A goalless draw with Motherwell saw St Mirren move two points clear of Dundee United to remain in sixth place with three games to go until the Scottish Premiership split.

Jim Goodwin made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 against Livingston on Saturday with the surprise inclusion of Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jamie McGrath in place on Ryan Flynn and Dylan Connolly.

The first-half was a dreary affair with very little to shout about. Jordan Roberts dragged a shot wide from distance from the visitors on 12 minutes while Joe Shaughnessy headed well wide just after the half-hour mark after getting on the end of a pinpoint McGrath free-kick. 

Barry Maguire went closest for the visitors on 35 minutes when his effort from 20 yards was deflected just by. The Steelmen felt they should have had a penalty four minutes later when Tony Watt stayed on his feet after being slightly clipped by Conor McCarthy. The forward played on and moved away from the defender to send a tempting ball across the face of the St Mirren goal with no takers. 

A brilliant stop from Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly denied Jon Obika less than a minute into the second-half. McGrath worked the ball wide to Durmus with the Turkish winger picking out Obika in the Motherwell box. The striker took it blisteringly on the half-volley with Kelly doing well to push behind. 

The visitors then started to have the better of the second 45. Allan Campbell lashed over after a good move on 53 minutes, before Devante Cole shot straight at Jak Alnwick after wriggling clear of McCarthy. 

Saints made two changes to try and turn the game in their favour with Lee Erwin and Kyle McAllister replacing Cammy MacPherson and Richard Tait. But still it was the away side who had the more clear-cut chances. Alnwick had to be alert to deny Cole on 72 minutes and it was the striker who thought he had put Motherwell in front when he got the merest of flicks on a Roberts corner only for it to come off the post. 

The Buddies would have one final opportunity themselves in added time, but substitute Kyle McAllister's curling effort from inside the box was deflected over as the Saints had to settle for just a point on the fourth game on the spin. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Motherwell

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait (McAllister 73), McGrath, MacPherson (Erwin 69), Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, Durmus, Obika (Connolly 82)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Flynn, Henderson, Jamieson

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Magloire, Lamie, Carroll, Campbell, Crawford, Maguire, Roberts, Cole, Watt
Subs Not Used: Morrison, Cornelius, Long, Devine, Lawless, Hastie, McGinley, Johnston, Polworth

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
Fourth Official: David Lowe

St Mirren drew their third match in a row following a stalemate with Livingston at the SMiSA Stadium.

A Conor McCarthy own-goal gave the visitors an early lead before a stunning Cammy MacPherson goal got Saints level before the break. And 1-1 was how it would finish as Jim Goodwin's side stayed in sixth and moved a point ahead of Dundee United. 

The manager made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Hamilton Academical on Wednesday with Ryan Flynn and Dylan Connolly in for Kyle McAllister and Lee Erwin.

Saints had started brightly - winning a free-kick in a good area, centrally, 25 yards from goal on three minutes. Ilkay Durmus took as he looked to add to his goal on Wednesday night, but slammed into the wall.

Then, with just seven minutes played, Livingston went in front. It was fortuitous for the visitors as Richard Tait's headed clearance bounced off McCarthy and into the Saints net. 

But immediately, St Mirren went in search for a quick equaliser with MacPherson using the horrendous conditions to let fly from distance. It was an awkward one for Livingston goalkeeper Robby McCrorie who just managed to punch clear. 

Craig Sibbald then had a go from 20 yards which Jak Alnwick had to get down well to push away on the half-hour mark. 

Two minutes later, the Buddies were level thanks to a stunning strike from MacPherson. A good passage of play saw Jon Obika flick the ball on to the Saints Academy graduate who drove forward before cracking into the top corner of the net from 20 yards with his weaker foot.

The conditions were getting the better of the match in the second-half with swirling wind and rain making it difficult for either side to get the ball down and play. It took until the last 10 minutes of the game for Saints to really exert pressure in search of a winner. 

