St Mirren were defeated on the road as Ross County came out on top by the odd goal in five at the Global Energy Stadium.

The Highland side took an early lead, but Saints went into half-time ahead thanks to goals from Ryan Strain and Mark O'Hara. Two goals in four second-half minutes saw County take the points though on a frustrating afternoon for the Buddies. 

Stephen Robinson made one change from the side that lost to Hibernian last week with Declan Gallagher returning from a back injury in place of Richard Tait who missed out after an issue with his groin. 

The home side started brightly and struck first on 10 minutes when a deep cross from Victor Loturi was met by Jordan White who swept home from close range to give County the lead. 

But St Mirren bounced back just three minutes later when Strain made it 1-1 in stunning fashion. A foul by Ross County captain Jack Baldwin saw Saints awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Up stepped the Australian full-back who curled brilliantly into the top corner to draw the Buddies level. 

Ryan Strain pulled Saints level with a stunning free-kick (Image: Ken MacPherson)

County were having the better of the play as the half wore on, forcing a couple of corners which came to nothing while White fired over from the edge of the area on 34 minutes. Alex Gogic then made a good block after a driving run from George Harmon saw the County man try to get his shot away from 20 yards. 

The game looked to be going into the break level, but into stoppage time at the end of the half Saints took the lead. O'Hara rose the highest to meet a corner kick and it looped over the goalkeeper and off the post before creeping over the line. Jonah Ayunga was on hand to ensure there was no doubting it hit the net, but it had already crossed the line. 

County levelled the game 11 minutes into the second-half. A cross from Loturi on the right was headed only as far as Jordan Tillson whose strike from 18 yards found the net via the post to make it 2-2. County made it 3-2 four minutes later when Harmon glanced home Owura Edwards-Owura's cross from the right. 

The manager made several changes as Saints tried to find a way back into the match. Scott Tanser, Alex Greive, Eamonn Brophy and Greg Kiltie were all introduced and with five minutes remaining Saints had a big chance for an equaliser when a loose ball broke through to substitute Greive who burst into the box, but his effort was saved by the feet of Ross Laidlaw.

Saints had all of the ball in the closing minutes as they looked to fashion an opportunity that would give them a chance take a point, but that chance didn't come and the Buddies made the journey back to Paisley empty-handed.

Full-Time: Ross County 3-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Gogic (Greive 62), Dunne, Strain, Baccus, Erhahon (Tanser 62), O'Hara (c), Fraser (Kiltie 78), Ayunga, Main (Brophy 73)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Kenny, Flynn, Henderson

Ross County: Laidlaw, Baldwin (Watson 26) (c), Iacovitti, Edwards-Owura (Samuel 81), Dhanda, Johnson, Loturi (Cancola 73), Harmon, Hiwula (Akio 81), Tillson, White
Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Olaigbe, Munro, Smith

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Stewart Luke
VAR: William Collum
Assistant VAR: Graeme Stewart

Attendance: 3,589 (467 St Mirren supporters)

St Mirren were beaten by Hibernian in the cinch Premiership as the Buddies fell to a 3-0 defeat at Easter Road. 

VAR drama saw Hibernian denied an early goal and awarded a penalty kick in what was a well-contested first 45. Martin Boyle tucked the penalty away in the dying seconds of the first-half before a quickfire double from the hosts in the second-half saw Lee Johnson's side pick up the points. 

Stephen Robinson elected to name the same starting eleven that defeated Dundee United at the SMiSA Stadium last weekend with Scott Tanser and Declan Gallagher still unavailable. 

It was a game that didn't take long to get going. Hibernian thought they'd taken an early lead when Mykola Kuharevich slid in to knock home a low cross from the left by Marijan Cabraja. However, after a quick VAR check, referee Don Robertson disallowed the goal as Cabraja had strayed into an offside before his cross. The hosts didn't seem fazed by the decision though and really should have taken the lead just 60 seconds later when Ryan Porteous knocked inches by the post from close range. 

After struggling to get a grip of the game in then opening 15 minutes, Saints were denied an opener on 16 minutes after a brilliant save from Hibees' goalkeeper David Marshall to push Jonah Ayunga's strike wide. Marshall's counterpart Trevor Carson made a save that was every bit as good a few minutes later when he blocked Martin Boyle's effort at the back post. 

