St Mirren exited the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage following a battling 4-2 defeat at Tynecastle.

The Buddies battled from 2-0 down to go level with Eamonn Brophy and Connor Ronan netting. But Hearts substitute Aaron McEneff scored within 30 seconds of coming off the bench before setting up Ellis Simms in the final few minutes to see the Saints exit at the last eight.

A noisy travelling support of around 1500 had travelled through to Gorgie to back the Buddies and Stephen Robinson made one change to the side that defeated Dundee on Wednesday night with the returning Jak Alnwick back in place of Dean Lyness. 

Brophy had the first opportunity of an action packed quarter-final, driving into the arms of Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon on seven minutes. Less than sixty seconds later Alnwick was forced into his first save as he got two strong hands on a Barrie McKay strike from the edge of the area. 

McKay was instrumental in the Hearts opener. The winger drove in from the left and played a perfect ball for Ellis Simms. The forward struggled to get the ball out of his feet with Alnwick blocking, but the Baningime was quickest to react - knocking into the net to put the hosts ahead. 

Hearts doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark. In fairness to Hearts it was a well worked move which ended when Liam Boyce knocked the ball wide to Ben Woodburn and the forward's first time pass was met by the oncoming Peter Haring who swept home from close-range to make it 2-0. 

It was a huge blow to Stephen Robinson's side who had been playing fairly well, but all wasn't lost as Saints pulled one back seven minutes later. Alnwick's long pass was picked up on by Richard Tait. The defender burst forward before playing a wonderful ball into Brophy with the striker knocking beyond Gordon to half the deficit. 

After keeping Hearts at bay at the start of the second 45 with Alnwick doing well to turn away a deflected Woodburn strike, St Mirren grew in confidence as they searched for an equaliser. Gordon made two big saves just after the hour mark to deny Jordan Jones and Greg Kiltie. 

Saints would drew level on 62 minutes when Connor Ronan added another incredible strike to his collection. The Irishman has made a habit of scoring wonder-goals since joining on loan from Wolves and this could be his best yet after he whipped into the top corner from 25 yards to make it 2-2.

Connor Ronan scored a sensational goal to draw Saints level (Image: Willie Vass)

But the home side would go back in front six minutes later when substitute Aaron McEneff diverted a deflection into the net. And Hearts made it four with five minutes remaining when Simms headed a McEneff cross beyond Alnwick to end Saints hope of a trip to Hampden next month.

Full-Time: Hearts 4-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Tait, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tanser (Fraser 53), Power, Gogic (Greive 75), Ronan, Kiltie (Henderson 75), Jones, Brophy
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Smyth, McCarthy, Flynn, Erhahon, Main

Hearts: Gordon, Atkinson, Halkett, Kingsley, Halliday, Haring, Baningime, Woodburn (McEneff 67), Boyce, McKay (Sibbick 90), Simms
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Moore, Kirk, Rathie, Tait

Referee: Bobby Madden
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Alastair Mather
Fourth Official: Colin Steven

Connor Ronan's last-gasp header won St Mirren all three points at Dundee and moved Saints to within a point of fourth place.

Stephen Robinson headed to the city of discovery in search of his first win as Buddies boss. Despite being well on top, it looked like he would have to settle for just a point - only for Ronan to get his head on the end of a super Jay Henderson cross deep into stoppage time to take the points back to Paisley.

After an uneventful opening half-hour in which neither side really created anything, Saints had two good opportunities to open the scoring in the space of two minutes. 

The first saw Eamonn Brophy slip the ball down the left channel where it found Jordan Jones in acres of space. Dundee goalkeeper Harry Sharp was hesitant in coming for it and Jones - looking to take advantage of that hesitation - aimed to lift the ball over him, but put straight into his hands.

Two minutes later Greg Kiltie did well to not only keep the ball in play, but then play it across the area where it found an unmarked Brophy. The Saints striker took a touch to steady himself before seeing his strike blocked on the line by Zeno Ibsen Rossi. 

