A first-half Jermain Defoe strike was enough to give Rangers a narrow win over St Mirren in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The veteran striker showed his predatory instincts when he struck on 34 minutes to give the Gers all three points at Ibrox.

It was far from a memorable match with neither side creating many clear cut opportunities throughout the 90 minutes. Saints game plan to frustrate Rangers largely worked but despite efforts to have a go in the final stages of the match, the Buddies couldn't get the goal they craved to grab a share of the spoils. 

Jim Goodwin's men were dealt an early blow when stand-in captain Kyle Magennis had to be stretchered off in the opening 10 minutes. The midfielder went down inside the Rangers half with what appears to be a knee injury and had to be replaced by Ilkay Durmus. Magennis is set for a scan which will determine the damage he has suffered with the manager confessing he is looks set for significant spell on the sidelines. 

It took Rangers until 25 minutes to really create anything of note. Vaclav Hladky did well to save from Ryan Kent after the Rangers winger danced his way into the Saints penalty area. The ball found its way to Steven Davis on the edge of the area but the midfielder's clipped ball into the box was too high for Defoe. 

But just under 10 minutes later the Ibrox side were ahead. Borna Barisic's low ball across the box deflected off Junior Morias and found its way to an unmarked Defoe who guided home from close range.

Rangers almost added a second right on the stroke of half-time with a number of men in blue looking to get a final touch on the ball in a stramash but Saints goalkeeper Hladky gathered.

It took over 22 minutes after the interval for anything of note to take place in the second-half. Nikola Katic rose the highest to meet a Davis corner. The Croatian defender headed it across the box with Defoe lurking at the back post but the striker couldn't meet it to double Rangers' advantage. 

Saints started to commit more forward and with just 15 minutes remaining went close to grabbing an equaliser. Conor McCarthy, making his first Ladbrokes Premiership start, nodded just wide after getting on the end of a Cammy MacPherson free-kick.

Rangers twice could have wrapped the game up in the closing minutes with substitute Sheyi Ojo seeing an effort deflected just wide while fellow sub Scott Arfield shot straight at Hladky from close range.

In the end one was enough for Rangers to ensure all the points remained in Glasgow.

Full-Time: Rangers 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, McCarthy, P.McGinn, Famewo, Waters, Magennis (Durmus 7), Foley, MacPherson (Mullen 87), Morias (Andreu 77), Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Erhahon, Henderson, Mullen, Cooke

Rangers: McGregor, Flanagan, Katic, Goldson (c), Barisic, Kamara (Arfield 69), Jack, Davis, Aribo (Ojo 80), Kent, Defoe
Subs Not Used: Foderingham, Edmundson, Ojo, Halliday. Jones, Patterson

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Graeme Leslie
Fourth Official: Steven Kincaid

Attendance: 49,297

St Mirren booked their place in the Fifth Round of the William Hill Scottish Cup with a deserved 3-0 win over Broxburn Athletic.

After a goalless first-half, Jon Obika opened the scoring in 54 minutes to finally make the breakthrough.

Two goals in the closing minutes from Danny Mullen and Obika put the seal on the win as Saints saw off the stubborn East of Scotland League side.

It took until the final few moments to wrap up the match, but it could have been a more comfortable afternoon had the Buddies opened the scoring with a chance inside the first 60 seconds. Calum Waters low ball across the box was laid on a plate for Obika who didn't catch the shot well enough and clipped over the bar. 

The Buddies asserted themselves in the opening stages and had the vast majority of possession and territory. Junior Morias curled into the arms of Broxburn goalkeeper Connor Wallace with eight minutes played, while Ilkay Durmus dragged an effort wide on 15 minutes. 

Obika sent a tame effort into the arms of Wallace on 22 minutes after a neat exchange with Morias and really should have had Saints ahead three minutes later. Morias charged down the left-hand side and slide the ball across the area where both Obika and Durmus were waiting. The former got a toe onto the ball but it somehow creeped centimetres wide of the post. The English forward then headed past the same post just after the half-hour mark.

For all the dominance Saints were failing to make Broxburn goalkeeper Wallace work, but that would change after the interval with the goalkeeper making a good stop to deny captain Kyle Magennis on 50 minutes.

