stephen Robinson's side with Greg Kiltie seeing an effort blocked on five minutes before Alex Gogic's long-range hit whistled inches by the post with Clark at full stretch. 

After a bright start the hosts began to see more of the ball and they had their first good chance of the game on 22 minutes. A blocked Callum Booth effort fell to Callum Hendry who twisted and turned by two St Mirren defenders to get his shot away but dragged wide from a good area. 

St Mirren got the winner less than 10 minutes into the second-half when Kiltie scored his fifth goal of the season. The midfielder was in the right place to meet a Greive cut-back and he scooped into the far corner of the net to put Saints ahead.

Greg Kiltie scores the winner for the Saints

The Buddies never really looked threatened throughout the contest with the home side having no shots on target in the 90 minutes. 

And while the focus is on finishing as high as possible in the league, today's win almost ensures St Mirren's status in the cinch Premiership next season with an eight point gap on the relegation play-off spot and only nine points still to play for. 

Full-Time: St Johnstone 0-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), McCarthy, Tait, Ronan, Gogic, Tanser, Kiltie (Flynn 82), Main, Greive (Brophy 90)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Smyth, Erhahon, Henderson, Jones

St Johnstone: Clark, Rooney, Gordon, McCart, Booth, Davidson (May 75), Hallberg, Hendry, Crawford (MacPherson 59), Ciftci (Bair 75), Sang (Middleton 59)
Subs Not Used: Parish, Mahon, Brown, Cleary, Butterfield

Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
Fourth Official: Colin Steven

Saints' poor run of form continued with a disappointing defeat to Hibs.

The game was typical end of season stuff, despite both sides still not clear of the threat of relegation. An instantly forgettable first half was followed up by a slightly better second, the decisive moment coming a quarter of an hour from the end when Ewan Henderson slammed the ball past Jak Alnwick.

The goalie was back in the team after completing his suspension, Saints boss Stephen Robinson making four other chances with Scott Tanser returning from injury and Conor McCarthy, Ethan Erhahon and Curtis Main also starting. Jake Doyle-Hayes and Paul McGinn were the only member of Hibs' former Saints contingent to start, although Darren McGregor was on the bench.

Jay Henderson was one of the Saints players who had been left out of the team due to the change of shape, however his absence lasted barely 10 minutes before he was brought on to replace the injured Richard Tait. The youngster had a go from 20 yards that was well off target, the same applying to a shot from James Scott at the other end from a bit further out.

There was little to get excited about until a Henderson cross caused some chaos in the Hibs box. Eamonn Brophy tried to divert it towards goal only for visiting goalie Matt Macey to get something on it, McGinn then knocking it behind with Main lurking. Saints were beginning to get a bit of joy in the wide areas as Tanser crossed for Brophy but his heady was easily dealt with by Macey.

Before anything could happen in the second half Saints were dealt another injury blow, Brophy the player forced off this time with Alex Greive coming on. Almost immediately, the New Zealander had half a chance when a throw in was flicked on to the back post but he hooked his effort well over.

Eamonn Brophy goes close in the first-half, but the the forward was forced off with an injury (Image: Allan Picken)

It took until midway through the half for Alnwick to be forced to make a meaningful save for the first time, and even then he had no problem holding Scott's header after he'd escaped his marker.

Henderson shot over from the edge of the box before Hibs took the lead. The ball was played out to Harry Clarke on the right and he found Ewan Henderson, who showed great composure to fire past Alnwick. Saints tried to respond, Main founding no takers after firing a dangerous ball across goal before Tanser was unlucky to hit the bar with a half-volley.

Jordan Jones and Ryan Flynn came on for Erhahon and Power as the game entered its dying stages, the changes giving Saints some brief impetus as Greive saw his shot easily dealt with by Macey before Main failed headed off-target from a corner. Hibs should have wrapped things up in stoppage time when Sylvester Jasper played in fellow sub Josh Campbell but he somehow shot over – the miss not proving costly as the visitors comfortably saw out the remaining seconds to secure all three points.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Hibernian

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), McCarthy, Tait (Henderson 11), Ronan, Power (Jones 84), Erhahon (Flynn 84), Tanser, Main, Brophy (Greive 49)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Smyth, Kiltie

Hibernian: Macey, Cadden (Doig 21), McGinn, Hanlon, Stevenson, Henderson (Campbell 83), Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Clarke, Melkersen (Mueller 69), Scott (Jasper 83)
Subs Not Used: Dabrowski, Allan, Bushiri, Delferriere, McGregor

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Steven Traynor
Fourth Official: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 4,992

St Mirren suffered a disappointing loss as Rangers ran out 4-0 winners at the SMiSA Stadium.

Kemar Roofe scored a hat-trick for the visitors before Joe Aribo curled home a really good finish from 20 yards on a day to forget for Saints.

With yesterday's results meaning top six was no longer a possibility for the Buddies, focus turned to aiming to finish the best of bottom six and Stephen Robinson made two changes from the side that lost at Motherwell last week with Charles Dunne and Alex Gogic coming in for Conor McCarthy and Ethan Erhahon. 