Dundee weren't without their openings but didn't trouble Dean Lyness with Jordan McGhee and Cammy Kerr both firing over from the same range in quick succession. 

After a goalless opening 45, the home side started the second-half stronger with Ibsen Rossi's header across the face of goal needed to be cleared over the bar by Ronan with Declan McDaid lurking at the back post. Niall McGinn then fizzed a dangerous looking ball across the face of the Saints box with no takers in Dark Blue. 

Saints took a grip of the game and passed up a golden opportunity to take the lead just after the hour mark. Brophy had two efforts blocked before the ball landed perfectly for Jones who somehow slammed over from just a few yards out. 

The Buddies had a huge appeal for a penalty five minutes later when Scott Tanser's cross from the left appeared to strike the hand of Dundee defender Ryan Sweeney. Referee John Beaton was unmoved. 

With the clock running down, Brophy went close to putting St Mirren ahead with less than five minutes of time to go as his header from a Jones cross drifted agonisingly wide.

It appeared it was going to be just one of those nights for the Buddies with John Beaton disallowing a Saints goal on 90 minutes after Richard Tait had nodded home from a corner. 

But Saints would have one last chance with substitute Henderson - fresh from being named in the Scotland U21 squad this morning - sending in a perfect cross from the right which Ronan got his head on the end of to sent the travelling support into raptures as the race for a top six place heats up with three games to go until the split. 

Connor Ronan heads home in stoppage time to secure points for Saints (Image: Willie Vass)

Full-Time: Dundee 0-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Lyness, Tait, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tanser, Ronan, Power, Gogic, Kiltie (Henderson 78), Jones, Brophy (Greive 87)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Smyth, Fraser, McCarthy, Flynn, Erhahon, Main

Dundee: Sharp, Kerr, Ibsen Rossi, Sweeney, Marshall, McDaid (Rudden 62), Anderson (Daley-Campbell 83), McGhee (c), McGinn, McCowan (Byrne 62), McMullan
Subs Not Used: Welsh, Fontaine, Chapman, Mulligan, Elliott

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
Fourth Official: Chris Fordyce

Attendance: 5,069 

St Mirren were beaten by Ross County in the cinch Premiership this afternoon. 

Joseph Hungbo's penalty early in the second-half was enough to see the points remain in Dingwall. 

Jak Alnwick missed out which meant Dean Lyness came in for his first start since December. Alex Greive replaced Curtis Main in the only other change from Wednesday's defeat at Celtic.  

After a quiet start, Saints had a decent spell of possession after 15 minutes in which they started to pass the ball about more freely but ultimately didn't make Ross Laidlaw work in the County goal. 

Regan Charles-Cook was looking like County's biggest threat in an opening 45 that lacked quality. The Englishman, who is top scorer in the cinch Premiership so far this season with 13 goals, forced Lyness to push away a dangerous ball from the right-hand side with Jordan White waiting to pounce on 25 minutes. Conor McCarthy did well four minutes later to pressure Charles-Cook and take the sting out of his effort from the edge of the area allowing it to roll harmlessly into the arms of Lyness. 

With around eight minutes of the first-half remaining Jordan Tillson fired over from the edge of the area. Charles-Cook's free-kick was only cleared as far at the County number 22, but his first-time effort flew over. 

Saints passed up a great opportunity on the counter as the first-half approached its end. Alex Gogic drove forward with a number of players piling forward but the move broke down when Alan Power couldn't control the pass and get a shot away. 

Stephen Robinson made two changes at half-time with Ethan Erhahon and Curtis Main replacing Greg Kiltie and Alex Greive. 

But within two minutes of the restart Ross County were awarded a penalty when Hungbo went down under the challenge. He stepped up to take and smashed in off the underside of the bar to give the home side the lead. 

Saints were dealt a further blow on 52 minutes when McCarthy had to be replaced after picking up an injury. That saw the introduction of Eamonn Brophy who fizzed a strike over the bar five minutes after his introduction. 