Durmus should have had St Mirren ahead two minutes later but somehow smashed wide from eight yards. 

Thankfully, the wait for the breakthrough only lasted another two minutes with Obika opening the scoring on 54 minutes. It was a scrappy goal for Broxburn to lose with a low Waters effort coming off an unfortunate Broxburn defender and ricocheting off Obika into the net. 

The Buddies fitness told after that and only heroics from Wallace kept the scoreline down. The goalkeeper made terrific saves to deny Morias twice, while he did well to push away a Mullen volley. Arguably the pick of the bunch came when he denied Jamie McGrath a debut goal on 79 minutes. The Irishman curled towards the far corner from the edge of the area with Wallace at full stretch to tip the ball round the post.

Wallace would make further saves in the final 10 minutes to stop Obika and Morias attempts, but Saints finally added a second to secure their place in tomorrow's Fifth Round draw with Mullen curling home from 20 yards. 

Mullen then turned provider a minute later when he slammed the ball across the ball to meet the chest of Obika to put the icing on the cake for the Buddies. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 3-0 Broxburn Athletic

St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, McCarthy (Andreu 67), Famewo, Waters, Magennis (c), Foley, MacPherson (McGrath 60), Durmus (Mullen 60), Morias, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, P.McGinn, Erhahon, Cooke

Broxburn: Wallace, Grant, Donaldson, Gavin, Townsley, Linton, Nimmo (Ross 68), Scott, Gibson, Locke (Richards 79), Kelly (Miller 57)
Subs Not Used: Binnie, Beesley, Gillen, Donoghue

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter
Assistant Referee: Colin Drummond

Attendance: 4,372

Saints finished the decade just as they'd started it – with a 1-0 home win over Kilmarnock.

This time round it was Ilkay Durmus rather than Chris Innes who got the winner, the winger sending a sweet first half shot past Laurentiu Branescu after a brilliant pass from Tony Andreu.

In truth the winning margin should have been greater as only a tremendous save from the Killie goalie stopped Andreu getting a second after the break with Cammy MacPherson, Junior Morias and Jon Obika also going close.

Andreu was back in Jim Goodwin's team at the expense of Calum Waters, who wasn't allowed out to play against his parent club. His absence meant Sam Foley moved into the centre of defence with Paul McGinn going to leftback.

Saints had an early shout for a penalty turned down after a Killie player's arm appeared to get in the way of Sean McLoughlin's effort from a corner. Liam Millar was inches away from connecting with Nicholas Hamalainen's fine ball across the Saints goal before Vaclav Hladky was tested for the first time, palming away a fierce shot from Brophy.

Durmus was enjoying lots of space on the Saints left and, moments after he saw Jon Obika head over from his cross, he put Saints in front in fine style. Andreu slipped a brilliant pass through to the winger and he strode onto the ball and drilled it first time into the bottom corner. It was a deserved lead and the hosts sensed the chance to extend it as Andreu sclaffed a shot wide, a camera man at the back of the family stand then having to take evasive action as Brophy tried to draw Killie level.

Andreu nearly claimed a second assist as he gathered in the ball then released Obika, the big striker narrowly failing to find the top corner from the edge of the box. Kyle Magennis was slightly closer to finding the same corner when he had a go from miles out, his dipping shot skimming the roof of the net.

A Chris Burke free-kick early in the second half caused a bit of uncertainty in the makeshift Saints defence, Hladky eventually saving as Brophy and sub Osman Sow tried to force it in. The Buddies won a free-kick of their own when Gary Dicker was booked for fouling Durmus, Branescu doing well to hold on to MacPherson's hit. Sow had the ball in the net at the other end after getting onto the end of Millar's pass but the whistle had long gone for offside.

As Killie appealed in vain for a penalty for a possible handball by MacPherson, Saints raced forward and almost grabbed their second. Morias picked up the ball out wide and cut inside, only to be tackled just as he got ready to shoot, the loose ball falling to Durmus who sent a spectacular shot just over the bar. The former Turkish youth international turned provider next time around, picking out the unmarked Andreu whose header was superbly turned away by Branescu. The resultant corner was cleared out to Durmus at the edge of the box and his volley flew just wide.