It was real end-to-end stuff with Marshall pulling off another big stop to deny Curtis Main with the big forward then nodding over from the resultant corner. Hibs immediately hit Saints on the counter and Ewan Henderson would have been disappointed he didn't hit the target when he skewed his effort wide. 

There was VAR drama right before the end of the first-half and this time the decision went against Saints with the hosts awarded a penalty. A ball into the box came off the hand of Richard Tait and after a check at the monitor on the side of the pitch, referee Don Robertson awarded the spot-kick. Boyle sent Carson the wrong way to put Hibernian ahead on the stroke of half-time. 

The referee awarded a penalty after checking the pitchside monitor (Image: Andy Barr)

St Mirren struggled to get going after the break and Hibs scored two in four minutes just after the hour mark to put the game beyond Saints. Kuharevich outmuscled Alex Gogic in the Buddies' box on 63 minutes before firing beyond Carson to make it 2-0. Henderson added a third on 67 minutes with a really good finish into the top corner from 20 yards. 

Saints were dealt a further blow with 10 minutes remaining when Charles Dunne went down injured and had to be replaced by Jay Henderson. It was a disappointing end to a frustrating afternoon for the Buddies.

Full-Time: Hibernian 3-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne (Henderson 81), Strain (Flynn 73), Baccus (Kiltie 73), Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tait (Shaughnessy 46), Ayunga (Greive 70), Main 
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Reid, Brophy

Hibernian: Marshall (c), Porteous (Fish 78), Rocky, Hanlon, Cadden, Kenneh, Newell, Henderson (Campbell 68), Cabraja (Stevenson 78), Boyle (Melkerson 54), Kuharevich (Youan 78)
Subs Not Used: Schofield, Jair, McGregor, Aiken

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Ross McLeod
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Grant Irvine
VAR: Greg Aitken
Assistant VAR: David Roome

Attendance: 15,256

Images courtesy of Andy Barr

Super sub Alex Greive did it again as Saints completed a league double over Dundee United.

The Kiwi had come off the bench to bag a late winner against Livingston earlier this month and repeated the trick again with a wonderful glancing header from a tremendous Ethan Erhahon cross with less than 10 minute left.

That capped off a dramatic afternoon in Paisley which had seen Saints take the lead just before the break when Curtis Main's header found the net via a combination of the post and United goalie Carljohan Eriksson.

United drew level in the second half after Tony Watt set-up sub Steven Fletcher but it looked as if the Buddies had restored their advantage when Jonah Ayunga finished off a well worked move. A week ago it would have counted, but since then VAR has arrived and it was duly ruled out after Keanu Baccus was deemed to have fouled Aziz Behich in the build-up.

No matter, that just paved the way for Greive to come off the bench to grab a late goal against United - just as he'd done at Tannadice back in August – as Saints moved up to joint third in the Premiership table.

There were two changes to the Saints side that had drawn a blank with Kilmarnock, Alex Gogic and Richard Tait coming in for absent duo of Declan Gallagher and Scott Tanser. Former Buddies Jamie McGrath and Liam Smith started for the visitors, who handed a start to recent arrival Arnaud Djoum.

Tait was close to giving United an early lead when he diverted McGrath's free-kick towards his own goal, Trevor Carson reacting brilliantly to spare his team-mate's blushes. Jonah Ayunga then had an effort deflected behind for a corner, Ethan Erhahon's delivery finding Charles Dunne who crashed a header off the bar. Ryan Strain had the ball in the net after a quarter of an hour following good work from Mark O'Hara, however the whistle had already gone for shenanigans in the box – although it looked more like Ayunga and Curtis Main had got in each other's way rather than a United player having been fouled.

Main was presented with a chance when United goalie Carljohan Eriksson mis-hit a clearance straight to him, however it was still going to take something special for him to find the net from 30 yards and he dragged his shot off-target. Ayunga hit the side netting after being slid in by Keanu Baccus before the game died a death for the best part of 20 minutes. Perhaps that's what motivated Carson to try to spice things up as he charged miles from his goal and found himself in no-man's land, Tony Watt lifting the ball over the stranded keeper but thankfully also past the post.