Laidlaw was forced into his first save of the game on the hour mark when Jordan Jones found Main with the forward's effort pushed away at the near post by the County goalkeeper.

For all the visitors were having the ball, they were failing to create much. Jones flashed over from the edge of the box as the clock ticked down with Saints heading back to Paisley empty-handed. 

Full-Time: Ross County 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Lyness, Tait, Shaughnessy (c), McCarthy (Brophy 52), Dunne, Tanser, Power (Henderson 87), Gogic, Kiltie (Erhahon 46), Jones, Greive (Main 46)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Smyth, Fraser, Flynn

Ross County: Laidlaw, Ramsay, Baldwin (c), Iacovitti, Randall, Callachan, Tillson, Hungbo (Spittal 76), H. Paton (Samuel 90), Charles-Cook (Drysdale 84), White
Subs Not Used: Munro, MacKinnon, Wright, B.Paton, Burroughs, Vokins

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: Andy Milne
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Steven McLean

Two second-half goals saw St Mirren lose at Celtic Park. 

Saints resisted Celtic in the first-half, but goals in the second period from Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor saw the Celts inflict just a second defeat for St Mirren in 2022. 

Stephen Robinson made three changes from the side that lost to Hearts on Saturday. Out went the suspended Connor Ronan as well as Marcus Fraser and Alex Greive. They were replaced by Conor McCarthy, Scott Tanser and Curtis Main. 

Celtic went close to an opener with eight minutes on the clock when Charles Dunne sliced a clearance from a Jota cross. Much to the defender's relief it crashed off the bar with Saints able to deal with the resulting corner. 

Jak Alnwick had his first save to make on 18 minutes when he made a good reaction stop to push away Liel Abada's side-foot effort from close-range.

Alnwick's counterpart Joe Hart had his first real involvement in the match two minutes later after good play down the right side from the Buddies. Richard Tait's ball in caused problems for the Celtic defence with the loose ball almost falling for Joe Shaughnessy. Former England international Hart just managed to gather the ball ahead of the Saints skipper. 

Celtic had the bulk of the possession as was to be expected but couldn't find the breakthrough in the opening 45. Daizen Maeda headed wide on 38 minutes, while Alnwick did well to claw away a Reo Hatate strike from 20 yards.

The home side continued to control the play and took the lead on 55 minutes. A free-kick swung in from the right by Jota wasn't cleared and fell to the feet of Carter-Vickers who slammed home from just a few yards out.

Stephen Robinson made two changes just after the hour mark to try and find a way back into the match with Alex Greive and Eamonn Brophy replacing Curtis Main and Greg Kiltie. 10 minutes later it was Jay Henderson and Marcus Fraser who were introduced in place of Jordan Jones and Scott Tanser. 

Greive had looked lively after coming on and played a ball into a good area in the Celtic box with 10 minutes of the game, but there were no takers for Saints. And within 60 seconds of that opening, Celtic secured the three points when McGregor scored their second. The Celtic captain drove the ball across the face of goal into the bottom right corner to ensure victory for the hosts.  

Full-Time: Celtic 2-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Tait, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tanser (Fraser 75), Power (Erhahon 79), Gogic, Kiltie (Brophy 64), Jones (Henderson 75), Main (Greive 64)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Flynn

Celtic: Hart, Juranovic, Starfelt, Carter-Vickers, Taylor, McGregor (c) (Ideguchi 87), O'Riley (Bitton 65), Hatate (Rogic 65), Abada (Forrest 65), Jota (Karamoko 84), Maeda
Subs Not Used: Bain, Ralston, McCarthy, Ajeti

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Fourth Official: Don Robertson

St Mirren were beaten in the first match of the Stephen Robinson era as two goals in three second-half minutes gave Hearts victory in Paisley.

Liam Boyce spurned a number of early chances for the visitors before Saints were dealt a blow when Conor Ronan was shown a straight red for a late challenge on Beni Baningime midway through the first half.