Another great chance came as Saints broke on the counter, Obika releasing the ball as both MacPherson and Durmus charged through the middle. The pair pretty much ran into each other before the former took possession, however his shot was blocked by Iain Wilson. Branescu saved from Morias as the Buddies continued to push, Alex Bruce and Kyle Magennis both going into the book after a bit of handbags that saw the majority of the players rushing to get involved.

Hladky did well to punch away Sow's hooked effort at a corner as the Killie fans behind the goal claimed for a foul for some penalty box shenanigans. As the Buddies looked for a second, Morias shot wide before Obika twice went close, seeing one shot saved by Branescu and another hit the side netting. There is always a worry that when you're on top and can't convert your chances you'll be made to pay for it but that rarely looked like being the case on this occasion as the Buddies rounded off the 2010s with a well deserved three points.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, Foley, McLoughlin, P.McGinn, Durmus, MacPherson, Magennis (c), Andreu (Cooke ), Morias, Obika 
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Erhahon, McMaster, Djorkaeff, Jamieson, Mullen

Kilmarnock: Branescu, Millen (El Makrini 76), Bruce, Del Fabro, Hamalainen, Dicker, Wilson, McKenzie (Sow 40), Millar, Burke (Thomas 65), Brophy
Subs Not Used: Koprivec, Johnson, Barlow, Jackson

Referee: Alan Newlands
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan

Attendance: 6,363

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

There was no belated Christmas cheer for St Mirren as they lost to champions Celtic on Boxing Day.

Despite starting well enough, Saints fell behind when Callum McGregor scored after his initial shot had hit the post. James Forrest doubled the lead when he rounded Vaclav Hladky to score as the visitors headed into the break in front.

The Buddies arguably had the better of the chances in the second half with Ryan Flynn and Jon Obika going close, and they finally got themselves back into things thanks to a late Cammy MacPherson free-kick, however there wasn't enough time left to snatch a point.

Jim Goodwin's side enjoyed a bright beginning and created the first chance, Ilkay Durmas' shot from Jon Obika's cutback being comfortably dealt with by Fraser Forster. It was a similar story at the other end as Vaclav Hladky easily gathered Olivier Ntcham's curler from the edge of the box. The visitors were able to force a couple of corners in quick succession but Kristoffer Ajer's headers were well off target, Odsonne Edouard then firing just over after being given a bit too much time and space to run forward.

The Buddies hadn't looked in too much trouble in the opening quarter of the game but a misplaced pass from Sam Foley was to prove costly. The ball was intercepted and sent through to Edouard, who had built up a bit of steam and was charging through on goal. The Saints defence tried to crowd him out and it seemed to work as the ball ran loose, only to fall to McGregor who rattled the post before tapping away the rebound.

In the aftermath the home side looked shaky as Celtic pushed for a quick second and it arrived just after McPherson had drawn a decent save from Forster. The Saints management team appealed for offside as Edouard gathered a Forrest pass, however he looked to have started his run inside his own half, and he again burst forward before slipping a return pass through the defence for Forrest, who drew Hladky off his line and squeezed a shot into the net from a tight angle. It was almost three just before the break as Ntcham's looped up in the air after taking a wicked deflection, however it dropped the wrong side of the bar.

Edouard had the ball in the net early in the second half but the flag had long gone up for offside. Hladky then found himself rather busy as he blocked Forrest's shot with his legs before tipping a Jeremie Frimpong effort around the post. Having survived those scares, Saints should have got themselves back into the game moments later when Junior Morias delivered a decent cross for Ryan Flynn but he could only put it wide.

Christopher Jullien headed over from Ryan Christie's free-kick as Celtic went back on the offensive before the defender made a big mistake at the other end, completely failing to deal with a high ball. That let Jon Obika in but with a tightening angle and no support the odds were always stacked against him – Forster saving the first shot before his defence mopped up as the striker tried to have another go. Another chance came when MacPherson fired in a cross but Obika was always stretching for it and the ball skidded off his head.

After his early saves, Hladky had had a pretty quiet second half but was back in action when he kept out Ntcham's drive as well as an attempt from Frimpong.

