Jim Goodwin picked up his first win as St Mirren manager as Saints overcame stuffy Edinburgh City thanks to Oan Djorkaeff's late penalty.

After a fairly quiet opening 70 minutes Saints upped the ante in the final 20 and made the breakthrough when Frenchman Djorkaeff netted from 12 yards after Paul McGinn had been fouled inside the penalty box in 89 minutes.

The win moved Saints into second in Group H ahead of Saturday's trip to K-Park to face East Kilbride. 

Jim Goodwin made two changes to the side that lost to Dunfermline on Sunday with Cameron MacPherson and Oan Djorkaeff in for Ethan Erhahon and Danny Mullen.

Cody Cooke led the line for Saints and it was the Englishman who had the first opportunity of the match on 13 minutes with an audacious overhead kick at the far post that went wide.

Just under 10 minutes later Gary MacKenzie headed into the arms of Edinburgh City goalkeeper Callum Antell following Tony Andreu's corner. City broke forward at speed with Josh Walker finding himself in on goal. The Citizens skipper attempted to chip Vaclav Hladky but the goalkeeper was equal to the attempt. 

Hladky was forced into another save just before the half-hour mark when MacKenzie slipped allowing the visitors a chance to run through on goal. Scott Shepherd fed the ball to Alex Harris on the edge of the area but his low curling effort was held by the Czech goalkeeper.

Jim Goodwin made two changes after 60 minutes in an attempt to find the opener with Ethan Erhahon and Danny Mullen coming on in place of Kyle Magennis and Tony Andreu. 

The substitutes looked to have combined to give Saints the lead on 70 minutes when Mullen cheekily flicked Erhahon's ball across the box beyond Antell only for the linesman to rule it out for offside. 

That did seem to spur the home side on with Cooke and Ryan Flynn both going close soon after. Cooke met a MacPherson cross first time with Antell doing well to block before the goalkeeper made a terrific save to push away Flynn's long-range volley. 

While the home side were looking the more likely there was a scare for the Saints defence when substitute Allan Smith brilliantly brought down a ball over the top and got his shot away. However, the effort drifted wide.

Mullen had two big chances in the last 10 minutes to win the game for the Buddies. He first broke the offside trap to get a foot on a deflected Flynn effort. The Edinburgh defence stopped assuming the linesman's flag would be forthcoming. But it wasn't raised and the striker's touch was blocked by the goalkeeper. A few minutes later Paul McGinn did well to keep the ball in play at the touchline and sent it across the box to Mullen who flicked wide from close range.

St Mirren kept coming and it was Paul McGinn's determination to reach the ball ahead of an Edinburgh City defender that won the Buddies a penalty. The City defender tried to see the ball out but McGinn managed to get in front with the away stopper swinging a high foot and catching the full-back on the face. Referee Greg Aitken pointed to the spot and Djorkaeff, on his first start for the Buddies, stepped up to take and confidently dispatched of the ball sending Antell the wrong way and securing three Group H points for Saints.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Edinburgh City 

St Mirren: Hladky, MacPherson, Baird, MacKenzie, P.McGinn, Magennis (Erhahon 62), Flynn, S.McGinn (c), Djorkaeff, Andreu (Mullen 65), Cooke (Breadner 90)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Kellermann, Jamie Walker, Glover

Edinburgh City: Antell, Thomson, McIntyre, Balatoni, Laird, Josh Walker, Sinclair (Smith 73), Crane, Shepherd (Handling 74), Henderson, Harris
Subs Not Used: Watson, Adamson, Shaw, Kennedy, Lumsden

Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gary Logan

Attendance: 1,235

It was a frustrating start to the Jim Goodwin era as Saints lost 3-2 to Dunfermline in their opening Betfred Cup group game.

The Pars were in front inside 20 minutes as Ryan Dow shot past Vaclav Hladky and soon after they were two clear when Andy Ryan found the net with a fine finish. Incredibly, things got even worse before the break as Ryan hit the post and Tom Beadling followed in to score the rebound to seemingly finish things off.

It wasn't until just after the hour mark that Saints finally showed signs of life as the scored twice in quick succession. First, Coody Cooke curled a shot past goalie Ryan Scully from the edge of the area, then Danny Mullen pounced after the Pars keeper fluffed his lines at a corner to cut the gap to one. However, they were unable to find the equaliser that would have taken the game to penalties.

Dow fired an early warning that obviously wasn't heeded as he got in behind the home defence before forcing a good save from Hladky. Saints threatened for the first time when Ryan Flynn's looping cross was fumbled by Scully before the goalie recovered in time to block Kyle Magennis effort. A few minutes later Cooke volleyed off target from Ethan Erhahon's cross but any hope that Saints were clicking in to gear was about to be extinguished in dramatic fashion.

The Buddies lost possession in the middle of the park and Josh Coley pounced, wriggling himself free of his man before sliding a pass through for Dow just before he was wiped out. Once again Dow was in acres of space and this time he made no mistake, slotting the ball into the bottom corner to put Dunfermline in front.

It took six minutes for things to go from bad to worse. This time Kevin Nisbet won the ball in midfield and he found Ryan with a great pass, the striker clinically curling past Hladky to double the Pars' advantage.