But Saints got off to the worst possible start when Roofe put the visitors in front after just two minutes. The Rangers forward met a Ryan Kent cross from the right and headed into the far corner leaving Dean Lyness with no chance. 

The Buddies reacted well though and were playing some decent stuff as the first-half progress though they couldn't create anything to break down the Rangers defence. 

It looked like the Saints would head into the break still very much in the match, but the manager's half-time team talk would have to change when Rangers doubled their advantage right at the end of the first-half when Roofe headed home his second of the afternoon. It was almost a carbon copy of his opening goal with the striker unchallenged as he nodded into the corner of the net and came just moments after Aaron Ramsey had cracked the bar for the visitors. 

An uphill task would be made even more difficult just five minutes into the second-half when Roofe completed his hat-trick. Fashion Sakala was able to waltz through the Saints defence via the aid of a one-two with Aribo and Roofe was the quickest to react to the break of the ball - slamming home from inside the six yard box.

Alex Gogic almost pulled one back straight after Rangers' third with the Cypriot midfielder almost catching out goalkeeper Allan McGregor, but the veteran stopper managed to get down to claw away.

Alex Gogic almost pulled a goal back early in the second-half (Image: Allan Picken)

In truth though it was Rangers who were looking the more likely to add to their lead and substitute Amad Diallo should have punished a Saints error with 20 minutes remaining. McCarthy slipped on the halfway line under pressure from Aribo who slid the ball through to Sakala. The Zambian forward burst forward and found Manchester United loanee Diallo who somehow put wide. 

Rangers would add a fourth with less than 15 minutes remaining. There was nothing Lyness could do to keep it out as Aribo curled into top corner from 20 yards. 

Alex Greive forced a brilliant save from McGregor in the dying embers as Saints looked for a consolation, but it would be a day to forget for the Buddies. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-4 Rangers

St Mirren: Lyness, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne (McCarthy 45), Tait, Ronan, Power, Gogic, Henderson (Greive 63), Jones (Erhahon 79), Brophy (Main 63)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Smyth, Thomson, Gallagher, Gilmartin

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander (King 45), Barisic, Lundstram (Davis 26), Ramsey (Sands 45), Aribo, Kent (Wright 45), Roofe (Amad 63), Sakala
Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Balogun, Kamara, Arfield

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Fourth Official: Euan Anderson

Attendance: 6,583

St Mirren's top six hopes have been left hanging by a thread after Saints were beaten 4-2 by Motherwell at Fir Park.

A breathless opening 45 saw Motherwell go into the break 3-2 ahead. Eamonn Brophy put St Mirren ahead, but two goals in a minute from Sean Goss and Connor Shields put the Steelmen in front. The returning Conor McCarthy levelled on 38 minutes, only for Motherwell to re-take the lead in the final minute of the half through Dean Cornelius. 

A Richard Tait own-goal 12 minutes from time saw the Fir Park side add a fourth to secure their first league win since Boxing Day.

Despite a slow start Saints struck first when Brophy scored his eighth goal of the season from close-range. Stephen O'Donnell's attempted clearance from a cross on the left clattered off Sondre Solholm Johansen and fell to Brophy who turned and slotted into the corner of the net. 

Eamonn Brophy puts St Mirren in front (Image: David Henderson)

The home side levelled on 20 minutes when Goss squeezed beyond Dean Lyness - deputising for the suspended Jak Alnwick - at the near post. And within a minute Motherwell were ahead when Shields ran on to a ball over the top and lifted over the Saints goalkeeper.

The St Mirren reaction to going behind was good with Brophy almost equalising on 28 minutes. The striker went one-on-one with Liam Kelly but smacked the post with the rebound evading Jordan Jones.

O'Donnell was gifted a huge opportunity to add a third for the home side when Erhahon's clearance fell to the Scotland internationalists feet. Lyness denied with a save from his feet. 

Saints made it 2-2 seven minutes before half-time when McCarthy scored his second goal of the season. The Irish defender bundled home at the back post after Kelly in the Motherwell goal failed to gather a corner. 

Just when it looked like the Buddies would go into the interval level, Motherwell took the lead again. Joe Efford's ball from the left found Cornelius who took a touch to control before guiding into corner of the net. 

Lyness made a wonderful save to push away a sweet Callum Slattery strike from 20 yards 10 minutes into the second-half. Efford should have scored the rebound but took a touch which allowed the St Mirren defence to crowd out and clear. 

Saints were controlling possession in the second 45 but were failing to create anything that would trouble Kelly. Marcus Fraser was inches away from making it 3-3 just after the hour mark. Jones' corner was flicked on at the near post by Brophy and Fraser was agonisingly close to connecting with a touch that would have almost certainly found the net. 

But that lack of cutting edge would cost St Mirren as Motherwell sealed their win 12 minutes from time. Kevin Van Veen did brilliantly down the left with his low ball across turned into the net by Richard Tait. 

St Mirren now must beat Rangers next Sunday at the SMiSA Stadium and hope that results on Saturday go our way to have any chance of taking a top six place. 