Jullien crudely brought Obika's run to a premature end with a wild swipe and was duly booked for his efforts, however the real punishment was yet to come. MacPherson's free-kick hit the top of the wall and Forster was unable to react before the ball ended up in the net.

It set up an exciting final few moments but Saints were always going to be up against it, especially with just two minutes of injury time, and they were unable to grab a second and earn a draw.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic

St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, P.McGinn, McLoughlin, Waters, Durmus (Andreu 65), Foley, MacPherson, Magennis (c), Morias (Cooke 82), Obika 
Subs Not Used: Lyness, S.McGinn, Djorkaeff, Jamieson, Mullen

Celtic: Forster, Frimpong, Jullien, Ajer, Bolingoli, McGregor, Brown (c), Forrest (Johnston 69), Ntcham, Christie, Edouard (Griffiths 87)
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Bauer, Taylor, Bitton, Rogic 

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam
Fourth Official: Barry Cook

Attendance: 6,797

Saints and Livingston brightened up a dreich December day by sharing six goals in a festive thriller.

Livi took the lead early on as Aymen Souda took advantage of Ryan Flynn's error to bend the ball into the net from the edge of the box. The Buddies were level when Jon Obika teed up Junior Morias to score, but Livi retook the lead just before the break when Jon Guthrie headed home Craig Sibbald's free-kick.

The goals continued in the second half and Souda seemed to have killed things off when he prodded the ball past Vaclv Hladky, but Jon Obika had other ideas – halving the deficit by diverting Tony Andreu's shot home before seeing another shot loop over Matija Sarkic thanks to a huge deflection.

Injury to Paul McGinn meant youngster Scott Glover was handed his debut at the heart of the Saints defence. He almost had a horror start, the strong wind taking his attempt to Ricki Lamie's hoof up the park spinning over Hladky but the keeper recovered in time to spare everyone's blushes.

The Buddies had looked the better side in the opening quarter of an hour so it was a huge blow when Livingston took the lead with their first real attack. A mistake from Flynn was pounced on by Souda and he ran to the edge of the box before curling a low shot round Hladky into the bottom corner.

The wind continued to cause problems, Sibbald's attempt to deliver a free-kick into the box almost ending up in the net. Hladky then did well to turn away a Dykes header before Cammy MacPherson tried to draw Saints level from long range, however his effort was easily caught by Sarkic. Another chance came when a free-kick was only cleared as far as Ilkay Durmus at the edge of the box but his shot looked to be going wide even before hitting a team-mate.

The winger was rather closer with his next shot, his fancy footwork gaining him the space he needed to let rip but it was straight at Sarkic, although the goalie needed two attempts at gathering the ball. An equaliser looked to be on the way and it duly arrived shortly after Saints had survived a bit of pinball in their own box. Obika won the ball from Lamie and forced his way past the Livi defence before unselfishly squaring for Morias to slot home from close range.

The Livi players felt they should have had a penalty shortly after play resumed, feeling Lyndon Dykes' shot had been blocked by the arm of Sean McLoughlin. The makeshift Saints defence was unsurprisingly looking fragile, an inability to clear their lines letting Souda get away a shot that spun out for a throw. Durmus then looked to have played Morias in for his second but the offside flag was up long before the ball ended up in the net.

The Buddies seemed to be finishing the opening 45 minutes on top but found themselves back behind in the dying seconds of the half. As Sibbald lifted a free-kick into the box, the Saints defence appeared to be waiting for an offside flag that never came, allowing Guthrie all the time and space he needed to head past Hladky.

Souda tried to double his side's advantage in the opening moments of the second half, his shot deflected behind for a corner. The Buddies then lost Kyle McAllister to injury, Tony Andreu taking his place and before he could make an impact, Livi got their third as they once again took advantage of slack defending. A long free-kick from Sarkic was flicked on by Dykes and Souda brought the ball under control before poking past Hladky.

Game over? It probably would have been had Guthrie been able to get his head on Steve Lawson's wicked cross. Instead, Saints set about getting themselves back into things and when the ball fell to Andreu at a corner, his shot was diverted past Sarkic to reduce the deficit. It was the same player who scored the equaliser with less than 20 minutes to go, Andreu racing on to a mis-placed shot to pull it back for Obika whose shot took a huge deflection that spun it over Sarkic and over the line to the delight of the home crowd.