Paul McGinn blazed an ambitious effort well off target as Saints tried to react, Tony Andreu rattling a shot into the midriff of a Pars defender. Dunfermline could then have moved further in front as Coley once again caused problems and found Ryan, but the striker didn't show the same composure as earlier and lashed at his shot. He looked to have done rather better a few minutes later when his shot beat Hladky but not the post, however Beadling reacted far quicker than the home defence and thumped the ball into the unguarded net to give the visitors a three-goal advantage at the break.

Gary MacKenzie headed over from Andreu's corner early in the second half but it didn't seem to signal a turning of the tide. Instead, the Saints defence still looked disjointed, a mix-up almost letting Dow in but Hladky was out early to take care of the danger. A rare Buddies chance came when Danny Mullen nodded the ball on for Paul McGinn and the fullback's shot from the edge of the box fizzed just wide.

There was finally something for the home fans to cheer just after the hour mark. Erhahon got himself a bit of space on the left and fed a short pass to Cooke, who took a touch before curling his shot round the outstretched arm of the relatively unworked Scully to reduce the deficit. It fell further a few minutes later as Scully once again made a mess of a cross, this time failing to get close to an Andreu corner, and Mullen rattled it home. The Pars keeper appealed for a foul but there was nothing doing and it was game on.

Jack Baird strode forward and sent an ambitious effort wide from distance as Saints tried to claw themselves level. Andreu went closer when he won the ball back after his free-kick was blocked, his shot going narrowly over the bar. The push for an equaliser was always going to leave Saints even a more exposed at the back and when a cross found Coley in acres of space it looked like he'd put things to bed for good, only for Hladky to brilliantly turn his shot behind.

Dunfermline sacrificed their attackers in a bid to steady the ship and it did the job, Saints unable to carve out any real chances despite having plenty of possession in the final third. Five minutes of stoppage time provided a glimmer of hope and there was almost a dramatic finale when Hladky went up for a late corner, the keeper's header going wide seconds before the final whistle was blown.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-3 Dunfermline

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Baird, MacKenzie, Erhahon, S.McGinn (Djorkaeff 79), Flynn, Magennis, Andreu, Cooke, Mullen
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Glover, Walker, Breadner, Kellermann, MacPherson

Dunfermline: Scully, Comrie, Martin, Ashcroft, Morrison, Paton, Dow (McCann 89), Beadling, Nisbet (McGill 62), Ryan (Turner 68), Coley
Subs Not Used: Gill, Lang, Todd, Bowman

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam
Fourth Official: Steven Reid

Attendance: 2,067

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

Saints will be playing Premiership football next season after holding their nerve to see off Dundee United on penalties in the play-off final.

The visitors had shown their prowess from the spot in the first half when Nicky Clark scored after Jack Baird was deemed to have handled inside the box. However, the lead didn't last long as a few minutes later Danny Mullen pounced on Mark Reynolds' mis-hit clearance to fire past Benjamin Siergrist.

That was the end of the scoring in normal time and there were no more goals in extra-time, although Saints did have sub Duckens Nazon sent off for a challenge on Mark Connolly.

And so it was on to the drama of penalties. Incredibly, United failed to convert any of the first three while Saints scored their first two. Mateo Muzek hit the post with his effort but when Vaclav Hladky saved Callum Booth's effort with his legs, it was party time in Paisley.

There was a tremendous atmosphere from the off with the Simple Digital Arena packed to capacity. Saints were first to threaten, a free-kick being cleared as far as Stephen McGinn who thumped it towards goal only for Siegrist to turn it away. When Mullen got in behind the United defence he had to wait what seemed an age for support to arrive and when it did, Kyle McAllister sliced his shot out for a throw-in. Moments later, Paul McGinn delivered a wonderful cross that Mullen couldn't quite get on the end of, although it didn't matter as the offside flag was already up.

It wasn't all Saints, United having enjoyed plenty of possession in the final third but unable to do anything with it. However, that was all to change midway through the first half. After some penalty box pinball, the ball sat up for Pavol Safranko whose shot took a deflection and looped up in the air. Hladky reacted brilliantly to turn it away but when Booth got onto the loose ball he smashed it against Baird's arm. Ref John Beaton wasted little time in pointing to the spot and Clark made no mistake as he tucked away the penalty.

The Saints response had to be swift – and it arrived within minutes. As Reynolds tried to make a relatively simple clearance he instead managed little more than a fresh air swipe and the ever alert Mullen was on it in a flash, drilling a first time shot past Siegrist to level things up. Things could have been even better a few minutes later when McAllister's shot found the bottom corner, but again the flag was up for offside.

The game was beginning to open up, Clark shooting over from Jamie Robson's cross as United tried to retake the lead before a fine run by Lee Hodson saw him tee up Kyle Magennis, however his shot always looked as if it was heading a yard or two over.

The start of the second half was equally frantic and Saints should have been front when they hit United on the break. Hodson released Mullen on the left and while his cross was too high for Cody Cooke it found the unmarked McAllister at the back post but he could only shoot into the side netting. Hladky did brilliantly to turn Paul Watson's header behind from a United corner before McAllister collected a wonderful cross field pass from Baird only to send his shot wide.