It took until after the hour mark for Hearts to make their advantage count as Ellis Simms scored at the second attempt, but the wasted little time in doubling their advantage as Cammy Devlin's goal was allowed to stand despite home keeper Jak Alnwick appearing to have been fouled in the build-up.

New Saints boss Robinson didn't make any changes for his first game, sticking with the side that had drawn with Livingston a week earlier. There were plenty of changes for Hearts with Craig Gordon back in goals, Craig Halkett returning to the defence and Baningime, Ben Woodburn, Liam Boyce and Gary Mackay-Steven also coming into the team.

Boyce had an early sight of goal after good work from Barrie McKay but his effort from the edge of the box was well off target. The striker had a far better chance when Stephen Kingsley picked him out with a great cross to the back post but Boyce could only head tamely into the arms of the grateful Jak Alnwick. The Saints defence didn't heed the warning and a few minutes later another cross, this time from McKay, found Boyce lurking – Alnwick parrying his header before the ball bounced back off the Northern Irishman and behind.

Hearts were getting plenty of joy down the left, Woodburn firing well over from a Mackay-Steven cross. It hadn't been the best of starts for Saints but midway through the half things got much worse when Connor Ronan made a high challenge on Baningime and ref Greg Aitken – following consultation with his assistants – showed him a straight red card. The Jambos looked to make their numerical advantage count straight away, Woodburn sending a shot over from range before Kingsley sliced one wide.

Connor Ronan was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Beni Baningme (Image: Allan Picken)

The red card seemed to have fired Saints up and they forced a couple of corners, an Alex Gogic header being deflected behind from the first before Alex Greive went down under Woodburn's challenge at the second, a challenge which had the home support screaming in vain for a penalty. Set-pieces were looking like Saints' best hope, Joe Shaughnessy heading over from Jordan Jones' next corner.

The Buddies made a bright start to the second half but had Alnwick to thank for keeping the scores level, the goalie keeping out Boyce's effort then putting his body on the line to block repeated attempts by the men in maroon to force the loose ball into the net before it eventually went out for a goal kick. The away fans then screamed for a penalty when Cammy Devlin thumped the ball at Alan Power from close range but it would have been a harsh award. However, Power seemed to take exception to his opponent's appeal and the pair were booked after exchanging handbags.

It proved irrelevant as a few minutes later Hearts took the lead. The Saints defence failed to stop McKay's cross from the left getting to Ellis Simms and although Alnwick blocked the first shot, he could do nothing to stop the sub stabbing home the rebound. It should have been game over a few minutes later as a cross from Josh Ginnelly evaded the Saints defence but Boyce couldn't bundle it home.

Any hopes the Buddies had of salvaging something from the match were quickly extinguished in controversial style. Baningime played a great through ball to Simms, with Alnwick rushing out to block the shot. The Hearts man clattered the Saints goalkeeper, who went down injured, but play was allowed to continue and Devlin gleefully thumped the ball into the net. The home supporters and players were furious that a free-kick hadn't been given for Simms' challenge, Richard Tait earning a booking for protesting while Alnwick received treatment.

Simms went close to getting the third, getting the better of Shaughnessy before seeing his shot tipped over by Alnwick. A few minutes from time Ginnelly played in Boyce but the striker summed up his day by shooting wide. However, the damage had already been done with Saints' unbeaten start to 2022 finally coming to an end.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-2 Hearts

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tait, Power (Brophy 69), Gogic, Ronan, Kiltie (Flynn 63), Jones, Greive (Main 63)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Millar, McCarthy, Tanser, Erhahon, Henderson 

Hearts: Gordon (c), Atkinson (Cochrane 56), Souttar, Halkett, Kingsley (Halliday 69), McKay, Baningme, Devlin (Haring 69), Mackay-Steven (Ginnelly 55), Woodburn (Simms 56), Boyce
Subs Not Used: Stewart, McEneff, Moore, Sibbick

Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Fourth Official: John Beaton

Attendance: 5,767

A late Greg Kiltie goal saw 10 man St Mirren take a share of the spoils and extend their unbeaten run in 2022 to eight matches. 