Obika fancied a hat-trick, the Livi defence stopping him getting on the end of a knock-down from sub Cody Cooke, who had replaced Glover just before the equaliser. The roles were reversed a few minutes later as Obika looked to have sent Cooke through on goal, however he was well offside. The visitors looked to be on the ropes but thought they'd won themselves a penalty when Steven Lawless went flying under a Calum Waters challenge, however ref Nick Walsh booked the Livi man for simulation instead. The former Partick Thistle almost had the last laugh in stoppage time when the ball broke to him at the edge of the box but he rattled his shot well over.

Full-Time: St Mirren 3-3 Livingston

St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, Glover (Cooke 73), McLoughlin, Waters, McAllister (Andreu 51), Magennis (c), MacPherson, Durmus, Morias, (Mullen 89) Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, S.McGinn, Djorkaeff, Jamieson

Livingston: Sarkic, Taylor-Sinclair (Lithgow 46), Sibbald (Jacobs 66), Lamie, Guthrie, Bartley, Pittman, Lawson, Lawless, Souda (Robinson 78), Dykes
Subs Not Used: Stewart, McMillan, Odoffin, Erskine

#SMFCMOM - Jon Obika

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Kylie Cockburn
Assistant Referee: Stuart Hodge
Fourth Official: Colin Steven

Attendance: 4,344

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren picked up their first points on the road this season with a well-deserved win over Hamilton Academical at the FOYS Stadium.

Cammy MacPherson's first goal of the season was enough to give Saints all three points in a dominant performance that sees the Buddies move off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership and up to ninth place.

Jim Goodwin made four changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Motherwell on Wednesday night with MacPherson, Kyle McAllister, Ilkay Durmus and Junior Morias coming in for Gary MacKenzie, Stephen McGinn, Tony Andreu and Danny Mullen as Saints lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Paul McGinn partnering Sean McLoughlin at centre-half and Ryan Flynn moved to right-back. 

The Buddies started brightly and almost had the lead with just five minutes played. Jon Obika fed the ball wide to Ilkay Durmus whose half-volley was touched onto the post by Hamilton goalkeeper Luke Southwood.

While the visitors had been on top in the opening stages, Hamilton grew into the first-half and Saints had stand-in skipper Kyle Magennis to thank for keeping the Accies from taking the lead on 14 minutes. The midfielder, who made his 100th St Mirren appearance on Wednesday night, made a vital goal-saving interception to deny the waiting Steve Davies who would surely have tapped home from close range.

There wasn't much to separate the teams 30 minutes in but the Buddies finished the half strongly. Obika flashed an effort just wide from 20 yards on 34 minutes before Durmus slammed a shot into the side-netting two minutes later. 

Saints could have been ahead within 15 seconds of the restart when Morias hit the post. Accies had taken kick-off but St Mirren had won the ball almost immediately with MacPherson sending a long ball down the middle that Morias ran on to. The forward brought it down on his chest as he made his way into the box, but flicked onto the post. 

Saints hit the woodwork once again just a few minutes later when MacPherson's free-kick from the left cracked off the Hamilton crossbar. 

That only delayed the inevitable with Saints breaking the deadlock 60 seconds later through that man MacPherson. Accies defender Scott McMann could only head a Magennis ball into the box as far as the edge of the area where MacPherson ran onto it and smashed low into the bottom corner to the delight of the more than 800 away crowd behind the goal.

The Buddies could have added a second just before the hour mark but for goalkeeper Southwood. Morias' cut-back was missed by MacPherson but fell kindly to Durmus in space inside the box, but the Hamilton keeper did well to block the Turkish winger's effort with his feet. 

Jim Goodwin made his first change on 66 minutes when Cody Cooke made his return to action following a long lay-off with injury as he replaced Kyle McAllister. And the English forward almost netted just a few minutes after his introduction. Cooke picked the ball up deep in the Accies half and drove toward goal. He had Obika in space to his right but elected to go alone and forced a good save from Southwood with a rasper from 20 yards. 