It was beginning to look as if it would be a mistake or a moment of magic that would decide it, Cooke nicking the ball as Booth was short with his header back to Siegrist but the keeper blocked the shot with his legs. The goalie was in action again seconds later as he did brilliantly to keep out Paul McGinn's header from Hodson's wonderful cross, Siegrist getting back up quickly enough to tip the spinning ball over the bar.

As the game entered its final stages United looked the likelier side to score, their fans behind the goal trying their best to suck the ball into the net. There was a blow for Saints in stoppage time as Gary MacKenzie, who had already taken a sore one to the head from Safranko earlier in the half, went down and this time it was the end of his afternoon as he was replaced by Anton Ferdinand.

As extra-time began it was another Saints sub who almost made the difference, Nazon's cross being diverted towards goal by United's Mark Connolly before a team-mate knocked the ball behind to safety. United sub Osman Sow dragged a shot well wide as he snatched at a chance before Siergirst comfortably saved an ambitious effort from Cooke.

The striker had the first chance of the second period, taking down Mateo Muzek's cross on his chest before his shot was deflected behind. An unlikely figure then nearly put Saints in front, Baird striding on to a lose ball before his long range shot was turned behind by Siegrist.

The Buddies were definitely on top and a glorious chance fell to Nazon after United duffed a clearance but he lashed it wide. The striker's brief afternoon was about to get much worse as when he jumped with Connolly, the United defender hit the deck. Mr Beaton felt an elbow had been used and showed Nazon the red card. That gave United some hope but they couldn't threaten and it was down to the lottery of penalties.

United went first, shooting into the Saints support, and Hladky kept out Peter Pawlett's effort. Paul McGinn scored his before Hladky was the hero again, this time denying Safranko. With Mihai Popescu making no mistake, Osman Sow had to score to give United any hope – but he could only hit the post. Muzek stepped forward knowing if he scored it was done, but he also hit the woodwork. However, it was just delaying the inevitable as Hladky stopped Booth's effort with his legs to secure Saints' survival and spark a pitch invasion of joy.

A few months ago Saints looked dead and buried but a fantastic run of form from February saw them narrowly miss out on 10th place before securing survival through the play-offs. It may not quite match the great escape of two years ago but Oran Kearney, his staff and players can be rightly proud of an incredible turnaround that means there will be Premiership football in Paisley next season.

St Mirren: Hladky, Popescu, Baird, MacKenzie (Ferdinand 90), P.McGinn, S.McGinn, Magennis (Muzek 86), Hodson, McAllister (Nazon 84), Cooke, Mullen 
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Erhahon, MacPherson, Flynn

Dundee United: Siegrist, Robson (Pawlett 55), Watson, Reynolds, Connolly, Booth, Bouhenna (Butcher 85), Harkes, McMullan, Clark (Sow 69), Safranko
Subs Not Used: Laidlaw, Frans, Stanton, Smith

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Fourth Official: Greg Aitken

Attendance: FULL HOUSE!

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren will take the fight to finish 10th to the final day after a deserved 2-0 win over Hamilton Academical at the Simple Digital Arena.

Second-half goals from St Mirren Youth Academy graduates Kyle McAllister and Kyle Magennis wrapped up the three points with Saints still in with a chance of avoiding the Ladbrokes Premiership relegation play-offs. 

It was all or nothing for the Buddies who knew they had to take all three points to have any chance of avoiding a play-off spot heading into the match. Oran Kearney made one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Motherwell the week previous with Magennis starting in place of Ryan Flynn.

It was, however, the visitors who should have taken the lead when a long ball from Accies goalkeeper Gary Woods found its way to George Oakley who raced through on the Saints goal. Buddies goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky was off his line quickly, but was rounded by Oakley who looked set to roll the ball into the back of the empty net. The English striker let the ball run too far and slammed over from a tight angle.

Saints immediately broke forward and could have been ahead when Paul McGinn's ball across met an unmarked Magennis in the box. The midfielder had time to take a touch but decided to take it first time and curled well over the bar.

Scott Martin had two chances in the space of a minute for the visitors but failed to make either count. The first saw him pounce on a slack clearance from Hladky. He picked up the ball around 40 yards from goal and had a go with the keeper stranded but sent it well wide. 60 seconds later he sent an effort from the edge of the box into the arms of the Saints goalie. 

Hamilton's Aaron McGowan was lucky to escape a red card on 19 minutes after kicking out at Danny Mullen. The Saints striker was shielding the ball before falling to the ground. McGowan, who may have argued he was trying to get the ball, kicked out at the forward much to the anger of the Saints team. Referee Willie Collum raced across and booked the Accies defender, while he also booked Saints skipper Stephen McGinn for his remonstrations. 

Accies would be reduced to 10 men 10 minutes later as Alex Gogic was given his marching orders for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Simeon Jackson was about to race clear on goal after getting on the end of a McAllister pass, though the Canadian was hauled to the ground by Gogic who was promptly shown a red card. 

McAllister stepped up to take the resultant free-kick but sent it straight into the arms of Woods. Brad Lyons and Stephen McGinn had half chances before the interval as the Buddies looked to make their man advantage count but it would remain goalless at the break.