Lee Erwin, who came on for the goalscorer, did brilliantly to nod down a Marcus Fraser pass into the path of fellow substitute Kyle McAllister. The number 10 had his shot blocked by a Livi defender. It then fell to Durmus whose hit was deflected over by Efe Ambrose. 

A minute later McCrorie was forced into a stop from Tait's powerful effort from the edge of the area. The 'keeper couldn't take it at the first attempt but managed to smother before Erwin could get on the end of it. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Livingston

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, Flynn, MacPherson (Erwin 73), Erhahon, Durmus, Connolly (McAllister 60), Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Henderson, Jamieson

Livingston: McCrorie, Devlin, Ambrose, Guthrie (c), Serrano, Holt, Sibbald (Lawson 64), Mullin (Emmanuel-Thomas 69), Pittman, Forrest (Taylor-Sinclair 56), Reilly (Kabia 64)
Subs Not Used: Stryjek, McMillan, Pignatiello, Tiffoney, Poplatnik

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Graeme Leslie
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Fourth Official: Gavin Ross

St Mirren were held to a 1-1 draw against Hamilton Academical at the SMiSA Stadium in the Scottish Premiership. 

Ilkay Durmus' third goal of the season gave Saints the lead early in the second-half, but Accies levelled thanks to a deflected strike from Bruce Anderson on 68 minutes.

Ethan Erhahon had the ball in the net with just over 10 minutes remaining though Jon Obika was ruled out for offside in the build-up despite replays showing the forward to be onside. 

The Buddies started brightly with a Cammy MacPherson free-kick on eight minutes deflecting just wide from range. Erhahon curled wide from the resulting corner, while Lee Erwin and Durmus both sent efforts over from distance. 

Saints continued to pressure with Brian Easton heading off his own bar on 22 minutes following a stramash in the Accies box. 

Richard Tait twice went close to grabbing the opener. The full-back struck the post with a low effort after a well-worked Saints move before forcing a really good save from Hamilton goalkeeper Ryan Fulton who has to stretch to his left to keep the header from creeping over the line. 

Despite having the best of the first-half, the Buddies almost found themselves behind in the dying moments of the first 45. A loose Marcus Fraser header across the St Mirren box was pounced upon by Anderson whose low drive had to be cleared by Fraser after the defender raced back onto the line.

Anderson really should have given the visitors the lead five minutes into the second-half when he was presented with free header six yards out. But somehow he nodded over. 

Then, within three minutes, St Mirren found the opener. Obika brilliantly brought the ball down in the Hamilton box before feeding it to Kyle McAllister on the edge of the area. The Saints number 10 shuffled the ball between his feet as he looked for an opportunity to get a strike away under pressure from the Accies defence. He eventually rolled the ball to the left where Durmus took one touch before cracking home into the far corner from 18 yards. 

It was the visitors who seemed galvanised by the goal as they put the Buddies under pressure. And that pressure would tell when Anderson's hit from just inside the St Mirren box deflected off Saints skipper Joe Shaughnessy to take it beyond Jak Alnwick to level.

With 15 minutes remaining the visitors looked like they would go in front when Marios Ogkmpoe was sent racing clear one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Alnwick was quick off his line to make a tremendous block to deny the Accies frontman. 

St Mirren should have been back in front on 79 minutes when Erhahon blasted home Obika's brilliant nod down, only for the far side linesman to flag for offside even though the Saints striker appearing to be on. It was a frustrating decision on what proved to be a frustrating night for Jim Goodwin's men. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Hamilton Academical

JIM GOODWIN POST-MATCH REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy, Tait (Connolly 84), McAllister, MacPherson, Erhahon (Flynn 77), Durmus, Erwin, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Henderson, Jamieson

Hamilton: Fulton, Hamilton, A. Martin (S. Martin 25), Easton, Hodson, Odoffin, Trafford (Hughes 81), McMann, Callachan, Anderson (Moyo 90), Ogkmpoe 
Subs Not Used: Gourlay, Stirling, Mimnaugh, Winter, Munro, Smith

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane 
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: Steven Reid

Neither side could be separated at a blustery Pittodrie this afternoon as Saints drew 0-0 with Aberdeen. 