With 13 minutes remaining Obika looked to send Cooke clear on goal and the striker would have been one-on-one had he not been fouled by Accies defender Alex Gogic. Referee Don Robertson showed no hesitation in brandishing a red card to Gogic for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. 

10-man Hamilton looked to put pressure on Saints in the closing stages but could only muster a David Moyo header that was fairly routine for Hladky. 

That summed up what was a comfortable day for the Buddies who more than deserved their first win on the road this season.

Full-Time: Hamilton 0-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, P.McGinn (Andreu 82), McLoughlin, Waters, K.McAllister (Cooke 66), Magennis (S.McGinn 75), MacPherson, Durmus, Morias, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Henderson, Djorkaeff, Mullen

Hamilton: Southwood, McGowan, Gogic, Stubbs, Easton, Smith, McMann, Hunt (Martin 56), Miller, Davies (Moyo 61), Ogkmpoe (Oakley 56)
Subs Not Used: Fon Williams, Collar, Beck, Hamilton

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: David Doig
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Kevin Graham

Attendance: 1,962 (839 St Mirren fans)

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

A disappointed Jim Goodwin reflects on a tough 90 minutes as Saints lose 3-0 at home to Motherwell.

Saints got December off to the worst possible start as they were comfortably beaten by Motherwell at the Simple Digital Arena.

Five first half minutes decided the game in Motherwell's favour as James Scott bagged himself a brace. For his first, the young forward danced in from the edge of the box before firing across Vaclav Hladky into the far corner, following that up moments later by coolly lifting the ball over the Saints goalie after Liam Polworth had nicked it from Tony Andreu.

The second half was pretty much a non-event before any hope Saints had of clawing their way back into things disappeared when Allan Campbell tapped the ball home following a good run from Jermaine Hylton.

The first hint that a bad night may have been in store for the Buddies came inside the first 10 minutes when Gary MacKenzie had to go off injured. Paul McGinn replaced him in the heart of the defence with sub Cammy MacPherson coming on at right back. McGinn tried to make an impact at the other end but his overhead kick sailed well over. It was one of few early chances for either side, Ryan Flynn and Andreu seeing efforts blocked before Scott failed to trouble Hladky from distance.

That certainly wasn't the case just before the half hour mark. There appeared to be little danger when Scott picked up the ball at the side of the box but he dribbled his way into a shooting position and slotting a low shot past Hladky into the far corner. It was good work from the youngster but their hadn't appeared to be much resistance to his fancy footwork.

The lead was nearly wiped out a few minutes later, Kyle Magennis seeing his shot from the edge of the box deflected narrowly wide. Instead, the Steelmen doubled the advantage soon after. Polworth won the ball off Andreu in the middle of the park, appeals for a foul falling on deaf ears, and he fed Scott, who finished superbly past Hladky to put daylight between the sides.

The teenager wasn't finished there and almost bagged a quick-fire hat-trick when he got on the end of Liam Grimshaw's cross, his header going inches wide with Hladky beaten. Another shot from the same player was deflected wide with Saints struggling to cope, Liam Donnelly dragging an effort wide when he should at least have hit the target as the half came to a close.

Hladky easily saved Scott's early second half shot before Declan Gallagher headed Polworth's free-kick just wide, although the flag was up for offside. As with the first half, it was a scrappy affair with little of note until Motherwell put the game to bed, Hylton tormenting the home defence before squaring for Campbell to poke home his side's third with a quarter of the game still to go.

Devante Cole saw his effort cleared off the line by Ryan Flynn and Gallagher headed over from a corner as the visitors pushed for a fourth. A rare Buddies chance came when Junior Morias – who had replaced Jon Obika – worked himself some space before having a shot that went out for a throw in. Andreu was at least a bit closer when he had a go from the edge of the D but still failed to find the target.

Despite those chances, Motherwell still looked the more likely to score and sub Sherwin Seedorf was allowed to drive forward before lashing a shot over. Scott had a later chance to grab his hat-trick, once again cutting in from the touchline before firing wide. It took until the final minute for the Buddies to register a shot on target, Mark Gillespie easily saving from Kyle McAllister. He was in action again in stoppage time, doing well to turn away Andreu's shot after Morias had been unlucky to see his header come back off the post. It would be wrong to say that summed up Saints' night as, for once, they could have no complaints about being on the wrong end of the scoreline.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-3 Motherwell

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, MacKenzie (MacPherson 9), McLoughlin, Waters, S.McGinn (c), Flynn, Magennis (McAllister 75), Andreu, Mullen, Obika (Morias 63)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Henderson, Durmus, Cooke

Motherwell: Gillespie, Grimshaw, Mugabi, Gallagher (c), Carroll, Donnelly, Polworth, Campbell (O'Hara 70), Hylton (Seedorf 75), Scott, Cole (Manzinga 83)
Subs Not Used: Carson, Maguire, Tait, Long

Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee: Ralph Gordon
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: William Collum

Attendance: 4,240

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren's search for a first away point of the season continues after the Buddies fell to a 2-1 loss at Pittodrie this afternoon.

Jon Obika's third goal for Saints got Jim Goodwin's side level after Sam Cosgrove had given the home side an early lead. Niall McGinn put the hosts in front for a second time 10 minutes into the second-half, but the Buddies spurned a glorious chance to grab a share of the spoils when Tony Andreu missed a penalty with just six minutes remaining. 

Saints, without a win at Pittodrie in eight years, could have found themselves one up with less than a minute on the clock. Obika held the ball up and knocked forward to the returning Andreu whose neat touch allowed Sam Foley to run on to the ball deep in the Aberdeen half. The Englishman fed the ball over the Dons defence to find Andreu inside the box with the Frenchman's effort pushed away by Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis.

But despite the bright start Saints found themselves behind on six minutes. A weak header from Sean McLoughlin fell invitingly for Sam Cosgrove who, with time and space, made no mistake from 15 yards as he slammed high into the net to put Aberdeen 1-0 ahead. 

The Saints reaction was good with Kyle Magennis forcing Joe Lewis into a save at his near post on 13 minutes, but the home side had a couple of chances in quick succession with Cosgrove slicing wide after running on to meet a Greg Leigh knock down, while Lewis Ferguson should have doubled the Dons advantage when he met a pinpoint Zak Vyner cross but somehow nodded wide from just a few yards out. 

And just moments after that miss from Ferguson, Saints found themselves level. Ryan Flynn did brilliantly to charge into the box from the right hand side. He played a low ball across the face of goal where it met Obika who touched home from close range. 

The 352 travelling fans were in fine voice following the goal and Saints were on top for the rest of the first-half. Another low ball into the box from Flynn's knocked wide by Leigh for a corner on 31 minutes. It was the midfielder who took the corner with MacKenzie rises highest to nod just over the bar.  

Calum Waters put in a brilliant ball into the box a few moments later when Saints were awarded a free-kick after Sam Foley was fouled. McLoughlin got his head on it but sent wide. 

Saints were having their best spell of the match so far but the Dons showed how dangerous they could be with Waters having to be switched on to clear a Cosgrove header off the line. 

Aberdeen started the opening stages of second-half the stronger of the two sides and took the lead for a second time on 56 minutes. From a Saints point it was a frustrating goal to concede with an unmarked Niall McGinn having all the time in the world to slam home to put Aberdeen 2-1 in front.

The St Mirren reaction was good though and the Buddies could have levelled just two minutes after the Dons second goal. Obika headed Foley's ball in across the face of goal where Magennis just couldn't get a toe on it at the far post. 

Andreu should have levelled for Saints with 15 minutes remaining. The Frenchman was met in space inside the box by Foley but didn't catch it properly as it clipped over. 

Andreu again spurned a brilliant chance to equalise for Saints when he missed from the penalty spot on 84 minutes. Obika had gotten on to a ball into the box and as he tried to round Joe Lewis to tap home into an empty net he was pulled back by the English goalkeeper. Despite appearing to make no genuine attempt to win the ball Lewis was only booked and guessed correctly to push away Andreu's spot-kick before saving the Frenchman's follow-up effort. 

Full-Time: Aberdeen 2-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, MacKenzie, McLoughlin, Waters, Flynn, S.McGinn (c), Foley (McAllister 75), Andreu (Morias 86), Magennis (Durmus 63), Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, MacPherson, Mullen, Cooke

Aberdeen: Lewis, Vyner, Considine, McKenna, Leigh, Ferguson, Campbell (Logan 71), Gallagher, N.McGinn (Main 86), Hedges (McLennan 76), Cosgrove
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Devlin, Wilson, Anderson

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: David Munro

Attendance: 12,829 (352 St Mirren fans)

Junior Morias' first St Mirren goal wasn't enough to prevent the Buddies falling to a frustrating defeat at home to Hibernian. 

Saints created numerous chances throughout the 90 minutes but it was goals either side of half-time from Christian Doidge and substitute Stevie Mallan that gave the visitors a narrow 2-1 win.

The Buddies started on the front foot with Ilkay Durmus had the first half-chances - sending well wide from distance on four minutes before slipping on the edge of the box a few minutes later and seeing his resultant effort trickle wide. 

Saints had the best chance of the match on 24 minutes when a brilliant ball in from Calum Waters on the left-hand side met Kyle Magennis in the box. The midfielder rose the highest but headed over from six yards. 

Two minutes later it was Durmus' turn to send a pinpoint cross in from the same position as Waters. The Turkish winger's ball found Ryan Flynn at the back post. Flynn's effort was blocked with Sean McLoughlin screwing a header wide from the resultant corner.

And despite Saints' chances it was Hibernian who took the lead just two minutes later. Christian Doidge kept his good run of goalscoring form for the visitors when he headed the opener from ex-Saint Jason Naismith's cross. It appeared to take a slight deflection off the head of Gary MacKenzie as it looped over Vaclav Hladky. 

Jon Obika should have gone one-on-one with Maxwell five minutes after Hibernian's opener when the ball fell kindly into his path, but the big striker got the ball caught up in his feet and could only win a corner. Saints continued to force a lot of pressure before the end of the half - winning a number of corners but failing to create any danger from them. 

The Buddies started the second-half strongly and had a penalty appeal turned down on 55 minutes when Sam Foley went down in the box. Referee Alan Newlands was unmoved. 

With around 25 minutes of the game remaining Jim Goodwin made his first change with Danny Mullen coming on in place of Durmus. The substitute was presented with a great chance to equalise just a few minutes after taking to the field when the ball fell to him in space inside the box but he blasted over from a tight angle. 

Three minutes later the striker went agonisingly close to bringing Saints level. A strong tackle from MacKenzie deep in the St Mirren half sent the Buddies scurrying forward on the counter. Mullen picked the ball up on the left, cut inside and curled low towards the far post. It looked like it was heading in all day long but cracked off the post before the offside flag denied Obika on the follow up. 

There were just under 10 minutes to go when Hibernian were awarded a penalty after MacKenzie fouled Martin Boyle inside the Saints box. There was no debating the referee's decision and former Buddie Stevie Mallan stepped up to double the visitors lead.

Saints kept at Hibernian as they searched for a way back into the match. Sam Foley, man of the match on the evening, went so close to added to his goal on Saturday after a terrific solo run which saw him curl just wide of Maxwell's far post. 

The Buddies would get a goal back in the first minute of stoppage time. Neat footwork from Mullen saw the striker get a shot away on the edge of the area. Maxwell was equal to it but it fell for substitute Junior Morias who slammed home to score his first St Mirren goal. Unfortunately for Saints it was too little too late as Hibernian took the points back to Edinburgh.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Hibernian

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, MacKenzie, McLoughlin, Waters, Flynn (McAllister 78), S.McGinn, Foley, Magennis, Durmus (Mullen 66), Obika (Morias 78)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, MacPherson, Djorkaeff, Cooke

Hibernian: Maxwell, Naismith, Porteous, Hanlon, Stevenson, Hallberg, Slivka, Allan (Mallan 72), Newell (Horgan 57), Doidge, Kamberi (Boyle 52)
Subs Not Used: Marciano, James, Jackson, Shaw

Referee: Alan Newlands
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Fourth Official: John McKendrick 

Attendance: 5,377