Mullen and McAllister both had sniffs at goal 10 minutes into the second 45 with the former heading over from a Mateo Muzek cross and the latter sending an effort high and wide.

10 men Accies had a big opportunity to take the lead just before the hour mark through substitute Mickel Miller. He found himself on the end of a flick on and charged into the box. Miller had Tony Andreu in the centre waiting for a pass but elected to go alone and dragged a poor effort wide of the mark. 

Saints made a change on 61 minutes as Ryan Flynn came on in place of Brad Lyons and it was after the hour mark that the Buddies really stepped up a gear.

Mihai Popescu almost found the opener with a header on 63 minutes only to be denied by a terrific save from Woods. From the resultant corner Simeon Jackson headed over.

The Buddies were having all the pressure with McGowan having to turn over a dangerous Paul McGinn cross and Mullen having a shot deflected by for a corner. It seemed for a spell like it was corner after corner for Saints and while they all looked like they might yield something for the home side nothing was coming off. 

With 15 minutes to go Saints finally made the breakthrough thanks to McAllister. The winger played a reverse pass with Paul McGinn and took the ball down well inside the box. He got his first shot wrong however though the block from an Accies defender found the ball back at McAllister's feet and he made no mistake second time around as he slammed low beyond Woods to give the Buddies a well-earned opener.

Woods denied McAllister a second with a good block with 10 minutes remaining, but Accies, who knew a draw would be enough to ensure their Ladbrokes Premiership survival, came at Saints. Dougie Imrie's chip into the box met Oakley who head towards Andreu. Hladky was brave to get in ahead of the Frenchman to claw away. But Saints couldn't clear their lines allowing Oakley a chance as he smashed just wide from 20 yards

Six minutes of injury time were added after an injury to Miller and Saints did well to keep control in stoppage time. Magennis rounded off a good evening for the Buddies as he made it two goals from two with a composed finish from inside the box after robbing Darian MacKinnon of the ball. 

Hamilton still have the advantage heading in to the final day, but Saints have given themselves a chance of avoiding the play-offs and could do so with a draw or a win at Dundee depending on how Accies fair at home to St Johnstone on Saturday.

Full Time: St Mirren 2-0 Hamilton Academical

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Popescu, MacKenzie (Baird 38), Muzek, S.McGinn (c), Lyons (Flynn 61), Magennis, McAllister, Jackson (Cooke 68), Mullen
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Ferdinand, Hodson, Nazon

Hamilton: Woods, McGowan, McMann, Gordon, Martin (Imrie 79), Mimnaugh (Sowah 31), Gogic, MacKinnon (c), Andreu, Ogkmpoe (Miller 56), Oakley
Subs Not Used: Marsden, Smith, Hamilton, Davies

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
Fourth Official: John McKendrick

Attendance: 6,421

A spectacular goal salvaged a stoppage time point for Saints for the second week running as they drew with Motherwell in dramatic circumstances.

This time it was Kyle Magennis who conjured up an equaliser, the young midfielder thundering a volley high into the net after Mihai Popescu's throw in had been flicked across goal with barely seconds remaining.

That cancelled out David Turnbull's opener as he'd fired Motherwell in front with less than 20 minutes to goal. Magennis' timely intervention was welcome, although results elsewhere meant it didn't make a huge difference to the relegation picture.

The midfielder once again started the game on the bench as he continues his comeback, Kyle McAllister taking over from the injured Anders Dreyer. Although Turnbull started for the hosts, there was no sign of fellow impressive youngster Jake Hastie.

Motherwell nearly made a dream start as they went close to scoring inside five minutes. Hladky did well to deny Allan Campbell but the ball bounced out to Gboly Ariybi who looked set to stroke it home, however Mateo Muzek was in the right place to hack the ball off the line. There was some less impressive goalkeeping at the other end as Mark Gillespie appeared to have gathered McAllister's free-kick only to nearly throw the ball into his own net.

Hladky helped James Scott's drive around the post as the Steelmen threatened again before McAllister had Saints' first real chance, curling an effort just wide from the edge of the box. Gillespie denied Jackson as the striker tried to flick the ball home at a corner but the flag was already up for offside before Liam Grimshaw fizzed a shot off the outside of the post from 25 yards. That was followed by Magennis replacing Ryan Flynn, who had been unable to shake off an injury he'd picked up a few minutes earlier.

The first half had been scrappy but Saints started brightly after the break, Magennis' fierce shot being blocked at the edge of the box, Danny Mullen then appealing furiously for a foul after something happened off the ball. The striker saw his shot kept out by Gillespie after he'd been set up by Jackson before slack play from Popescu let in Scott, however Hladky was able to clear the danger at the expense of a corner.

That moment seemed to spark Motherwell into life, Turnbull sending a long range shot over before his free-kick was headed off by Scott. The arrival of Duckens Nazon in place of Mullen gave Saints some fresh impetus but they weren't able to take advantage of it before they fell behind. Sub Elliot Frear's cross was knocked down by James Scott and Turnbull was given plenty of time to pick his spot as he rattled a shot past Hladky.