The windy conditions in the Granite City made it tough for each side with very few real opportunities throughout the 90 minutes as it ended in stalemate.

It was Saints who had the best chance of the match and it came early doors with Ryan Flynn going close to scoring his first goal in almost two years on eight minutes. The midfielder was in the right place inside the box to meet Ilkay Durmus' cross from the left. He got his foot to it only for Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis to instinctively block the side-footed effort at the near post. 

The wind was wreaking havoc at Pittodrie but it almost came to St Mirren's benefit on 21 minutes. It caught Durmus' free-kick from the right and forced Lewis to tip over the bar as it looked like it might sneak in. 

Chances were limited for both sides with a low Florian Kamberi strike from 30 yards, which was well held by Jak Alnwick, the best the home side had to show in the first-half. 

Saints were forced into a change at the break when Cammy MacPherson was introduced in place of the injured Jake Doyle-Hayes who is expected to have an x-ray later this evening to reveal the extent of the damage. 

The second-half followed the same sort of rhythm as the first with the wind not allowing either side to create many chances. Fraser Hornby curled a free-kick wide from 25 yards on 54 minutes, while substitute Jon Obika volleyed over from the edge of the box with 12 minutes remaining.

The Buddies were probing in the difficult conditions and did look the more likely as they searched for a winner in the last 10 minutes. Kyle McAllister's free-kick centrally from distance was straight down the throat of Lewis before the goalkeeper made tremendous stop to deny Obika at the far post after the Saints forward had met a MacPherson free-kick. It wouldn't have counted however as referee Euan Anderson deemed the ball came off the hand of the striker.

In the end a point was probably a fair result for both sides with Saints still in the hunt for a top six place.

Full-Time: Aberdeen 0-0 St Mirren

JIM GOODWIN REACTION

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, Flynn, Doyle-Hayes (MacPherson 46), Erhahon, Durmus, Connolly (McAllister 76), Erwin (Obika 59)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Urminsky, Finlayson, Mason, Henderson, Jamieson

Aberdeen: Lewis, McCrorie, Hoban, Considine, Hayes, McGinn (McLennan 77), Campbell, Ferguson, Kennedy (Ross 85), Kamberi, Hornby (Hendry 77)
Subs Not Used: Woods, Logan, Taylor, McGeouch, Virtanen, MacKenzie

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Joseph Lawson
Fourth Official: William Collum

St Mirren couldn't do the double over Celtic as the Buddies were beaten 4-0 at the SMiSA Stadium. 

Tom Rogic gave Celtic a first-half lead, before three goals in four minutes late in the second-half wrapped up the win for the visitors.

Jim Goodwin's side had started brightly with Jamie McGrath having the first opportunity of the game on four minutes when he flashed a 20-yard volley over. 

But despite the good start Saints were an early double blow when McGrath injured his shoulder and had to be substituted on 14 minutes before Rogic gave the away side the lead a minute later. McGrath looked to have dislocated his shoulder and when play resumed after he left the park, Rogic was afforded too much room to break into the St Mirren box and fire an effort into the low left-hand corner.  

Callum McGregor and Scott Brown could both count themselves lucky to have avoided bookings after rash challenges on Ethan Erhahon and Ryan Flynn. 

Saints best chance of the first-half came two minutes before the break. A great Kyle McAllister through ball found Dylan Connolly whose touch was brilliant to bring it under control but he slid the shot wide under pressure from Celtic defender Jonjoe Kenny. 

Ilkay Durmus was presented with a good opportunity on 49 minutes when Jon Obika was fouled on the edge of the Celtic box. The Turkish winger stepped up to take the free-kick but cannoned off the Celtic wall.