An own-goal from Joe Shaughnessy had put Livingston in the driving seat for all three points. But Saints midfielder Kiltie nabbed his third goal in two games to ensure a point for the managerless Buddies. 

Jamie Langfield and Allan McManus took charge of the team following the news this morning of the departure of Jim Goodwin and Lee Sharp to Aberdeen. The interim management side - assisted by Andy Webster and Michael McArdle from the St Mirren Youth Academy - chose the same starting eleven that defeated Kelty Hearts in the Scottish Cup last weekend.

The interim management team of Jamie Langfield, Allan McManus and Andy Webster (Image: Craig Brown)

The first opportunity of the game went Saints way after a neat exchange between Connor Ronan and Jordan Jones saw the latter dance his way into the box but fire into the side-netting on eight minutes. Bruce Anderson had the first chance for the home side on 13 minutes after playing a one-two with Nicky Devlin.

Livingston had the better of the first-half without creating too much to worry Saints. Ayo Obileye headed over from a corner on 21 minutes while Jason Holt curled into the hands of Saints goalkeeper Jak Alnwick seven minutes before the interval.

David Martindale's outfit came out with more intent after the break and Joel Nouble should have done better with a chance on 54 minutes. Alan Forrest's strike deflected into the path of the striker who got it all wrong as he scuffed wide.

The home side would take the lead just a minute later when Anderson got on the end of a Devlin cross from the right side. The striker's first attempt cracked off the post with the rebound unfortunately coming off Shaughnessy, finding its way into the back of the net. 

Saints hadn't got going in the second-half and could have been two behind just before the hour mark with Jack Fitzwater having an effort blocked from close-range. 

Jamie Langfield had made three changes to try and find a way back into the match with Jay Henderson, Curtis Main and Scott Tanser all introduced over a 12 minute spell. And just two minutes after the latter had been introduced the Buddies were level. Tanser's deep corner was met by the head of Marcus Fraser at the far post where he headed back across the face of goal. Richard Tait miscontrolled but it fell nicely to Kiltie who drilled home from the edge of the area to draw us level. 

Greg Kiltie celebrates after scoring our equaliser (Image: Craig Brown)

Saints were reduced to 10 men when Charles Dunne was shown a straight red card for a supposed foul on Livingston substitute Sebastian Soto. It looked a harsh decision by referee Willie Collum with Dunne incredulous at receiving his marching order. Livi almost immediately took the lead again from the resulting free-kick after Forrest's ball in came off Fraser and had to be clawed wide by Alnwick.

The Buddies managed to see the game out and take a point back to Paisley.

Full-Time: Livingston 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tait, Power, Gogic (Henderson 64), Ronan, Kiltie, Jones (Tanser 76), Greive (Main 72)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Millar, McCarthy, Erhahon, Flynn

Livingston: Stryjek, Devlin (c), Fitzwater, Obileye (Boyes 75), Penrice, Holt, Omeonga, Pittman, Forrest, Nouble (Shinnie 75), Anderson (Soto 75)
Subs Not Used: Maley, Longridge, McMillan, Kelly, Montaño, Sibbald

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Peter Stuart

Attendance: 4,228

• St Mirren ease through after dominant win over Kelty Hearts

• Alex Greive scored his second in two games, while Greg Kiltie netted a brace

• Jordan Jones scores pick of the bunch to get his first goal in Black and White

St Mirren cruised into the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup with a comprehensive victory over Kelty Hearts.

Alex Greive, Jordan Jones and a Greg Kiltie double saw Saints book their place in the last eight of the competition. 

Jim Goodwin named the same starting eleven that defeated St Johnstone midweek with Alex Greive leading the line once again after scoring his first Saints goal on Wednesday.