Saints tried to respond, Gillespie spilling McAllister's attempt to sneak a free-kick in at the near post eith no one in a black and white shirt in quite the right place to force it home. Stephen McGinn followed brother Paul into the book for a foul on Ariyibi but Turnbull's free-kick was straight at Hladky.

There had been little sign of a Buddies equaliser but a glorious chance arrived in stoppage time, Stephen McGinn picking out Cody Cooke but he volleyed tamely at Gillespie. As Saints pushed they almost got caught on the break, Frear finding himself through on goal but Hladky dealt with his shot easily.

And that seemed to be that – but Saints had one final chance when they won a throw in deep in the Motherwell half. Popescu launched it into the box and when it bounced off a head it fell perfectly for Magennis to thunder home, sparking wild scenes among the travelling support behind the goal. It means Saints are now four points behind Hamilton and while they can no longer finish bottom, they'll have to beat Accies in their next game to have any chance of avoiding the play-offs.

Full Time: Motherwell 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Popescu, MacKenzie (Cooke 89), Muzek, S.McGinn, Flynn (Magennis 25), Lyons, McAllister, Mullen (Nazon 68), Jackson
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Baird, Ferdinand, Hodson

Motherwell: Gillespie, Tait, McHugh, Aldred, Dunne, Cadden, Campbell, Ariyibi (Livingstone 87), Grimshaw (Frear 63), Turnbull (Semple 82), Scott
Subs Not Used: Hartley, Johnson, Main, Sammon

Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: David Lowe

Attendance: 5,274 (1,681 St Mirren fans)

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

A last gasp wonder strike from Danny Mullen ensured a share of the points in Paisley.

Mullen's last-minute volley grabbed a crucial well-deserved point in an exciting game at The Simple Digital Arena.

The battle of the Saints was proceeded by one-minute applause in memory of former Scotland great, Billy McNeil, who died aged 79 earlier in the week.

St Johnstone had an early break down the right-hand side after a scrappy first ten minutes. A well worked move from the visitors saw the ball floated into the St Mirren box aimed for Callum Hendry. However, it was hastily dealt with by Vaclav Hladky in the Buddies net.

The men from Perth were causing problems down the right-hand side again a minute later. St Johnstone defender, Richard Foster, had his cross blocked which resulted in the first corner of the game.

The match then entered a pendulum period, switching possession relentlessly with every ball being battled by both teams. 

St Mirren could have been ahead on the 20th minute when the ball broke to Mateo Muzek just outside the penalty area, Muzek fought off challenges to swing a left-footed strike goalwards which was rashly punched over the bar by Clark in the St Johnstone net for a corner.  The subsequent ball into the box was cleared by the away side, but the play did signal a turn in what was a very good spell for the Paisley men.

St Johnstone's Murray Davidson received a stern talking to from the referee for his late challenge on Ryan Flynn. From the proceeding free kick at the halfway line, the Buddies threatened the Perth side with a testing ball into the box which eventually lead to a corner kick. The half-hour mark came, with the game finely balanced and highly contested.

A late challenge on Paul McGinn resulted in a booking for St Johnstone’s Murray Davidson. The proceeding free kick out was floated in by Anders Dreyer, but the ball bypassed all players before crashing off the St Johnstone post.

A late flurry of good play from St Mirren before the break saw Danny Mullen's header just over the bar. The game was poised at nil-nil at the halftime break.

St Johnstone began the second half a little sharper than the home side, putting the Buddies under some early pressure. However, the game slowly moulded into a similar pattern as the first half, with barely anything to separate the sides and the best chances falling to the home team.

Stephen McGinn slipped a clever through-ball to Dreyer in the 52nd minute. The Dane took a neat touch before being taken out by St Johnstone's Scott Tanser. The resulting free kick was cleared by the Perth side, who then broke away quickly. A foul on the halfway line by Ryan Flynn halted the move and earned him a yellow card.

St Mirren then endured a tense few minutes as a dangerous looking free kick for St Johnstone on their left hand flank was whipped in by Kennedy. The powerful cross was headed clear back to where it came from before a questionable decision by the referee resulted in another St Johnstone free kick. The ball eventually broke clear to the substitute, McAllister, on the left hand side who was carelessly brought down near the halfway line.

In to the last ten minutes and substitute, Simeon Jackson caused problems in the St Johnstone box. The striker turned a St Johnstone defender and forced a quick reaction from the keeper.

However, the Saints were dealt a blow just ten minutes from time. Against the run of play, a great sweeping cross ball by St Johnstone's Liam Craig landed at Richard Foster, who carried the ball in his stride before winning the bounce of the ball over McAllister. Foster then slotted the ball inside to substitute Chris Kane, who had kept up with play. Kane made no mistake from 8 yards out and placed the ball into the St Mirren bottom left-hand corner.

The final minutes became a dog-fight, with St Mirren anxiously looking for the equaliser which they deserved. McAllister's excellent Cruyff turn and cross into the box was eventually cleared, but St Mirren continued to apply pressure looking for a goal. The final five minutes were all at St Mirren's feet, with loads of possession but struggling to find that killer ball which would lead to a goal.