And in truth the Buddies never really got themselves going in the second-half. In a five minute spell before the hour-mark, McGregor dragged a strike wide for Celtic while Odsonne Edouard sent a shot wide from close range before David Turnbull was twice denied by Saints goalkeeper Jak Alnwick. 

With 13 minutes remaining, Celtic were awarded a penalty-kick. It looked very soft as Greg Taylor went down with Ryan Flynn in close proximity. Referee Don Robertson had no hesitation and booked the St Mirren midfielder for the perceived challenge. Edouard fired home to double Celtic's advantage.

The visitors then scored two goals in two minutes through substitute Ryan Christie and Turnbull to put the seal on a disappointing night for the Buddies.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-4 Celtic

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Connolly (MacPherson 72), Flynn (Erwin 81), Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, Durmus, McGrath (McAllister 15), Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Tait, Mason, Finlayson, Henderson, Jamieson

Celtic: Bain, Kenny, Ajer, Welsh (Duffy 68), Taylor, Brown, Rogic (Griffiths 85), McGregor, Turnbull (Elyounoussi 85), Ajeti (Christie 68), Edouard (Klimala 80)
Subs Not Used: Barkas, Duffy, Laxalt, Soro, Johnston

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Fourth Official: David Dickinson

Kyle McAlister’s first goal of the season helped the Buddies return to winning ways as they recorded a comfortable 2-0 victory against Kilmarnock at the SMiSA Stadium. McAlister’s first-half header was followed up by an opportunistic Jon Obika strike as the Paisley Saints inflicted a fifth-straight league defeat on Kilmarnock.

The visitors had the first real chance of the game in seven minutes when Greg Kiltie slipped the ball through the Buddies defence for Danny Whitehall but he dragged his shot wide of Dean Lyness’s goal.

Deputising for the suspended Jak Alnwick, Lyness was rarely troubled throughout with a well-timed header from the keeper denying Colin Doyle what would have been the definition of a route one goal.

Saints grew more into the game as the half wore on as McAllister and Jamie McGrath both saw efforts from 25 yards saved by Doyle.

After McAllister fired wide from 10 yards on 25 minutes, he made sure he wouldn’t miss second time round rising perfectly to head home from a similar range 13 minutes later to break the deadlock.

It could have been two just before half time when Jamie McGrath was played through but Doyle was quick off the mark to close him down and make the save.

Killie started the second half well, winning the first corner of the match before Alan Power’s effort from the edge of the box was blocked.

On the hour mark – and moments after he thought he’d been fouled in the box – Jon Obika made a nuisance of himself, leaving Power with egg on his face, as he robbed the midfielder in the box and coolly slotted the ball home for 2-0.

If anything summed up that it just wasn’t to be Kilmarnock’s day, it was a corner on 70 minutes. The initial ball in was headed only as far clear as Power on the edge of the box where he twice and Gary Dicker once had shots blocked with the Buddies prepared to put their bodies on the line to protect the clean sheet.

As Saints looked to see the game out, captain Joe Shaughnessy almost put the cherry on top of the cake from a corner on 88 minutes but he put the ball over the bar.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-0 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Lyness, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, McAllister (Connolly 68), McGrath, Doyle-Hayes, Erhahon, Durmus (Flynn 84), Obika
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Finlayson, Mason, Henderson, MacPherson, Erwin, Jamieson

Kilmarnock: Doyle, McKenzie, Medley, Ibsen Rossi, Haunstrup, Power, Dicker (c), Tshibola (Mulumbu 61), Pierrick (Burke 61), Kiltie (Kabamba 78), Whitehall (Pinnock 78)
Subs Not Used: Lyle, McGowan, Millen, Brindley, Dabo

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Fourth Official: Peter Stuart

10 man St Mirren were edged out by Hibernian at the SMiSA Stadium this evening.

Despite a strong performance in the opening 30 minutes, a first-half red card for goalkeeper Jak Alnwick left Saints under pressure with Hibernian taking advantage of their extra man in the second-half. 

Kristian Dennis, fresh from scoring two goals in his last two games, was proving a nuisance in the early stages. With 10 minutes on the clock the English forward flicked wide from 20 yards, before not being too far away six minutes later when he flashed another shot just by the right-hand post. The striker was then a whisker away from getting his toe on to Ryan Flynn's knock-on as St Mirren pressed for an opener.

But the Saints were dealt a major blow with nine minutes of the half remaining when Jak Alnwick was shown a straight red card. Jake Doyle-Hayes' loose back-pass was latched on to by Martin Boyle who raced through on goal. The Saints goalkeeper was out to try and avert the danger but brought the forward down 25 yards from goal. Referee Alan Muir showed no hesitation in pulling out the red card and in the stopper could probably have no complaints about the decision. 

Dean Lyness entered the fray and was immediately tested by ex-Saint Paul McGinn with a drive from the edge of the box which the goalkeeper held well. 

Both sides made a change at the break with Jon Obika replacing Ilkay Durmus and Ryan Porteous coming on for the visitors in place of Darren McGregor.

And within 10 minutes of his introduction, Porteous had put Hibernian ahead. The defender was up highest to bullet home a Boyle corner. 

Hibs were having the bulk of the possession as they searched for a second. Lyness made a terrific save on 66 minutes to tip over a Christian Doidge header after the forward found space to get on to the end of a Boyle cross from the right. 

With 20 minutes remaining the visitors were awarded a penalty kick when Jamie Murphy went down in the box under the challenge of Marcus Fraser. Boyle stepped forward and smashed down the middle to leave Saints with a mountain to climb.

But to the Buddies credit they never gave in and with just over 15 minutes remaining, Saints pulled a goal back to give them a lifeline heading into the final stretch. A quick counter saw substitute Dylan Connolly race clear of the Hibernian backline and pick out Jon Obika with a lovely ball across the face of goal allowing the striker to slam home. 

The Buddies did press as they looked for a leveller but couldn't test Marciano as the visitors held on for the three points. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Hibernian

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait (McAllister 83), Durmus (Obika 46), Doyle-Hayes, Flynn, McGrath, Dennis (Lyness 38), Brophy (Connolly 54)
Subs Not Used: Finlayson, Mason, Erhahon, MacPherson, Erwin

Hibernian: Marciano, P.McGinn, McGregor (Porteous 46), Hanlon (c), Cadden (Nisbet 54), Gogic, Irvine, Doig, Boyle, Doidge, Murphy (Magennis 90)
Subs Not Used: Macey, Stevenson, Hallberg, Allan, Wright, Bradley

Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam 
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Greg Aitken

St Mirren won at Celtic Park for the first time since 1990 after a brilliant 2-1 victory over Celtic.

Jim Goodwin's men were worthy winners with goals from Kristian Dennis and Ilkay Durmus either side of an Odsonne Edouard strike giving Saints their first away win against Celtic in over 30 years.

Saints showed intent from the get go with the manager opting to play a 3-4-2-1 formation with Durmus and Dylan Connolly playing off striker Dennis, while Kyle McAllister and Cammy MacPherson also came into the side. Dennis had a low drive held by Scott Bain on 12 minutes, before Jamie McGrath curled into the arms of the Celtic goalkeeper a few minutes later.

The Buddies early pressure would tell with Dennis scoring his second goal in as many games on 18 minutes. The striker latched on to a low Connolly ball from the right and smashed under Bain to put us in front. 

Saints were in control in the first-half, but would be pegged back just after 30 minutes when Celtic's French forward Edouard was found by Callum McGregor in the St Mirren box. He got in ahead of Conor McCarthy and managed to slot beyond Jak Alnwick. 

Within five minutes St Mirren were back in front. Durmus did brilliantly to get in ahead of Shane Duffy to meet a McAllister lob and fired home from the angle to put Saints ahead for a second time.