Full-Time: Motherwell 4-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Lyness, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), McCarthy, Tait (Main 79), Power, Erhahon (Greive 72), Henderson, Ronan, Jones, Brophy
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Gogic, Main

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Solholm Johansen, Lamie, Cornelius, Slattery, Goss (Donnelly 75), Shields, Efford (Tierney 74), Van Veen (Shaw 90)
Subs Not Used: Fox, Carroll, Woolery, O'Hara, Shaw, Ojala, Grimshaw

Referee: Craig Napier
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeille
Fourth Official: Bobby Madden

Attendance: 4,441 (838 St Mirren fans)

Saints, the city of Dundee and late drama. It seems to be a thing lately.

It looked as if Buddies legend Tony Fitzpatrick would have a happy ending in his final game before retirement as youngster Jay Henderson scored a screamer after just three minutes.

However, after the break United looked a completely different side and should have been level well before Dylan Levitt's tremendous equaliser.

It looked as if the game would peter out in a draw but with a couple of minutes left Saints goalie Jak Alnwick charged from his goal, clattered Tony Watt and was sent off. Dean Lyness came on and had little to do – until the final seconds of stoppage time when United hit the woodwork for a third time and Marc McNulty nodded home to spark jubilant scenes behind the goal.

Henderson was back in the team due to an injury to Jordan Jones with Marcus Fraser replacing Scott Tanser in the Saints defence. Tony Watt and Charlie Mulgrew returned for the visitors, with one time Saints loan star Liam Smith starting in defence.

It took Henderson all of three minutes to make his presence felt. The young winger picked up the ball from Connor Ronan in the middle of the park and charged towards the edge of the United area before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Benji Siegrist to give the Buddies the lead.

Connor Ronan celebrates with Jay Henderson after the latter had given us the lead (Image: Allan Picken)

Despite enjoying plenty of the ball it took United a fair amount of time to muster up some sort of response, Calum Butcher blasting an ambitious shot miles over midway through the half. A few moments later Marc McNulty dragged a shot across goal after being played in by Miller Thomson, before Jak Alnwick had to rush from his line to block a shot from Ilmari Niskanen.

Saints hadn't really threatened since scoring but Eamonn Brophy almost doubled the lead when his shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide. When Henderson whipped the corner in, Fraser headed it across for Charles Dunne but he hooked it over. United had a half-hearted penalty shout turned down when they claimed a Ryan Edwards header had been blocked by a Saints defender's arm before the Buddies forced a series of corners as they looked to double their lead. Siegrist almost punched one into his own net, while at another Dunne threatened with a header that was eventually nodded behind by Edwards.

United introduced Nicky Clark and Ross Graham at the break and they looked a totally different outfit, Edwards heading over from a corner just the start of their push for an equaliser. Saints had a huge let off when the home defence failed to cut out a cross that made it all the way through to the unmarked McNulty, but Richard Tait was in the right place to head the forward's shot off the line. The Buddies immediately pushed up field but Greg Kiltie opted to shoot from range and his effort was well off target.

Clark's decision to have a go from 25 yards moments later looked similarly optimistic but the striker was desperately unlucky to see his shot thump off the bar with Alnwick beaten. Soon after United finally did get the better of the Saints keeper, Dylan Levitt playing a one-two off an unwitting defender before firing a tremendous shot beyond the reach of Alnwick into the far corner to level things up.

United weren't done there and when Alnwick failed to connect properly with a corner, Edwards hooked the ball towards goal only to see it rattle the bar. In a bid to stem the tide, Saints boss Stephen Robinson made a double change of his own, Conor McCarthy and Alex Greive replacing Henderson and Kiltie. The subs did ease the pressure on the home defence before another double change came with Curtis Main and Ethan Erhahon replacing Brophy and Alan Power.

McCarthy almost made an impact at the other end as he sent a shot wide from long range but that just paved the way for some late drama. As Watt raced in on goal, Alnwick came out of his box and clattered the United striker, ref Nick Walsh sending the goalie off and Lyness replaced Greive for the four minutes of stoppage time. To the relief of the majority of the 5,710 crowd, Charlie Mulgrew rattled his free-kick into the wall and his attempt from the rebound trundled well wide.

Jak Alnwick was shown a straight red card in the final minutes (Image: Allan Picken)

And that seemed to be that – until deep into stoppage time United launched one last attack. A stramash ensued, the ball hit the bar and dropped kindly for McNulty to head into the net and give the visitors all three points.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Dundee United

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tait, Power (Erhahon 82), Gogic, Henderson (McCarthy 66), Ronan, Kiltie (Greive 66, Lyness 90), Brophy (Main 82)
Subs Not Used: Flynn

Dundee United: Siegrist, Smith, Edwards, Butcher, McMann (Graham 45), Mulgrew, Niskanen, Thomson (Clark 45), Levitt, McNulty, Watt
Subs Not Used: Eriksson, Sporle, McDonald, Meekison, Neilson, Freeman, Mochrie

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Graeme Leslie
Fourth Official: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 5,710