The home side’s moment eventually arrived with minutes to spare of regular time. Vaclav Hladky picked up the ball near the halfway line, miles from his goal, and fired a hopeful ball towards Simeon Jackson. The ball was met by the head of St Johnstone’s Kerr but the clearance fell enticingly for Mullen whose left foot produced the sweetest of volleys which rocketed into the top right-hand corner of the net. Not only a vital equaliser but also a contender for goal of the season. 

The full-time whistle went shortly after, ensuring a hard-fought draw was confirmed. The result moves the Buddies seven points clear of bottom side Dundee and keeps us just two points behind Hamilton.

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Popescu, MacKenzie, Baird (Magennis 45), Muzek, S.McGinn (c), Flynn, Lyons (Jackson 72), Dreyer (McAllister 59), Mullen
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Ferdinand, Hodson, Nazon

St Johnstone: Clark, Foster, Kerr, Gordon, Tanser, Callachan (Wotherspoon 45), Craig, O'Halloran, Davidson, Kennedy (Swanson 77), Hendry (Kane 66)
Subs Not Used: Bell, Shaughnessy, Swanson, Easton, Goss

Referee: Steven Mclean
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Ralph Gordon
Fourth Official: Colin Steven

Attendance: 5,123 

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren picked up a huge three points after a brilliant 3-1 win over Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena this afternoon. 

Saints had to come from behind to defeat 10-man Livingston to extend the gap over Dundee at the bottom to six points and move to within two of Hamilton Accies.

The home side started brightly with Keaghan Jacobs and Scott Robinson sending efforts just wide inside the opening 10 minutes.

But they were dealt a major blow on 17 minutes when Craig Halkett was shown a straight red card after he was adjudged to have denied a goalscoring opportunity. The Livi captain caught Brad Lyons as he the Northern Irishman charged through on goal and referee William Collum showed no hesitation in pulling out the red card.

Despite that setback, it was the 10 men who took the lead on 20 minutes. To Livi's credit it was a well worked goal which finished with Scott Robinson on hand to tap home a cutback from Steven Lawless.

While it was frustrating for Saints, the Buddies found themselves level just six minutes later. Anders Dreyer fed the ball to Paul McGinn out on the right and the full-back charged into the box, finishing from a tight angle to make it 1-1.

Both sides had chances before half-time with Ryan Flynn making an incredible clearance to deny Scott Pittman a tap-in, while Danny Mullen shot straight at Kelly from the edge of the box after a neat interplay with Dreyer.

Oran Kearney made an attacking substitution at the break with Simeon Jackson coming on to replace Gary MacKenzie. And the Buddies were right at Livingston from the get go. Mullen rose the highest to meet a Paul McGinn cross just a minute after the interval but Kelly was equal to the header.

Just five minutes after coming on Jackson had a chance to put Saints ahead after being found in space inside the box. Dreyer slipped the ball through to the striker but Kelly beat away the shot.

Mullen almost had us in front near the hour mark but for a vital block from Hakeem Odoffin. Mihai Popescu's lovely through ball found Jackson who broke into the box and played it across the box for Mullen whose first time flick was sent over by the leg of the Livi defender.

Saints were having the majority of the pressure but couldn't find a way through. Kyle McAllister and Kyle Magennis were both introduced in place of Brad Lyons and Ethan Erhahon. The substitutions paid dividends with Magennis almost scoring just after coming on. His one-two with Dreyer found him in on goal but Kelly blocked the attempt.

However, it was from that passage of play that Saints would find themselves in front. Livingston couldn't clear their lines after Kelly's save allowing Stephen McGinn to put the ball into the box where it broke nicely to Mullen who, with his back to goal, turned and unleashed a powerful effort into the left corner to send the away stand into raptures.

The scenes only intensified as the Buddies added a third less than two minutes later. Kyle McAllister drove on and unleashed a shot from range down the throat of Kelly. The keeper couldn't hold it with Jackson was on hand to knock it into the net from close range to earn Saints a valuable three points.

Full Time: Livingston 1-3 St Mirren 

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Baird, MacKenzie (Jackson 45), Popescu, Erhahon (Magennis 76), S. McGinn (c), Flynn, Lyons (McAllister 63), Dreyer, Mullen
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Muzek, Hodson, Ferdinand

Livingston: Kelly, Lithgow, Halkett, Gallagher, Jacobs, Lawson, Pittman, Sibbald (Lamie 52), Robinson, Lawless (Odoffin 23), Hardie (Menga 73)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Byrne, Tiffoney, De Vita

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Stuart Hodge
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan

Attendance: 2,347

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren picked up a point and extended the gap over bottom side Dundee to three points after a 1-1 draw with Hamilton Academical at the Hope CBD Stadium.

The Buddies arguably had the better of the match but fell behind on 63 minutes when Steven Davies opened the scoring for the visitors. Saints fought back though and were level just three minutes later when Anders Dreyer scored his first St Mirren goal from the penalty spot. Both sides had chances to win the game but in the end had to settle for a share of the spoils.

St Mirren shot towards the 1,700 strong Saints contingent in the first half and should have been ahead with just five minutes on the clock. Good pressure from Paul McGinn on Scott McMann allowed Brad Lyons to pick up on a loose ball. The midfielder had the goal gaping but took one touch too many allowing McMann to recover and get the tackle in before Lyons shot over at the second attempt.