That moment seemed to spark the game back into life as a minute or so later Saints took in the lead. Erahon's crossfield pass found Tait on the left and he switched the ball onto his right foot before delivering a cross for Main. The big striker headed it towards goal, the ball hitting the post then the back of Eriksson before nestling in the bottom corner.

Curtis Main headed St Mirren ahead five minutes before the interval (Image: Allan Picken)

After a quick VAR check to ensure the goal could stand, Main nearly added a second in spectacular style – recovering the ball after his pass to Mark O'Hara had been cut out before thundering a shot off the bar from 25 yards that thumped off the bar. It came back out for Ayunga but he could only chest it wide, although he may have been offside anyway. It wasn't all Saints with Craig Sibbald having two chances for United before the break, both easily dealt with by Carson.

The woodwork foiled Saints again early in the second half, Ayunga getting the better of his man before firing a shot across goal that hit the far post. Having survived that scare, United promptly equalised. A cross from the left was nodded down by Watt to Steven Fletcher, who used his first touch since coming on to control the ball and his second to roll it past Carson. The visitors piled on the pressure as they looked to go in front but that left spaces for Saints to exploit - which they duly did. Baccus won the ball in midfield and fed Strain, who opted to pass out wide to Ayunga rather than have a go himself. It turned out to be the right move, the forward cutting onto his left foot before sending the ball arrowing into the bottom corner to put Saints back in front....

Well, he would have done if VAR hadn't been introduced into Scottish football this weekend. Ref Grant Irvine was soon hearing a voice in his ear-piece and, after looking at the pitch side monitor, ruled it out for a Baccus foul on Aziz Behich in the build-up. The Saints fans and players were furious and tried to use the perceived injustice to fire them up, Baccus sending a shot whistling past the top corner from the edge of the box before Watt headed wide at the other end in what would prove his last meaningful involvement before going off injured.

VAR's debut saw Jonah Ayunga's second-half strike disallowed (Image: Allan Picken)

Strain tried to catch Eriksson out with a free-kick from wide that the United keeper had to palm over the bar but it was the visitors who were cranking up the pressure, Liam Smith sending a shot just wide from almost the exact spot he scored from against Queen of the South while on loan at Saints back in 2018. With less than 10 minutes to go the Buddies found the net again – and this time it counted. United could only clear a corner back to Erhahon and he delivered a wonderful cross that Alex Greive – who had only just replaced Ayunga – sent into the bottom corner with a delicious beautiful glancing header.

As four minutes of stoppage time began Saints tried to seal things with a third. Greive won the ball and sent O'Hara on his way before charging forward to receive the return pass. He cut it back for Main, but he couldn't get a clean connection and Eriksson saved the shot. After Ryan Flynn had replaced Erhahon, United almost managed a lucky equaliser when Scott McMann's cross missed everyone and hit the post before going behind – the visitors last hope of salvaging something gone.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Dundee United

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, Strain, Baccus, Erhahon (Flynn 90), O'Hara (c), Tait, Ayunga (Greive 79), Main 
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Shaughnessy, Taylor, Henderson, Kiltie, Brophy

Dundee United: Eriksson, Smith, Edwards (c), McMann, Behich, Niskanen (Fletcher 54), Djoum (Harkes 68), Sibbald, Middleton, McGrath, Watt (Sadat 70)
Subs Not Used: Birighitti, Graham, Pawlett, Meekison, Freeman, Thomson

Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Fourth Official: Barry Cook
VAR: Alan Muir
Assistant VAR: John McCrossan

Attendance: 6,273

Saints and Killie drew a blank in a goalless, if entertaining, draw in Paisley.

Saints had the better of the chances in the first half with Jonah Ayunga and Ryan Strain going close before Curtis Main was inches away from putting the Buddies in front with a header just before the interval.

After the break it was Trevor Carson who was the busier of the two goalies, saving from Kyle Lafferty before a brilliant double save denied first Rory McKenzie then former Buddie Jordan Jones.

Ayunga returned to the Saints side after completing his suspension with Strain also back in the team, Alex Gogic and Alex Greive the pair dropping to the bench. Former Saint Alex Power captained the visitors, who brought in Joe Wright and Ryan Alebiosu at the expense of Lewis Mayo and Ben Chrisene.

The visitors started on the front foot, forcing a series of corners that ended when Ash Taylor headed well over. It was the Killie goalie who was called into action first though, Zach Hemming using his legs to block Ayunga's shot at his near post. The forward then unwittingly turned defender as he got in the way of Keanu Baccus' low drive and deflected it wide.

Ayunga is denied early in the game by the Kilmarnock goalkeeper (Image: Allan Picken)

Alebiosu was beginning to get some joy on the Killie right, striding forward before switching the ball to his left foot and curling a shot narrowly beyond the far post. Some silky footwork from Curtis Main allowed him to get some space for a slightly ambitious shot that was deflected wide, Strain's teasing corner that followed just beyond the reach of anyone in black and white.

Carson was called into action for the first time when he easily caught Blair Alston’s shot. Hemming was tested rather more moments later when a cross was headed back out to Strain, whose drive from the edge of the box was tipped over by the Killie goalie. Just before the break Saints could have been in front when Main got down to meet a Scott Tanser cross but he headed it inches past the post.

Saints nearly presented Kilmarnock with the opener at the start of the second half as the ball was blocked and fell to Kyle Lafferty and be gratefully raced towards goal only to be denied by the outstretched leg of Carson. Main then set up Tanser for a shot but his effort was always going over before Danny Armstrong curled a decent effort just past the Saints goal.

Power went into the book when he brought down Ayunga just outside the box, Tanser curling the resultant free-kick well over the bar.

When the Saints defence failed to deal with a cross it gave Rory McKenzie a great opening but Carson pulled off a great save before getting up to brilliantly deny Jordan Jones from the rebound and finally pounce on the loose ball to end the danger.

Alex Gogic, who had replaced Ethan Erhahon, was soon booked after bringing down McKenzie when he tried to regain control of the ball. It gave Killie a free-kick in a decent position but Armstrong put it miles over. Saints were given a free-kick of their own a bit further out but that didn't deter Mark O'Hara, however the Saints skipper's effort was easily dealt with by Hemming.

Declan Gallagher's header from a corner skimmed the side netting before Killie sub Christian Doidge headed wide as injury time began. There was to be no repeat of the late drama last time Saints were at home, the two sides having to settle for a point. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain, Baccus (Kiltie 86), Erhahon (Gogic 69), O'Hara (c), Tanser, (Tait 86) Ayunga (Greive 69), Main (Brophy 79)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Flynn, Henderson

Kilmarnock: Hemming, Taylor (Mayo 78), Wright, Stokes, Alebiosu (Chrisene 62), Alston (Lyons 62), Power, Jones, Armstrong, McKenzie (Cameron 78), Lafferty (Doidge 70)
Subs Not Used: Walker, Dorsett, Polworth, Warnock

Referee: Chris Graham
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Alastair Mather
Fourth Official: Willie Collum

Attendance: 6,785

St Mirren's hopes of a first league win at Ibrox since 1991 were ended after a double from Antonio Colak either side of a James Tavernier penalty as well as a late Fashion Sakala goal gave Rangers a 4-0 win. 

Saints created a number of good opportunities through the game but couldn't take any of them and were punished by clinical Rangers.

Stephen Robinson made two changes from the side that started last weekend's dramatic win over Livingston. Alex Greive - who scored the last-gasp winner against the Lions - came in from the start alongside Curtis Main who returned from injury. They replaced Greg Kiltie and the suspended Jonah Ayunga. 

The home side took an early lead as they went in front with only four minutes on the clock. Colak was first to react as he forced home from close-range after Borna Barisic's strike from 20 yards smacked off the post. 

It was the start Saints wanted to avoid but the reaction was good with the Buddies going close to a leveller on 10 minutes. Alex Greive managed to get a shot away from inside the box but denied by a good save from Allan McGregor. 

However, it was Trevor Carson who would be the busier goalkeeper over the next 10 minutes or so with the Saints stopper making a brilliant save to deny Ryan Jack on 11 minutes before twice saving curling efforts from James Tavernier. 

Rangers scored a second just after the half hour mark after being awarded a penalty kick by referee Nick Walsh. The referee had deemed that Declan Gallagher fouled Colak and Rangers captain Tavernier netted from 12 yards. 

Saints passed up a great chance to pull a goal back five minutes later. Scott Tanser flung a brilliant ball deep into the Rangers box where Marcus Fraser was in acres of space but the defender could only head into the arms of McGregor. 

It was quiet start to the second 45 with the first real opportunity in the second period coming when Rabbi Matondo hit the post from 25 yards on 57 minutes. 

The Buddies had a huge chance to reduce the deficit with just over 20 minutes of the game. A ball from Keanu Baccus on the right found its way to O'Hara who was all alone in the Rangers box, but the midfielder's effort was blocked by Rangers goalkeeper McGregor. 

Mark O'Hara is denied by Allan McGregor (Image: Allan Picken)

And four minutes later Rangers would put the game beyond doubt when Colak got his second of the afternoon. The forward was slipped through by Sakala and he cut inside before knocking home neatly with the outside of the foot. 

Saints would have a couple of late chances as they looked for a consolation. Main's strike from 20 yards had McGregor beaten, but came off the bar. Less than 60 seconds later Baccus forced the veteran goalkeeper into a smart stop. But it was Rangers who would add another with Sakala scoring in injury time to round off the afternoon. 

Full-Time: Rangers 4-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Gogic, Dunne, Fraser, Baccus, Erhahon (Reid 90), O'Hara (c), Tanser (Tait 74), Greive (Kiltie 65), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Kenny, Flynn, Taylor, Henderson

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies (King 63), Barisic (Yilmaz 78), Lundstram, Jack (Kamara 83), Arfield, Matondo (Kent 63), Sakala, Colak (Morelos 78)
Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Sands, Wright, Tillman

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Chris Fordyce

Attendance: 49,274 

A dramatic final few minutes saw 10 man St Mirren snatch a victory over Livingston at the SMiSA Stadium and move into third place in the cinch Premiership.

Keanu Baccus scored his second Saints goal around 20 minutes from time to put the Buddies ahead before Jonah Ayunga was shown a straight red card seven minutes later and Livingston were awarded a penalty. Ex-Saint Sean Kelly missed from 12 yards, but Livingston would find equalise on 86 minutes through Bruce Anderson. It looked like the 10 men would have to accept a point only for substitute Alex Greive to score in the final minute of normal time to secure all three points for Stephen Robinson's men.

The manager was forced into a reshuffle from the side that defeated Celtic before the international break with Curtis Main ruled out and Ryan Strain only fit enough for a place on the bench. That meant Alex Gogic and Greg Kiltie started in place of the two, while Eamonn Brophy dropped out of the squad with an injury.

A scrappy first-half saw very little in the way of goalmouth opportunities. Gogic shot wide on eight minutes in his first start since returning to the club on a permanent basis after Livingston goalkeeper Shamal George has failed to clear from a corner, while Scott Pittman saw an effort for the visitors saved by the feet of Trevor Carson. 

The second-half was much the same, but burst into life with a little over 20 minutes to go when Baccus headed St Mirren ahead. The Australian - fresh from his first Socceroos cap last Sunday - rose above Stephane Omeonga to meet a lovely cross from substitute Ryan Flynn and nod beyond George. 

But that was just the start of what would prove to be a dramatic end to what had - until that point - been a scrappy affair. 

Jonah Ayunga was given his marching orders on 75 minutes when referee Craig Napier ruled that the forward has blocked Anderson's effort with his hand. Ex-St Mirren Academy graduate Sean Kelly stepped up to take from 12 yards but fired over to the delight of the SMiSA Stadium. 

It felt like maybe this was going to be St Mirren's day - only for Anderson to get his head on the end of a terrific cross from Joel Nouble and guide into the back of the net on 86 minutes.

Yet there was still time for more late drama. Saints felt they could have had a penalty in the final minute of normal time when Declan Gallagher's header looked to have come off a Livingston arm. Only a corner was awarded, but Scott Tanser's delivery was forced on by Joe Shaughnessy and Greive was there to turn the defender and force home to secure all three points for the 10 men. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Livingston

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Gogic (Strain 60, Flynn 67), Dunne, Fraser, Baccus (Shaughnessy 75), Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tanser, Kiltie (Greive 59), Ayunga
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Taylor, Reid, Henderson

Livingston: George, Devlin, Obileye, Sean Kelly (Shinnie 81), Bahamboula, Omeonga (Stephen Kelly 72), Pittman, Holt, Penrice (Anderson 72), Nouble, Guthrie
Subs Not Used: Konovalov, Hamilton, Brandon, Cancar, Boyes, Longridge

Referee: Craig Napier 
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Chris Rae
Fourth Official: Dan McFarlane

Attendance: 5,366

An inspired Saints performance saw us defeat Celtic 2-0 at the SMiSA Stadium and inflict a first league defeat on the Champions in almost a year.  

It was our first home win against the Bhoys since a famous 4-0 victory in 2010 with Mark O'Hara and Jonah Ayunga scoring either side of half-time to ensure another memorable result for the Paisley Saints. Scott Tanser returned to the starting line-up in place of Richard Tait in Stephen Robinson's only change from the side that faced St Johnstone two weeks ago.

Saints were organised and looked to threaten Celtic on the counter with Ayunga playing a dangerous looking ball across the face of the Celtic goal early on with no one in the black and white there to attack it.

The closest Celtic came was through ex-Saint Aaron Mooy when he curled over the bar from 20 yards on 12 minutes. The visitors dominated the possession but did little to trouble the solid Saints defence. 

With the interval fast approaching St Mirren would take the lead on 43 minutes. Ryan Strain hanged a terrific ball up to the back post to meet O'Hara who had charged in ahead of his marker to bullet home. 

O'Hara bulleted home the header to put us in front (Image: Jeff Holmes) 

Less than 10 minutes into the second 45 Saints doubled their lead. Celtic couldn't clear a long throw-in from Declan Gallagher which allowed Curtis Main to flick on for Ayunga to nod in a second and send the SMiSA Stadium into raptures. 

O'Hara could have had a second - and a third for the Buddies - 10 minutes later but he headed wide from close range.

As would have been expected Celtic made a number of changes as they searched for some route back into the match and one of their substitutes, Giorgios Giakoumakis, should have pulled a goal back for the visitors but sent his point-blank header straight at Trevor Carson. 

For all Celtic's possession in the final stages Saints were more than comfortable as they saw the game out to claim a fully deserved three points. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-0 Celtic

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain (Gogic 72), Baccus, Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tanser (Tait 68), Ayunga (Kiltie 80), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Flynn, Henderson, Greive, Brophy

Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Jenz, Welsh, Taylor (O'Riley 75), McGregor (c), Turnbull (Giakoumakis 57), Mooy (Hatate 46), Abada (Haksabanovic 57), Kyogo, Maeda (Jota 46)
Subs Not Used: Siegrist, Bernabei, Abilgaard, Forrest

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Fourth Official: Euan Anderson

St Mirren's winning run came to an end as the the Buddies lost 3-0 at St Johnstone. 

Nicky Clark scored in the first-half to give the Perth Saints the initiative before goals from Drey Wright and Graham Carey secured the points for the home side.

Stephen Robinson had went with the same starting eleven that had defeated Hibernian and Dundee United, with Scott Tanser returning to the bench after injury. 

A scrappy opening period saw little opportunities though Jonah Ayunga knocked just wide after getting on to a Curtis Main cross on 15 minutes.

St Johnstone were seeing more of the ball in opening exchanges minutes and took advantage on 25 minutes with Nicky Clark scoring on his debut for the Perth side. The ball fell to the forward at the back post and he made no mistake from just a few yards out to put the home side ahead. 

Saints almost had a big opportunity to draw level when Ayunga found Main in plenty of space but the touch was heavy which allowed Alex Mitchell to recover and clear the danger.

St Mirren were looking more lively early in second 45 but didn't create anything clear cut which prompted the manager to make a triple substitution just before the hour mark. Scott Tanser, Jay Henderson and Eamonn Brophy replaced Richard Tait, Ryan Strain and Curtis Main. But within a minute of the changes Melker Hallberg went close to doubling the home side's advantage when he curled inches over from 20 yards.

St Johnstone would make it two on 66 minutes when Adam Montgomery got to the byline and cut-back for Drey Wright who slammed into the net from close-range. 

St Mirren could have pulled one back with 16 minutes remaining when the ball fell kindly to Declan Gallagher at the back post, but the defender didn't catch it properly and dragged wide. Two minutes later Saints were agonisingly close to reducing the deficit when Tanser headed off the bar before Ayunga hit the post on the follow-up. 

The Buddies were committing bodies forward in the hope of finding a way back into the game, but those hopes were extinguished when St Johnstone put the seal on the victory with just four minutes of normal time remaining. Marcus Fraser was penalised for a challenge on Connor McLennan in the penalty box and ex-Saint Graham Carey slammed home from 12 yards to give the Perth side a 3-0 win at McDiarmid Park. 

Full-Time: St Johnstone 3-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain (Henderson 59), Baccus, Erhahon (Greive 70), O'Hara (c), Tait (Tanser 59), Ayunga, Main (Brophy 59)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Gogic, Flynn, Kiltie

St Johnstone: Matthews, Wright, McGowan, Mitchell, Considine, Montgomery, Hallberg (Gordon 83), Carey, Murphy (Bair 77), May (McLennan 77), Clark (Phillips 77)
Subs Not Used: Parish, Kucheriavyi, Crawford, O'Halloran, Brown

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: David Doig
Fourth Official: Scott Lambie

Saints made it three wins on the spin as a goal from a land down under proved enough to see off Hibs in Paisley.

Anyone who was late missed the decisive moment as the only goal arrived within six minutes. Ryan Strain showed great ability to find himself acres of space and he made full use of it, delivering a wonderful cross for fellow Aussie Keanu Baccus to slot home from close range.

While Hibs had a few chances – Elie Youan missing the best of them - it could have been a far more comfortable victory as Saints squandered some late opportunities – Eamonn Brophy hitting the post before firing over while Baccus was inches away from getting his second in the final minute.

Unsurprisingly, Saints boss Stephen Robinson stuck with the same side that had thumped Dundee United a week earlier, meaning the returning Alex Gogic had to make do with a place on the bench. One-time Buddie Jake Doyle-Hayes started for the visitors, whose attack was spearheaded by Christian Doidge.

Hibs may have started brightly but it was Saints who showed early cutting edge, scoring with their very first attack. Strain's cross from the right was just begging for someone to run onto it and smash it home and Baccus duly obliged, side-footing away his first goal since arriving in Paisley in the summer.

Keanu Baccus celebrates with provider Ryan Strain (Image: Allan Picken)

Chances were few and far between despite both sides being more than willing to get both the ball and bodies forward, Chris Cadden sending a header miles wide of the Saints goal the pick of a rather poor crop. A fine touch allowed Curtis Main to bring the ball down in a decent position but his shot was always going well wide.

The same couldn't be said for Doidge's glancing header, the striker looking to have sent Ryan Porteous' cross into the bottom corner only for the ball to flash past the post. Mark O'Hara went even closer at the other end, arriving unmarked to meet Marcus Fraser's cross but the Saints skipper's header was parried away by David Marshall. There were scares in the Saints defence just before the break, Carson just getting to the ball before Doidge after Charles Dunne was short with a pass before Elie Youan fired into the side netting moments later.

Hibs should have been level moments after hostilities resumed. The home defence couldn't stop a cross making its way to the unmarked Youan at the back post but he failed to make a clean connection and the ball trickled agonisingly across goal, the Hibs fans in the stand unable to suck it over the line. The chance still gave the visitors a lift, Carson doing well to turn behind Joe Newell's low drive before Richard Tait blocked a shot from Cadden.

Main headed over from Erhahon's free-kick before Cadden got the better of both Tait and O'Hara to send in a teasing ball that was just beyond the outstretched toe of Doidge. Jonah Ayunga's last involvement before being replaced by Brophy was to deliver a great cross that Main fired inches wide. It looked like the striker's first involvement had doubled Saints' lead as great work by Main got Brophy in behind the visiting defence, only for his shot to beat Marshall but not the woodwork as it hit the far post, rolled along the line and into the arms of the grateful Hibs keeper.

As Hibs pushed for an equaliser, Saints were being reduced to threatening on the counter attack. Dunne broke forward from defence and then sent Baccus away but this time he shot over from the edge of the box. He went closer a few minutes later when his shot was deflected wide after Hibs failed to clear their lines.

Gogic was handed his return when he replaced Ethan Erhahon and headed a late corner well wide before Brophy should have wrapped things up in stoppage time, robbing the dithering Porteous on the touchline and charging towards goal before blazing a shot well over. An even better chance arrived right at the death when Brophy played in Baccus, the midfielder having the whole goal to aim at but he shot narrowly wide. Thankfully, it proved to be the last kick of the game as Saints picked up both a third successive win and clean sheet.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Hibernian

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain, Baccus, Erhahon (Gogic 79), O'Hara (c), Tait, Ayunga (Brophy 67), Main (Kiltie 76)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Flynn, Henderson, Offord, Greive

Hibernian: Marshall, Cadden (Miller 87), Porteous, Hanlon, Cabraja (Stevenson 70), Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Campbell (Henderson 70), Boyle, Youan (Melkersen 57), Doidge (Bojang 87)
Subs Not Used: Schofield, Kenneh, Jair, McGregor

Referee: Graham Grainger
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Kevin Clancy 

Attendance: 5,343

St Mirren made it two wins from two as Curtis Main's double as well as a late Alex Greive strike saw Saints defeat Dundee United.

Main scored either side of half-time to have the Buddies deservedly ahead before Greive put the seal on the victory at Tannadice in stoppage time as Saints left the City of Discovery with all three points.

Stephen Robinson made two changes to the side that defeated Ross County last weekend with Declan Gallagher coming back in from suspension in place of skipper Joe Shaughnessy with Mark O'Hara picking up the captain's armband as he replaced Greg Kiltie. 

Saints were right at it from the off and almost took the lead inside the opening minute when a perfect cross from the right side found Jonah Ayunga who nodded just wide. 

Keanu Baccus went close on nine minutes when he perfectly caught a volley 20 yards from goal. It was viciously struck with United captain Ryan Edwards denying the goal-bound effort with his head. 

Then O'Hara had a great opportunity to put St Mirren ahead on the half-hour mark. Ayunga did brilliantly to pick out Ryan Strain with a cross-field pass and the Australian cushioned the header into the path of O'Hara whose low curled effort from the edge of the area was pushed away by United goalkeeper Carljohan Eriksson. 

Saints were denied a stonewall penalty two minutes later when Aziz Behich handled in the box. It was as clear as penalty as you're likely to see and should have led to a second yellow for the United man, but nothing was given. 

It looked like the Arabs were starting to come into the game more as it approached half-time with Trevor Carson forced into a big save on 38 minutes when he tipped a Glenn Middleton free-kick over. 

But St Mirren would take the lead with five minutes of the half remaining. O'Hara drove forward with his pass reaching Main via the aid of a deflection off Dylan Levitt. The striker broke into the box and fired beyond Eriksson to put Saints ahead. 

Main then got his and St Mirren's second just six minutes into the second-half. O'Hara was involved again when he found Ayunga and the striker weaved his way into the box before finding Main who slammed high into the net for his third goal in his last six matches. 

Curtis Main fires into the net to put St Mirren 2-0 ahead (Image: Andy Barr)

Saints looked for a quickfire third with O'Hara denied by an Eriksson save just three minutes after the second goal. 

Carson made a brilliant save with a little under 15 minutes remaining to keep St Mirren two in-front. The Northern Ireland international got a strong hand to turn away substitute Ilmari Niskanen's effort. But that was as close as United would come with Saints comfortable and restricting the home side to very little opportunities.

Greive - who had only come on minutes before - wrapped up the win in the dying moments in a move that involved all the substitutes. The New Zealand forward raced on to Brophy's pass and poked home from distance after getting ahead of onrushing goalkeeper Eriksson who had raced out of the box to try and deny the striker. 

Full-Time: Dundee United 0-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain, Baccus (Kiltie 72), Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tait, Ayunga (Brophy 77), Main (Greive 87)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Flynn, Reid, Henderson, Offord

Dundee United: Eriksson, Smith, Mulgrew, Edwards (c), Behich (Niskanen 61), Middleton, Levitt, Harkes, McGrath (Cudjoe 46), Watt (Clark 61), Fletcher
Subs Not Used: Birighitti, McMann, Graham, Sibbald, Meekison, Freeman

Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Steven McLean

Attendance: 7,540 (474 away supporters)