McAllister wasn't a million miles away from extending that lead early in the second-half with a go from distance. The drive from 25 yards was deflected just over the Celtic bar, but it looked like one of those efforts that could have ended up anywhere. 

Celtic made a number of changes in search of an equaliser with Ryan Christie and Albian Ajeti introduced to the fray just after the hour mark. The former slammed two attempts over the bar from distance. 

Saints had to be strong till the final whistle with Celtic probing in the final minutes. Tom Rogic curled an effort just wide of the far post, while an Edouard free-kick from a good area was deflected off the wall. 

Alnwick made a wonderful stop in the final minute of added time to deny Duffy and ensure all three points would, deservedly, make their way back along the M77 to Paisley.

Full-Time: Celtic 1-2 St Mirren

REACTION: JIM GOODWIN 

REACTION: JAK ALNWICK

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), McGrath, MacPherson (Obika 73), Erhahon, McAllister (Doyle-Hayes 62), Connolly (Tait 85), Durmus, Dennis (Brophy 62)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Flynn, Henderson, Jamieson

Celtic: Bain, Ajer, Bitton (Welsh 46), Duffy, Taylor, McGregor (c), Soro (Christie 62), Turnbull (Johnston 81), Elyounoussi (Ajeti 62), Griffiths (Rogic 46), Edouard
Subs Not Used: Barkas, Ralston, Laxalt, Klimala

Referee: Bobby Madden
Assistant Referee: Graeme Leslie
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Fourth Official: Duncan Williams

St Mirren picked up their first win of 2021 and did it in style as the Buddies thumped five past Dundee United at Tannadice.

Joe Shaughnessy's first goal of the season put Saints ahead on the half-hour mark before two penalties in three minutes from Jamie McGrath had Jim Goodwin's men cruising at the break.

Ian Harkes pulled a goal back for the home side with a stunning strike, but two goals in the last 10 minute from substitutes Dylan Connolly and Kristian Dennis sealed a stunning win in Dundee.

The manager made three changes from Sunday's semi-final loss with Ilkay Durmus and Jon Obika in, while Ryan Flynn made his first start in almost a year.

The Buddies had plenty of pressure in the opening 20 minutes without creating anything clear cut. Brophy snapped a shot wide in the opening minute, while there were strong shouts for a Saints penalty on even minutes with a number of players claiming the ball struck a United hand. 

It was United who had the best opportunity of the match on 23 minutes when Dillon Powers was denied by a wonderful save from Jak Alnwick before slamming over.

Dundee United were furious to be denied a penalty just before the half-hour mark when Marc McNulty went down under the challenge from Richard Tait after the defender had got in front of the forward and knocked the ball away with a well-time challenge. Referee John Beaton rightly said no and within a minute Saints were ahead. Jamie McGrath's free-kick from the left was met by Conor McCarthy who nodded into the path of Joe Shaughnessy with the captain heading home to score his first goal for St Mirren.

Saints were awarded a penalty with three minutes of the half remaining when Shaughnessy went down under a challenge in the box from Mark Connolly. McGrath took and he made no mistake to role home his fourth penalty of the season. And into the final minute of the half Saints were given another penalty after a Flynn strike came off the hand of Lawrence Shankland. Again McGrath stepped up and again the Irish midfielder scored to make it nine goals for the season.

United pulled a goal back early in the second half to reduce the arrears. It was a terrific strike from American midfielder Harkes who curled into the top corner from range leaving Alnwick with no chance. 

But the St Mirren players put in a real professional performance to keep the home side at bay before adding the sheen on a top performance with two late goals.

On 80 minutes, Dennis lifted the ball over the top for substitute Dylan Connolly to race on to. The winger drove into the box slammed into the net to secure the points for Saints.

And the cherry was put on the cake for the Buddies when Dennis got himself on the scoresheet with five minutes remaining. It was all about the work of the returning Flynn who showed his class as he picked the ball up on the halfway line, drove along the left touchline before breaking into the box and finding the English striker at the far post to tap home on a good night's work for Saints. 

Full-Time: Dundee United 1-5 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, Flynn, McGrath, Erhahon, Durmus (McAllister 81), Obika (Connolly 71), Brophy (Dennis 56)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Sheron, Henderson, Jamieson

Dundee United: Deniz, Smith, Powers (Fotheringham 45), Connolly, Reynolds (c), McNulty, Clark, Robson, Bolton (Appere 72), Harkes, Shankland
Subs Not Used: Siegrist, Sporle, Pawlett, Edwards, Hoti, Mochrie, Neilson

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: Graham Grainger

St Mirren's hopes of a cup final place were ended at Hampden this afternoon after a narrow semi-final loss to Livingston.

The Buddies couldn't find a response to Scott Robinson's early effort despite piling on the pressure in the latter stages of the match.

The focus is now solely on the league for Jim Goodwin's men with a trip to Tannadice coming up on Wednesday night. 

It was Livingston who started the match the brighter of the two sides with Jak Alnwick holding efforts from Jon Guthrie and Josh Mullin in the opening minutes.  

The Lions' quick start paid off as they took the lead on nine minutes. A free-kick from the left was met by Efe Ambrose whose initial header crashed off the bar. Robinson was allowed to follow in to nod home the rebound.

Saints never really got going in the first-half with only a long-range drive from Eamonn Brophy that he dragged wide all the Buddies had to show in the first 30 minutes. 

Jim Goodwin's men were denied what appeared to be a stonewall penalty just after the half-hour mark when Nicky Devlin caught Joe Shaughnessy inside the Livingston box, but referee David Munro said no despite the protestations from the Irishman.

Livingston goalkeeper Max Stryjek had to be alert to clear the danger on 36 minutes when Brandon Mason looked like he'd have the opportunity to get a shot away. 

With five minutes of the first-half remaining, Dylan Connolly managed to break clear but failed to find Brophy inside the box where the forward would surely have levelled.  

After a disappointing opening 45, Saints started with more intent in the second-half with Conor McCarthy looking like he was going to head Saints level six minutes after restart when he rose the highest to meet a Jamie McGrath corner. The header was goal-bound only for Craig Sibbald to be in the right place at the right time to nod clear. Seconds later Connolly almost caught out Stryjek with a cross-cum-shot that the goalkeeper had to flick over. 

Three minutes later it was Brophy's turn to go close for the Buddies, but he headed Cammy MacPherson's free-kick over.

Jim Goodwin made a number of changes heading into the final 20 minutes with Kyle McAllister, Ilkay Durmus and Jon Obika all coming on in as substitutes. 

The latter had a claim for a penalty with 15 remaining when he went down under pressure from Jullien Serrano after a neat bit of skill to break into the box. Instead the referee deemed it simulation and booked the forward. 

McAllister was looking lively and put a nice ball onto Obika's head on 78 minutes only for the striker to nod tamely into the arms of Stryjek. A minute later McAllister sent a dangerous ball across the face of the box, but there were no takers in black and white. 

With time ebbing away Shaughnessy went agonisingly close to find an equaliser to take the game to extra-time. The skipper's header drifted inches by the post after he got himself on the end of a McGrath corner. In the end it wasn't to be Saints day. 

Full-Time: Livingston 1-0 St Mirren

JIM GOODWIN REACTION. 

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy (c), Tait, Connolly (McAllister 57), McGrath, MacPherson (Obika 68), Erhahon, Mason (Durmus 68), Brophy (Dennis 81)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Finlayson, Flynn, Foley, Erwin

Livingston: Stryjek, Devlin, Guthrie, Ambrose, Serrano, Sibbald (Longridge 86), Mullin (Reilly 73), Pittman, Bartley, Holt, Robinson (Fitzwater 82)
Subs Not Used: McCrorie, Kabia, McMillan, Lawson, Forrest, Emmanuel-Thomas

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: Alan Muir