The visitors started in bright fashion with Kevin Thomson wanting his side to take the game to the Buddies. Joe Cardle won a free-kick in a good area early on just 20 yards from goal. Kelty captain Michael Tidser blazed well over. Cardle will feel he should have done better on 12 minutes when he was picked out by Kallum Higginbotham, but his effort was blocked by Joe Shaughnessy.

Saints took the lead with just 15 minutes on the clock when Greive netted his second goal in two games. Richard Tait's initial effort was pushed into the air by Kelty goalkeeper Darren Jamieson with the New Zealand forward the first to react as he headed home. 

Alex Greive heads Saints in front with his second goal in as many games (Image: Allan Picken)

A tame Greive effort from the edge of the area on 30 minutes and a long-distance strike from Connor Ronan which flew over the bar 10 minutes later were all the game really had to show in the remainder of what was an uneventful first-half. 

Jim Goodwin made two changes at the break with Scott Tanser returning from injury in place of Marcus Fraser, while Ryan Flynn replaced Richard Tait.

Jordan Jones doubled Saints' advantage five minutes into the second-half with a stunning goal to open his St Mirren account. The ball was worked back to the Northern Ireland international on the left-hand side of the box and he whipped it into the far right corner of the net to put us two ahead. 

Jordan Jones celebrates after scoring his first goal for the Saints (Image: Allan Picken)

Jones was instrumental in our third goal nine minutes later. The winger played a wonderful ball through to Kiltie with the outside of his foot. Kiltie swivelled and fired low into the bottom left to extend the advantage. 

Saints were well on top and heading through to the last eight but Kelty still searched for a consolation goal with substitute Alfredo Aygeman forcing Jak Alnwick into a good stop. 

In the end though it would be Jim Goodwin's men that would further extend their lead when a bit of calamitous defending from Kelty allowed Kiltie to slam home his second of the day and round off a good afternoon's work. 

Greg Kiltie celebrates after netting a brace (Image: Allan Picken)

Full-Time: St Mirren 4-0 Kelty Hearts

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser (Tanser 46), Shaughnessy (c) (McCarthy 68), Dunne, Tait (Flynn 46), Power (Erhahon 68), Gogic, Ronan, Kiltie, Jones (Henderson 73), Greive
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Millar, Erwin

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Philip, Forster (McNab 69), O'Ware, Ngewnya, Barjonas, Tidser, Black (Reilly 52), Cardle (Agyeman 52), Higginbotham, Austin (Biabi 64)
Subs Not Used: Donaldson, Cameron

Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Andy Milne
Fourth Official: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: 3,398

St Mirren move into top half of the cinch Premiership after narrow win.

Alex Greive scored his first St Mirren goal to give Saints all the points.

The Perth Saints had taken the lead when Callum Hendry scored a penalty kick. Jim Goodwin's side were level before half-time thanks to a penalty from Connor Ronan - his sixth goal of the season. New Zealand forward Greive netted from close range to secure the points for the Paisley Saints.

The Buddies started well with three decent opportunities in the opening 10 minutes. Good footwork from Greive saw the striker drag the ball away from Liam Gordon before having his effort deflected wide. Two minutes later Greg Kiltie dragged a shot inches by the left-hand post. Jordan Jones - searching for his first St Mirren goal - was next to go close with St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark getting two hands on his strike to turn it away. 

The best of the chances came on 14 minutes when Jones' super delivery met the head of Kiltie just a few yards out. The midfielder was on the stretch and headed wide. 

The visitors grew into the game after a good start from Jim Goodwin's men. Jak Alnwick was forced into his first save of the match as he had to be alert to palm Ali Crawford's long-range effort over on 15 minutes. The Buddies goalkeeper was made to work again five minutes later when he got two strong hands on Cammy MacPherson's curling effort from 20 yards. 

St Johnstone took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Callum Hendry scored from the penalty spot. Saints could have no complaints about the decision as Marcus Fraser dragged Glenn Middleton down in the box. Hendry netted but was forced to re-take. He made no mistake with the second attempt either to put the Perth side ahead. 

Ex-Saint MacPherson almost doubled the visitors' lead on 38 minutes when he forced a terrific save from Alnwick.

Saints were awarded their own penalty kick when Greive went down under the challenge from Jamie McCart. Ronan sent Clark the wrong way to score his third goal in four and draw the Buddies level. 

Connor Ronan scored from the penalty spot to draw us level (Image: Allan Picken)

Jim Goodwin's side were ahead just four minutes into the second-half when Greive scored his first goal in the black and white. The New Zealander was on hand to sweep home Kiltie's ball to the far post to put the Saints in-front. 

Alex Greive scores his first goal from St Mirren (Image: Allan Picken)

Charlie Gilmour fired just wide from 20 yards with 15 minutes remaining as St Johnstone searched for an equaliser. But it was the Paisley Saints who had the best chance to score the final goal of the game in injury time. A quick break saw Greive lay the ball to Kiltie who smashed high and wide from just inside the box. 

Two goals were enough as Jim Goodwin's men made it four wins from five in the cinch Premiership and move into the top half of the table.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 St Johnstone

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tait (Flynn 74), Power, Gogic, Ronan, Kiltie, Jones, Greive
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, McCarthy, Millar, Erhahon, Erwin

St Johnstone: Clark, Sang (Brown 59), McCart (Butterfield 59), Cleary, Gordon, Gallacher (May 86), Davidson (Bair 59), MacPherson (Gilmour 65) Crawford, Middleton, Hendry
Subs Not Used: Parish, Northcott, Craig, Hector-Ingram

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Colin Drummond
Fourth Official: Duncan Williams

Attendance: 4,286

Connor Ronan's fifth goal of the season gives Saints first win at Easter Road since 2016.

Jim Goodwin's side have won three of their four cinch Premiership matches of 2022.

St Mirren's unbeaten run in 2022 continued as Connor Ronan's second-half goal saw Saints defeat Hibernian at Easter Road.

The Irishman scored his fifth goal of the season just after the hour mark to make it four wins from five for Jim Goodwin's side and move us to within a point of top six.

The manager made one change for the side that drew with Motherwell midweek. Alex Greive, back from international duty with New Zealand, came in for his first start in place of the injured Eamonn Brophy. 

The New Zealand forward was almost the recipient of a dangerous looking ball across from Jordan Jones with just eight minutes played, but the cross had too much on it for Greive to get proper contact. 

New Zealand international Alex Greive made his first start for Saints (Image: Craig Brown)

Saints pressed and harried the hosts in the opening exchanges forcing them into mistakes and frustrating the Easter Road crowd. Richard Tait was given an abundance of time and space to curl wide from 25 yards on 17 minutes before Jones blasted over from the same sort of range a minute later. 

Greive was sent away on the counter on 22 minutes with Lewis Stevenson hesitant to close the ball down. Greive drove forward but with no support he had a go from an angle which Kevin Dabrowski managed to push away. 

The Buddies defence was called into action a few minutes later with Joe Shaughnessy and Richard Tait making a vital goal-saving block to deny Hibernian's American forward Chris Mueller. It was end-to-end stuff with neither goalkeeper really having much to do in the first half-hour. 

Saints finished the half the stronger of the two sides with Connor Ronan in two opportunities in the final minutes of the opening 45. The Irishman dragged wide from 20 yards on 41 minutes. Two minutes later Ronan showed great feet to work his way by a couple of challenges before rolling into the path of Jay Henderson whose effort with the outside of his boot was palmed away by Dabrowski. 

Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney made a change at the break with Ewan Henderson replacing Christian Doidge and the substitute almost put the home side in front on 52 minutes. He was found well by Kevin Nisbet in the centre of the box, but Jak Alnwick was out to brilliantly block. 

The Saints goalkeeper had to be at his best to deny Henderson again four minutes later. Once again it was Nisbet who set it up for Henderson whose attempt 15 yards out was tipped over by Alnwick. 

Despite a slow start to the second-half, Jim Goodwin's men would take the lead just after the hour mark. Ronan robbed ex-Saint Jake Doyle-Hayes of the ball 20 yards from goal and slammed into the roof of the net after breaking into the box. 

Hibernian almost immediately found themselves level with Alnwick at full stretch to just claw Nisbet's close-range effort by the post. 

Jak Alnwick kept his third clean sheet of 2022 (Image: Craig Brown)

Greive was inches away from scoring his first Saints goal and doubling our lead with around 20 minutes of play remaining. Jones caught the Hibernian defence out with his low ball across the box with Greive just unable to connect. 

The home side had the majority of the pressure in the final stages as they searched for an equaliser. But they couldn't trouble Alnwick or the Saints defence which ensured all the points are heading back to Paisley.

Full-Time: Hibernian 0-1 St Mirren

Saints applaud the travelling support at full-time (Image: Craig Brown)

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tait, Power (Erhahon 70), Ronan, J.Henderson (Flynn 62), Kiltie, Jones (Millar 78), Greive (Main 70)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, McCarthy, Erwin

Hibernian: Dabrowski, Cadden, Bushiri, Porteous, Stevenson (Doig 81), Mitchell (Scott 81), Doyle-Hayes (Allan 82), Campbell (Jasper 70), Mueller, Doidge (E. Henderson 46), Nisbet
Subs Not Used: Macey, McGinn, Wright, McGregor

Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Fourth Official: Dan McFarlane

Attendance: 13,227

An injury-time equaliser from Motherwell denied St Mirren a fourth win from four in 2022. 

Debutant Alex Gogic looked to have won the points when he headed Saints in front with less than 10 minutes remaining. But Ross Tierney scored in the first minute of added time to give the Steelmen a share of the spoils. 

Saints were forced into two changes to the side that defeated Aberdeen last week. In came Richard Tait - who has just agreed a new deal at the Buddies - as well as new signing Jordan Jones. They replaced Scott Tanser - who missed out due to injury - and Jamie McGrath who departed for Wigan on deadline day. 

The Buddies were dealt a major blow when Eamonn Brophy pulled up with an injury on 23 minutes and had to be replaced by Gogic.

While Saints failed to create anything of note in the first 30 minutes, Motherwell were looking the more likely with Sean Goss having three opportunities for the Steelmen. The first saw the Englishman drive an effort just wide from 25 yards, before twice forcing saves from Jak Alnwick. 

St Mirren's best chance of the half came five minutes before the interval. Connor Ronan's ball to the far post met Gogic who had his half-volley deflected wide by a Motherwell defender. 

The Buddies went agonisingly close to going in front two minutes before the hour mark when Jones' beautiful cross found Tait at the far post. The Saints defender looked like he was going to put Jim Goodwin's men ahead only for Liam Kelly to pull off a magnificent save to claw it off the line.  Alnwick was then called upon for Saints on 72 minutes when he made an important block to deny Kevin Van Veen. 

With only 10 minutes of the match remaining the game really sprung into life as Gogic put us ahead. Substitute Ryan Flynn saw a ferocious effort from the edge of the box tipped over the bar by Kelly. From the resulting corner, Gogic leapt above the Motherwell defence to power home a header which cracked off the post on its way into the net.

Gogic celebrates after scoring on his debut for Saints (Image: Jeff Holmes)

That looked like it would be enough to make it four wins from four for Jim Goodwin's men, but Tierney struck in the dying minutes to see Motherwell take a point away from Paisley.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Motherwell

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tait, Power, Ronan (Erhahon 87), Henderson (Erwin 59), Kiltie, Jones (Flynn 69), Brophy (Gogic 23)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Millar

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Solholm, Mugabi, Carroll, McGinley (Roberts 83), Goss, Donnelly, Slattery (Woolery 73), Shaw (Tierney 40), Van Veen
Subs Not Used: Fox, Ojala, Amaluzor, Efford, Grimshaw, Nirennold

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Colin Drummond
Fourth Official: Matthew MacDermid

Attendance: 4,987