Saints were adamant they should have had a penalty on 23 minutes when Anders Dreyer was wiped out in the box by Ziggy Gordon. The Danish forward had skipped into the box and sent a low ball across before being taken out. The Buddies were furious but referee John Beaton decided the challenge was fair. 

Hamilton could have found themselves ahead five minutes later only for Vaclav Hladky to come to Saints' rescue. A loose clearance from Jack Baird was picked up on by Darian MacKinnon. The midfielder slotted a lovely through ball into Steve Davies who spun away from Baird, but Hladky made himself big to turn the effort wide.

St Mirren spurned a glorious opportunity to take the lead with five minutes of the half remaining. Simeon Jackson did well to get in ahead of Ziggy Gordon to win the ball and laid it off to Lyons who charged through on goal. The midfielder had Danny Mullen in space inside the box, but looked in two minds as he elected to go it alone and stabbed the ball wide. 

Hladky was alert at the start of the second half as he turned an Aaron McGowan shot from the angle off the post just two minutes after the interval. 

Indeed, Accies were brighter in the second half than they had been in the first and Hladky again made a good stop to deny Mickel Miller's effort with Ethan Erhahon on the line to turn away George Oakley's follow up effort. 

Hamilton took the lead on 63 minutes. The Saints defence failed to clear their lines allowing Tony Andreu to whip a ball into the box where it met Davies. The forward got in front of his defender flicked home via the post with his left foot. 

It was frustration for Saints who would have felt they should already have been ahead in the match. But the reaction was good from Oran Kearney's charges as they found themselves level just three minutes later. Anders Dreyer was felled inside the box by Ziggy Gordon and this time referee John Beaton pointed to the penalty spot. The Dane stepped up to take and sent Accies goalkeeper Gary Woods the wrong way to restore parity. 

Both sides had a go to try and find a winner but the only clear cut chance for either came in the dying embers when Hladky made a wonderful stop to push away Oakley's volley with Baird on the line to clear away Andreu's header after the Frenchman had Hladky beaten. 

Full Time: Hamilton 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn (c), Popescu, Baird, Muzek, Erhahon, Lyons (S.McGinn 69), Flynn, Dreyer, Jackson (Cooke 84), Mullen (McAllister 59)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Ferdinand, Hodson, MacPherson

Hamilton: Woods, McGowan, McMann, Gordon, Kilgallon, Gogic, MacKinnon, Mimnaugh (Martin 67), Davies (Ogkmpoe 71), Oakley, Miller (Andreu 59)
Subs Not Used: Fulton, Sowah, Keatings, McMillan

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Graham Chambers
Assistant Referee: Andy Milne
Fourth Official: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 3,096 (1,726 St Mirren fans)

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren were beaten 2-0 at home to Ladbrokes Premiership leader Celtic.

Goals either side of half-time from Timothy Weah and Ryan Christie were enough to give the visitors all the points. 

Oran Kearney made six changes to the side that defeated Dundee on Saturday as Laurentiu Corbu, Anton Ferdinand, Cammy MacPherson, Stephen McGinn, Jim Kellermann and Cody Cooke coming in for Paul McGinn, Gary MacKenzie, Brad Lyons, Ryan Flynn, Anders Dreyer and Danny Mullen. 

Pre-match Saints gaffer Kearney told BBC how it was important to start the game well, but it was the hosts who started the brighter. They should have been ahead on 10 minutes when a Callum McGregor through ball found Kristoffer Ajer of all people. It was perhaps nosebleed territory for the Norwegian centre-half who sent his effort over. 

The Hoops took the lead just four minutes later. Mikael Lustig's shot spun up for Timothy Weah who headed off the cross bar. It was hard to tell whether it had crossed the line with Kearney questioning fourth official David Lowe, but the goal was given and Celtic led. 

Neil Lennon's side had a glorious opportunity to double that lead five minutes later when Oliver Burke was found in space inside the Saints box, but the forward somehow smashed wide from close range.

The visitors were on top and looked like they would double their advantage when Jim Kellermann was penalised for a handball after Emilio Izaguirre's cross into the box. Olivier Ntcham stepped up but his effort was blocked by Saints goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky before the rebound crashed off the bar and over.

Hladky, who was named as Saints' man of the match, had to be alert at the start of the second half after Oliver Burke had jinked by the Buddies defence to make his way into the box but the Czech goalkeeper made a good stop.

There were warning signs for Saints but the Buddies were still only 1-0 down and started to grow into the game almost finding ourselves level when Cody Cooke found space on the edge of the Celtic box and curled low towards the right corner. Scott Bain made a terrific save to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Laurentiu Corbu, on his first St Mirren start, sent the ball in where Cooke headed on to the back post but Duckens Nazon couldn't force home.

Nazon really should have gotten Saints level when he found himself one-on-one with the Celtic goalkeeper just before the hour mark. Kellermann had been fouled by Scott Brown in the middle of the park and the Buddies were awarded a free kick. Mihai Popescu caught out the Celtic defence as he took it quick and found Nazon clear on goal. But as the Haitian striker broke into the box, he checked back and the ball was smothered by Bain who had rushed off his line.

Ryan Christie came on as a substitute for the visitors and twice went close to extending their lead. The first saw him denied by Hladky on 66 minutes before fizzing a shot from the edge of the box just over the bar eight minutes later.

It was Christie who sealed the points though with just five minutes to go. It was neat bit of play between the forward and McGregor before his effort deflected off Popescu from just inside the box found its way past Hladky. 

Saints had a final chance to pull a goal back but substitute Paul McGinn's shot was cleared off the line. 

Up next for the Buddies is Hamilton on Saturday at the Hope CBD Stadium.

Full Time: St Mirren 0-2 Celtic

St Mirren: Hladky, Corbu, Baird, Ferdinand, Popescu, Muzek, S.McGinn (c) (Lyons 64), MacPherson, Kellermann (P.McGinn 76), Cooke, Nazon (Jackson 71)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, McAllister, Dreyer, Mullen

Celtic: Bain, Lustig (Benkovic 70), Ajer, Simunovic, Izaguirre, Brown (c), Ntcham (Christie 63), McGregor, Forrest, Weah (Edouard 78), Burke
Subs Not Used: De Vries, Toljan, Sinclair, Rogic

#SMFCMOM - Vaclav Hladky

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie 
Fourth Official: David Lowe

Attendance: 6,597

Some speccsy football saw Saints off the bottom of the Premiership as they defeated nearest rivals Dundee.

After 30 seconds such an outcome looked about as likely as Theresa May winning a parliamentary vote as the visitors charged into the lead, Ethan Robson scoring from John O'Sullivan's cross to the delight of the large travelling support.

It could have been two when Andrew Nelson shot wide before Saints equalised out of nothing, Danny Mullen getting just enough on Duckens Nazon's delivery to divert it past Seny Dieng.

The winner arrived just after the hour mark, Anders Dreyer nodding the ball back across goal for Brad Lyons to head home, the midfielder's celebrations giving him the chance to have the last laugh at those who had mocked his glasses when he arrived on loan from Blackburn.

Nazon, Mullen and Dreyer were back in the team at the expense of Simeon Jackson, Cammy MacPherson and Kyle McAllister. The other change was a surprise as Gary MacKenzie returned in place of the suspended Ethan Erhahon. It was the big defender's first game of the season – although you wouldn't have known from the quality of his performance.

However, his hopes of a clean sheet on his return were gone in 30 seconds. Dundee's initial attack was cleared back out as far as O'Sullivan and his fine low cross was swept home by Robson. It was a dream start for the visitors and it nearly got even better as Nelson Nelson danced through the Saints defence before firing narrowly wide.

A Saints equaliser was looking pretty unlikely – and yet that's what happened soon after. Dreyer looked to have held on to the ball for too long before he laid it off to Nazon, whose cross was clinically finished off by Mullen, the striker delighted to bag his first goal since his opening day double against the same opposition.

Although Saints were looking more settled, it was the visitors who were creating the better chances as Martin Woods dragged his shot wide before Vaclav Hladky rushed out to block Craig Curran's shot after he'd been played in by O'Sullivan. The on-loan Blackpool man was causing the Saints defence all sorts of problems and nearly caught out Hladky when his cross threatened to dip under his crossbar, the goalie palming it away for a corner.

There hadn't been much action at the other end but a few chances started to come Saints' way just before the break, Mullen's blushes being spared by the offside flag after he could only swing at Jack Baird's knock down. Nazon teed up Lyons from 20 yards but he failed to find the target before Dreyer saw his shot blocked as the visitors failed to deal with a free-kick.

Hladky did well to turn away a curling effort from Nelson early in the second half before Saints too the lead. Mihai Popescu found Dreyer with a tremendous ball into the box and the winger unselfishly headed it back across for the onrushing Lyons to nod past Dieng for his first Buddies goal.

He tried for his second with a long range free-kick that Dieng was always gathering and tested him again with 10 minutes left, the keeper doing well to parry his low drive into the air, Dreyer heading the rebound over. Dundee had offered little since falling behind and finally threatened with five minutes to go, Hladky comfortably saving Nelson's shot. The impressive Mullen was then replaced by Cody Cooke and he very nearly marked his arrival with a goal, seeing two attempts to force home a free-kick blocked by the Dundee defence.

Nerves were jangling as four minutes of stoppage time began, MacKenzie flinging himself in front of Nelson's fierce shot. The defending wasn't pretty or particularly organised, black and white shirts flying everywhere as players put their bodies on the line to block whatever was coming their way. However, it was effective as Hladky wasn't troubled and Saints saw the game out to pick up what could be a crucial three points.

Full Time: St Mirren 2-1 Dundee

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn (c), Baird, Popescu, MacKenzie, Muzek, Flynn (S.McGinn 89), Lyons, Dreyer, Nazon (Jackson 56), Mullen (Cooke 87)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Corbu, Ferdinand, MacPherson

Dundee: Dieng, Ralph, Woods (c) (P.McGowan 78), Kusunga, O'Sullivan, Horsfield, R. McGowan, Robson, Wright (J.Curran 58), Nelson, C. Curran (Miller 73)
Subs Not Used: Parish, O'Dea, Dales, Moore

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Fourth Official: David Munro

Attendance: 6,733 

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography