St Mirren couldn't take a valuable three points back to Paisley after drawing 2-2 against Dumbarton away from home this afternoon. The Buddies led twice in the match after goals from David Clarkson and Harry Davis. But Saints were pegged back by a stubborn Sons side who kept up their unbeaten form against St Mirren this season.

It was Cammy Smith, who looked bright in his Saints debut the previous week, who fashioned the first chance of the match when he picked up the ball on the half way line. The forward went bounding forward before an effort from the edge of the area ended up in the arms of Alan Martin in the Dumbarton goal.

Smith thought he had put the Buddies ahead with just 11 minutes on the clock when his deflected effort was cleared off the line. He burst into the box and lashed the ball goalward which saw it cannon off the legs of a Sons defender and loop over Martin only to be scrambled away.

Craig Storie went into the referee's book when he took out a Dumbarton player on the edge of the box after Davis failed to clear his lines. The ball was laid off to Gregor Buchanan who sclaffed the effort high and wide with a shot that may well as have seen the ball end up in the nearby River Clyde.

It was Smith who was integral to Saints going ahead on 35 minutes through Clarkson. The loanee was the recipient of a tremendous cross field pass from Craig Storie and drove into the Sons before a great cross into a dangerous area was flicked home by Clarkson to send the sizeable away support wild. 

Saints were given a reminder of the fragility of a one goal lead just before half time when Sons striker Christian Nade almost put his side on level terms. The striker rose above the Buddies defence to get on the end of a corner that went fractionally wide. 

Half Time: Dumbarton 0-1 St Mirren

Stephen Aitken's side came out showing real intent early on after the break winning a corner. Substitution Tom Lang was up for Dumbarton, but sent his near diving header by the post.

It was a warning sign for St Mirren and Dumbarton would make them pay when they equalised just 10 minutes into the second half. Unlike in the first half, Nade would make no mistake from this corner kick as he bulleted his header beyond Billy O'Brien. The ball was whipped deep into the box with the Frenchman on his own able to force the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

This seemed to stir the St Mirren support and the Buddies eventually started putting the pressure on the home side. Gary MacKenzie, who has proved to be a threat from corners in the last few weeks, rose the highest only to put too much on the header and see it go over.

A few minutes later Saints would be ahead but only after Nade threatened to put Dumbarton ahead when he broke away from the defence and flashed a shot wide. 

Good work on the right hand side won St Mirren a corner. The ball in was cleared but Saints kept the ball in the home teams half and won a free kick. From the free kick debutant Harry Davis headed the Buddies ahead for the second time of the match. 

Dumbarton weren't out of the match though and continued to threaten with Lewis Vaughan going close from long range. And they weren't to be denied with 10 minutes to go when Robert Thomson netted from close range after Saints failed to clear the initial danger.

It was a blow for Jack Ross' side who continued to press into the final few minutes of the match, winning a succession of corners, but ultimately had to settle for a point.

Full Time: Dumbarton 2-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley (Stelios, 73), Magennis, Storie, McGinn, Smith, Morgan (Sutton, 63), Clarkson (Todd, 79)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Webster, Baird, Fjelde

Dumbarton: Martin, Docherty, Buchanan, Carswell (Vaughan, 55), Thomson, Stanton (Fleming, 55), Harvie, Barr, (Lang, 26) Smith, Stirling, Nade
Subs Not Used: Brown, Gallagher,

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane

Attendance: 1,377

Josh Todd scored twice to secure a 2-1 win for the St Mirren U20s over Dundee United in the SPFL Development League. 

The Englishman's double helped The Buddies come from 1-0 down to win 2-1 on a cold night at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Ali Coote had given the visitors the lead after 23 minutes when he smashed a powerful effort beyond Jamie Langfield from the edge of the box. 

Saints pressed for an equaliser before half time and went close when Conor O'Keefe twice forced saves out of Josh Donaldson. 

The leveller came with less than 15 minutes remaining when Todd scored a terrific solo goal.

He picked the ball up in midfield before driving at the Dundee United defence, nutmegging one of their defenders to send himself clean through before sending it into the back of the net.

And the midfielder was at the double less than ten minutes later when he put Saints ahead. A ball was whipped into the box from a free kick on the right hand side to meet the toe of Todd as he beat a ruck of players in the box to prod the ball home. 

But Dundee United had one last chance before St Mirren could claim victory. A foul by Saints' Luke Barclay right on the edge of the area saw Charlie Telfer step up and rifle an effort goalward, only to see it beaten away by Langfield.

The win sees the U20s stay in 14th place in the SPFL Development League level on points with Hearts and Kilmarnock.

Match gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography and John Millar - © millarpictures

Rory Loy's 77th minute goal wasn't enough to stir up a comeback for St Mirren as they lost 2-1 at home to Falkirk.

Peter Houston's side went ahead on 11 minutes with a controversial goal from John Baird. The striker then doubled the Bairns' lead just after the hour mark when he swept home.

Loy got his first goal for The Buddies with a tidy finish that nestled into the back of the next beyond Danny Rogers. But despite Jack Ross' side trying to put pressure on the visitors, it wasn't enough to gain a point as they look to move themselves from the foot of the table.

Saints almost got off to the perfect start though with less than a minute on the clock when new loan signing Cammy Smith almost opened the scoring. The debutant picked up the ball in the middle of the park and drove forward with it before unleashing a shot from outside the box that went whistling by. 

It was a bright start for the Buddies who continued to put on the pressure in the early stages with Rory Loy winning a corner kick after his attempted cross inside the box was blocked. 

However, the visitors were ahead with just 11 minutes on the clock when John Baird opened the scoring. But Saints felt aggrieved by the manner in which it was scored. Falkirk won a throw-in on the left side with Myles Hippolyte running a good 10 or 15 yards further forward before finding Baird who ran through and dispatched the ball beyond Billy O'Brien. The Buddies supporters and coaching staff were left furious as the officials failed to pull the play back despite the Bairns gaining a clear advantage.

Falkirk then started to look dangerous and could've stretched their lead soon after with Fraser Aird and Hippolyte both going close. 

Saints were dealt a blow when Gary MacKenzie was forced off with an injury, but began to grow back into the game as they looked to grab an equaliser. Smith was looking lively in his first start for the Buddies and forced a good save out of Rogers before the Falkirk defence cleared with Stevie Mallan lurking. Then Loy made the opposition 'keeper work with a looping shot that was well held. 

The visitors were keen to try and put some breathing space between the sides and could've done twice through Craig Sibbald. The 21 year-old looked certain to score as he burst into the box, only to be denied by O'Brien who did brilliantly to block. A minute later Sibbald cracked the Saints cross bar with a volley. O'Brien was made to work again when Hippolyte smashed a low drive down the face of goal.  

Half Time: St Mirren 0-1 Falkirk 

Stephen McGinn came on early in the second half in place of Mallan to a rapturous applause from the home support. And it looked to be a positive change when he sent Pål Fjelde in down the right hand side before the Norwegian's cutback found Smith in the box. The loanee saw his shot saved well by Rogers before the goalie captured the ball at the second attempt. 

Frustratingly for the Buddies though, Falkirk were two ahead just a few minutes later when John Baird got his second goal. Aird played the ball down the side to Lee Miller who crossed the ball into Baird. The striker did well to control the ball before putting it beyond O'Brien to double the visitors advantage. 

Saints looked to hit back quickly and some excellent defending from Peter Grant denied John Sutton what would surely have been an easy headed goal by leaping just above the Englishman to knock the ball out for a corner.

The game hit a bit of a lull, but with around 15 minutes to go Saints halved the deficit to give themselves a fighting chance of taking something from the match. Some neat footwork by Loy got the striker through on goal where he drilled the ball into the back of the net. 

The Buddies had one last big chance to salvage a point, but only after O'Brien made a tremendous stop to deny Luke Leahy. In the dying embers of the match Saints won a corner from which Jack Baird rose the highest to bullet towards goal but agonisingly it went beyond the post and meant St Mirren left the match empty handed.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-2 Falkirk  

St Mirren: O'Brien, Fjelde, Baird, MacKenzie (Webster, 22), Irvine, Storie (Todd, 82), Mallan (McGinn, 55), Morgan, Smith, Loy, Sutton
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Stelios, Clarkson, Magennis

Falkirk: Rogers, Leahy, Muirhead, Kerr, Baird (Gasparotto, 90), Sibbald, Hippolyte, Grant, Miller (McHugh, 89), Aird (Kidd, 90), Watson
Subs Not Used: Thomson, Gallacher, Shepherd, Craigen

Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Assistant Referee: David Dunne

Attendance: 3,316

Match gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography and John Millar - © millarpictures

St Mirren are through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup after a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win over Premiership side Dundee at Dens Park.

Goals from John Sutton - his 40th for the Buddies - and Jack Baird earned Saints the victory and sees them in the hat for the last 16.

Saints had won seven out of eight cup ties this season coming into the match with the only loss coming to Premiership opposition when Hamilton defeated the Buddies 3-0 at New Douglas Park. 

But there was to be no repeat of that this afternoon as St Mirren outplayed and outfought their top tier opponents.

The home side could have taken an early lead though through Marcus Haber. The Canadian striker, who recently signed a new deal at Dens, was played in and was one on one with Billy O'Brien after beating the offside trap. But from a tight angle he smashed the post. 

Saints were battling hard in the early stages and won two corners in quick succession. However, Dundee dealt with the danger on both occasions. 

The warning signs remained though as Dundee had two half chances through Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Craig Wighton. The first saw Mark O'Hara pick out El Bakhtaoui but the striker sliced the chance wide. Then Wighton went on a run which culminated in the forward smashing towards goal but he didn't connect well enough and it went wide.

Debut goalkeeper Billy O'Brien made a terrific save to deny Cameron Kerr after the midfielder's long range effort as the home side looked to crank up the pressure. O'Brien pushed the ball by the post and looked confident as he punched away the resultant corner.

The Buddies took the lead on 24 minutes through John Sutton. It was the Englishman's milestone 40th goal for the Saints and his 10th this season. It was a great finish as he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and curled beyond Scott Bain in the Dundee goal to send Saints fans delirious. 

There was no let up from the visitors and Stephen Mallan's flick inside the area found the head of ex-Dundee player Gary Irvine who headed just over the bar. Then Kyle McAllister, celebrating his 18th birthday, also went close to doubling Saints lead when his shot from outside the box went whizzing over.

Dundee were still very much in the game and made O'Brien work with the goalkeeper making several good stops to keep Saints ahead. He made a fantastic save to tip Wighton's effort over the bar. From which the home side should have been level when Haber rose above the St Mirren defence but somehow headed wide. And it was Haber who made O'Brien work again with the Welsh U21 international pushing the Canadian's shot away.

Half Time: Dundee 0-1 St Mirren

Like last week against Dunfermline, Saints got the second half off to a flier when Jack Baird doubled the visitor's advantage a little over three minutes in to the second period. St Mirren won a corner that was headed back out and found its way to Mallan after Wighton slipped in the box. Mallan's footwork was good as he moved away from the Dundee player to find Baird who wrapped his foot around the ball and beyond Bain.

The Buddies were clearly in the mood after coming out from the break and had a series of corners in a good ten minute spell. Sutton could've grabbed his second when was on the end of one of the corners but could only watch as Bain tipped over.

After a blistering start from the away side the second half became a fairly quiet affair. Dundee rarely threatened in the second half barring winning a few corner kicks which didn't cause The Buddies any harm.

Substitute David Clarkson almost added a third for Saints after coming on as a sub. The striker burst through on goal only to see his attempt denied by the feet of Bain. 

In the end, two was to be enough as Saints march on into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

Full Time: Dundee 0-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: O'Brien, Magennis (Whyte, 74), Baird, MacKenzie, Irvine, Fjelde, Storie, McAllister (MacPherson, 90), Mallan, Morgan, Sutton (Clarkson, 85)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Webster, McLear, O'Keefe

Dundee: Bain, Holt, Hateley (Duffy, 58), O'Hara, Extabeguren, McGowan, Gadzhalov, Kerr, El Bakhtaoui (Williams, 58), Haber, Wighton
Subs Not Used: Mitchell, Vincent, Ross, Curran, Gomis

Referee: Bobby Madden
Assistant Referee: Graham Chambers
Assistant Referee: Jordan Stokoe

Attendance: 3622 (523 Saints supporters)

A selection of pictures from yesterday's 1-1 draw with Dunfermline at East End Park in the Ladbrokes Championship.

Match gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography and John Millar - © millarpictures

St Mirren came away from East End Park, the home of in-form Dunfermline, with a point after Gary MacKenzie's second half header. Saints had fallen behind in the first half when Kallum Higginbotham scored from the penalty spot. But experienced MacKenzie earned the Buddies a share of the spoils with an early second half goal in a high tempo encounter.

Stephen Mallan had a free kick opportunity with less than a minute on the clock. Saints had won the ball from Dunfermline's kick-off and won the set piece in 'Mallan territory'. The midfielder stepped up and curled it just beyond the left hand post.

The visitors started in good fashion and Rocco Quinn was next to go close when his long range effort was deflected wide for a corner. However, Mallan's delivery had too much on it and evaded Gary MacKenzie who was running in from deep at the back post.

Saints won another corner but only after Langfield had to be alert to deny Michael Moffat. The ball was played through to the striker, taking out the Saints defence, with Langfield doing well to block the attempt. The corner for the Buddies

The home side started to take a foothold in the match and only some last ditch defending from Andy Webster denied Nicky Clark the opportunity to get a shot away at goal. It was again Webster to the rescue when he cleared the ball off the line. Paul McMullan found space in the box on the right hand side and hit a shot which deflected beyond Langfield with the captain there to scoop the ball away from danger.

Dunfermline felt they should've had a penalty around the half hour mark when Michael Moffat felt he had been fouled in the area by MacKenzie. The referee was unmoved and play raged on.

However, the Pars would win a penalty minutes later when MacKenzie was adjudged to have fouled Moffat this time. Kallum Higginbotham made no mistake from the spot as he smashed it into the net beyond Langfield to gives Pars a 1-0 lead.

The Buddies could've been level mere minutes later when both Kyle McAllister and MacKenzie went mightily close. 17 year-old McAllister burst through on goal on the left hand side and saw his effort pushed by the post by Sean Murdoch in the Dunfermline goal. From the resultant corner defender MacKenzie bulleted a header goalward only to see it crack off the post and be cleared away. Saints kept up the pressure with more corner kicks but nothing was falling for the visitors and Dunfermline took their 1-0 lead into half time.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1-0 St Mirren

Saints made the perfect start to the second half when MacKenzie headed home an equaliser. Mallan's shot was pushed up into the air by Murdoch and headed behind for a corner. The ball was whipped in where MacKenzie climbed above his marker to slam the header into the Pars net. It was the defender's second goal in three games and was the ideal way to get the second half going.

Dunfermline should've retaken the lead less than 10 minutes later when Clark found himself free on the right hand side. The forward expertly picked out Moffat who somehow managed to send the ball wide when it looked easier to score.

The home side were having the bulk of the pressure and were denied a second goal by a wonderful save from Langfield. Clark rose the highest to head the ball towards the left hand corner of the net but the experienced goalkeeper - playing his first match since November - clawed the ball away. 

The Buddies were very much still in the match though and MacKenzie's aerial presence at corners saw him almost score a second. Again the defender rose the highest but this time his header nestled in the arms of Murdoch. Moments later, substitute Lewis Morgan flashed a shot just over the bar from the edge of the box. 

Higginbotham went close to getting his second of the afternoon when he let rip from outside the box watching it fly just wide of the left hand post. And the forward did similar from a free kick minutes later after Storie had pulled back Moffat. 

The game petered out with half chances for either side, though Clark had a wonderful chance for the home side, but his header went just beyond the post and both sides took a point,

Full Time: Dunfermline 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, Irvine, Webster (Baird, 45), MacKenzie, Quinn (Morgan, 58), Storie, Mallan, Loy, McAllister (Magennis, 74), Sutton
Subs Not Used: Willison, Clarkson, Fjelde, McLear 

Dunfermline: Murdoch, Talbot, Ashcroft, Fordyce, Herron, Geggan, Wedderburn, Higginbotham, McMullan (Cardle, 89), Clark, Moffat
Subs Not Used: Hutton, Martin, Morris, McCabe, Reilly, El Alagui

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Stephen Mitchell
Assistant Referee: David Doig

Attendance: 4,108

Match report and gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography and John Millar - © millarpictures

St Mirren's bid to haul themselves from the bottom of the league took a blow as the Buddies lost 3-0 to Queen of the South at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. 

Goals from Stephen Dobbie, Joe Thomson and an own goal from Gary MacKenzie consigned the Buddies to defeat which sees the gap at the bottom remain at seven points.

Saints started the game off in bright fashion with John Sutton proving to be a handful for the visitors. The Englishman robbed the ball in the Queens box right at the byline and cut it back to Kyle McAllister who took a touch to settle himself before firing a shot that was deflected behind for a corner. That corner was cleared but the Buddies won another soon after which almost lead to the opener. The striker was up the highest to nod goalward but a ruck of players on the line ensured it stayed out the Queen of the South net. 

St Mirren kept the pressure up and MacKenzie could've added to his goal from last week when he headed wide. The defender was on the end of an excellent Mallan corner but couldn't get enough on the header to put it on target. 

The visitors started to grow into the match and put the Saints under pressure with a series of corner kicks. They threw in some good balls with John Rankin going closest when he fired low and wide.

It was an even game with each side fashioning good opportunities. McAllister saw an effort from outside the box fizz just over the crossbar before Lewis Morgan smashed a shot just wide of the right hand post. Queens had their chances too with debutant Rankin putting the ball just over the bar. 

Rankin was the architect for the opening goal as he slipped the ball into Dobbie's path to put the away side in front. Dobbie - who had scored in both previous St Mirren/Queen of the South matches this season - peeled away from the defence and lifted the ball beyond Gallacher right on the stroke of half time.

Half Time: St Mirren 0-1 Queen of the South

St Mirren were having the bulk of the possession with most of the match being played in the Queen of the South half after the break. 

McAllister was unlucky not to have gotten Saints an equaliser when his attempt from outside the box cracked off the woodwork. The ball then fell to Naismith whose follow up went just wide of the far post. 

Still Saints were coming forward and Naismith, bounding down the right, put across a terrific ball into the six yard box which was crying out for someone in the Black and White but there was to be nobody on the end of it. 

Despite the vast majority of the second half being played in the visitors half they would soon find a killer second goal to give them their first league win since September. Loanee Thomson sealed the Doonhamers win when smashed home after the ball fell to him when Dobbie's shot cracked off the post. 

With the game edging towards full time Queens added a third when Dykes' shot was turned into the net by MacKenzie to round off a frustrating afternoon in Paisley.

Full Time: St Mirren 0-3 Queen of the South

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, MacKenzie, Webster (Shankland, 74), Irvine, Magennis (Clarkson, 59), Quinn, McAllister, Mallan, Morgan, Sutton
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Baird, Stewart, McLear, Gallagher

Queen of the South: Robinson, Hamill, Marshall, Dowie, Brownlie, Rankin, Jacobs, Thomson, Thomas (Murray, 89), Carmichael (Dykes, 72), Dobbie (Lyle, 84)
Subs Not Used: Atkinson, Higgins, Moxon, Fergusson

Referee: Mat Northcroft
Assistant Referee: Anthony Cooper
Assistant Referee: Garry Farmer

Attendance: 3,105

Match report and gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography

Saints missed a golden opportunity to finish a difficult year on a high as they failed to hold on to a lead against Renfrewshire rivals Morton.

Gary MacKenzie's header gave the Buddies the lead at the break and their chances of claiming a priceless three points improved when Jamie McDonagh was sent off for stamping on Rocco Quinn early in the second half. 

However, after that Saints seemed to get deeper and Morton's pressure paid off in stoppage time as Ricki Lamie bundled the ball home at a corner. 

Saints stuck with the same team that lost at Tannadice on Christmas Eve and they had an early penalty appeal turned down when Jason Naismith appeared to be bundled over inside the box by Mark Russell. There was then a lucky escape as MacKenzie had to hack the ball clear with Ross Forbes ready to tap in the opener. Jamie Lindsay was booked for flattening Stevie Mallan soon after before Morton could've taken the lead, Scott Gallacher punching a Forbes corner to Gavin Gunning but the defender volleyed wide. 

John Sutton was next to be denied a penalty after appearing to be pushed to the ground after collecting Rocco Quinn's cross. It took midway through the half for the striker to get a sight of goal when he headed wide from Lewis Morgan's cross.

Michael Doyle's header found the top of the net as the visitors threatened again before Saints went even closer, Gary Irvine's cross finding Sutton whose header was tipped over by Derek Gaston. The resultant corner bore fruit as Mallan's superb delivery found MacKenzie in acres of space and his header flew past Gaston to give the Buddies the lead and the big defender his first goal for the club. 

Gallacher did well to palm away Russell's shot as the Ton looked for a quick equaliser. Another chance came when Quinn's foul on Jamie McDonagh sent the Morton player sliding into the advertising boards but Forbes' pacey delivery skidded off the head of Thomas O'Ware and behind.

Saints hadn't threatened since taking the lead but Kyle Magennis had half a chance to double the advantage as Quinn slipped the ball to the youngster at the edge of the box, however his effort was a yard or two away from finding the top corner. 

As the first half came to a close Morton were unlucky not to equalise when Ricki Lamie headed Forbes' free-kick over the bar before Gallacher blocked Gary Oliver's effort to force home the rebound. Morton felt they should have had a penalty in the aftermath for a challenge on Oliver and the subsequent injuries spelled the end of his afternoon as Kudus Oyenuga replaced him at the break. 

Half Time: St Mirren 1-0 Morton

Forbes was booked early in the second half for a bad tackle on Magennis but worse was soon to follow for the visitors. After a free-kick was given for a foul on Quinn by McDonagh, the Morton man appeared to stamp on the Saints midfielder. Ref Nick Walsh quickly sent McDonagh off but there was a short delay while Quinn was treated before being replaced by Lewis McLear. Mallan's attempted lob of Gaston was easily dealt with as the Buddies tried to make their advantage count, however Morton weren't lying down and asked plenty of questions of the home defence. 

MacKenzie was denied a second when he saw a header cleared off the line before Naismith and sub David Clarkson both made their way into the book for fouls. 

It looked as if the Buddies would hold out but in stoppage time Morton grabbed a leveller. The visitors won a corner which was missed by Gallacher before falling for Lamie to sweep home. It was a frustrating end to the match and the year as Saints look to haul themselves from the foot of the table.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-1 Morton

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, MacKenzie, Webster, Irvine, Quinn (McLear, 61), Magennis (Clarkson, 71), McAllister, (Gallagher, 88) Mallan, Morgan, Sutton
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Baird, Hardie, Shankland

Morton: Gaston, Lamie, O'Ware, Gunning, Doyle, Oliver (Oyenuga, 45), Forbes, Lindsay (Nesbitt, 74), Russell, McDonough, Murdoch (Tidser, 80)
Subs Not Used: McNeil, Kilday, Scullion, Strapp

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Kylie McMullan
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence

Attendance: 4,902

Match report and gallery pictures © Stephen Smyth 

St Mirren were unable to keep their lead as Dundee United ran out 2-1 victors at Tannadice. 

John Sutton had scored to put the Saints in front but an immediate reply from Simon Fraser and a goal on the half time whistle from Simon Murray saw all three points go to United. 

St Mirren started the match well with Lewis Morgan creating two chanced in the opening stages. The youngster made his way into the box and tried to get his shot away but it was blocked and cleared by the United defence.

Moments later the ball fell to him again but his shot from 30 yards out was no trouble for the goalkeeper as it flew high over the bar.  

Play switched to the other end of the park and United had two quick chances of their own. Blair Spittal headed over from a corner before a second set piece saw the ball trickle wide. 

Both sides were forced into early changes as Gary MacKenzie and Mark Durnan clashed heads in the penalty area after a Saints corner.

Jack Baird replaced MacKenzie whilst Coll Donaldson was introduced for United and it was shortly after the latter substitution that deadlock was broken. 

United had a throw in deep in their own half and after an error from Donaldson, John Sutton latched onto the loose ball and slotted past Cammy Bell. 

The lead didn't last long, as just a minute later Scott Fraser had equalised for Dundee United. 

St Mirren came close to regaining the lead just a few minutes later, as the ball was played to the back post where Naismith was lurking, however his close range effort was saved onto the post and cleared. 

Despite the Saints efforts to find a second goal, it was United who struck the killer blow. Scott Fraser took a free kick on the corner of the box and it was flicked past Gallacher by Simon Murray right on the stroke of half time. 

Half Time: Dundee United 2-1 St Mirren 

Dundee United started the better in the second half winning a free kick just outside the box. Scott Fraser stood over it and blasted it over the bar. 

Gallacher was then forced to make a save low to his right when Sean Dillon headed towards goal. 

St Mirren made their second change as Rocco Quinn made way for David Clarkson and he almost made an instant impact as yle McAllister crossed the ball from the right and Clarkson looked to get on the end of it but it was just too far out of reach. 

Lewis Morgan then forced Cammy Bell into a save with a optimistic shot from distance before creating another great chance.

He found himself through on goal but he didn't take the shot in time and William Edjenguele made the challenge and cleared. 

With ten minutes left to play Lawrence Shankland replaced Kyle McAllister.

Much like Clarkson, Shankland came close after coming on. The ball was played to him at the back post and he tried to slot it past Bell but Edjenguele was there to clear once more. 

Despite late pressure from the Saints, they were unable to find the equaliser and it finished Dundee United 2-1 St Mirren 

Full Time: Dundee United 2-1 St Mirren 

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Irvine, Webster, MacKenzie (Baird, 19), Quinn (Clarkson, 60), Magennis, McAllister (Shankland, 79), Mallan, Morgan, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: Langfield, McLear, Hardie, Gallagher

Dundee United: Bell, Dillon, Dixon, Durnan (Donaldson, 25) , Spittal, Murray (Smith, 80), Fraser, Telfer (Van Der Velden, 70), Edjenguele, Flood, Andreu
Subs Not Used: Zwick, Murdoch, Obadeyi, Robson

Referee: John McKendrick
Assistant Referee: Alasdair Ross
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane

Attendance: 7,247

Match report and gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography

Saints made it three games unbeaten in a row after drawing with Ayr United this afternoon, but it arguably should have been a third successive victory.

With the game goalless, the Buddies were awarded a second-half penalty when Jason Naismith charged into the box before being fouled by Paul Cairney. It seemed the perfect way to open the scoring, only for Lawrence Shankland to send his spot-kick wide.

A few minutes later, the gaping wound had salt rubbed into it when Jamie Adams slotted a pass through the middle of the defence and Cairney shot past Scott Gallacher. Adams' afternoon was then brought to a premature end when he was shown a straight red card for sending Kyle McAllister flying as he charged forward.

Saints threw everything at the Honest Men in a bid to find an equaliser and it arrived with 10 minutes left, David Clarkson crossing for fellow sub John Sutton to mark a century of Buddies appearances by heading his side level. It was another of the subs who went closest to grabbing a crucial winner for the hosts, Ryan Hardie's spectacular effort from distance hitting the bar.

Sutton was benched to make way for Stevie Mallan, who was returning from illness, with Andy Webster taking over in defence from the injured Ben Gordon. Ayr stuck with the side that narrowly lost to Dundee United last week, former Buddie Gary Harkins starting in midfield.

He indirectly played a part in Ayr's first chance, his deflected shot winning his side a corner that led to a scramble with Alan Forrest's shot being blocked on the line. Saints quickly broke and won a corner of their own, Gary MacKenzie denied a first Buddies goal when his thumping header was cleared. Lewis Morgan and Kyle Magennis both failed to find the target with efforts from the edge of the box as Saints looked for an early goal.

It almost came in bizarre circumstances. Mallan's long range effort looked to be going well off target but it had taken a deflection, giving the ball some crazy spin that almost saw it drop into the bottom corner. Instead, it went the wrong side of the post, Shankland's shot from the resultant corner posing no problems for keeper Greg Fleming.

It was open stuff with both teams looking dangerous on the counter attack and Ayr should have taken the lead when Robbie Crawford's free-kick was knocked on to the onrushing Scott McKenna, however he somehow managed to rattle the bar rather than burst the net. Webster flicked a Saints corner across goal and beyond the far post and Nicky Devlin had a header saved by Scott Gallacher before Saints came as close as they'd come to scoring. Shankland got the better of his defender and sent a low shot beyond Fleming but also the far post.

Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 Ayr United

The second half was a slow burner but came to life just before the hour mark. First of all, Ayr were unlucky not to take the lead as they picked their way through the Saints back-line before Gallacher reacted brilliantly to deny Harkins. Then, as the Buddies attacked, some tremendous passing play got Naismith in behind the defence but just as he was about to shoot he was clipped by Paul Cairney. Ref Greg Aitken had no hesitation in pointing to the spot before booking Cairney and the responsibility fell on Shankland to convert the spot-kick. Unfortunately he couldn't, slotting his penalty the wrong side of the post to the horror of the home fans.

And things were soon to get a whole lot worse for the Buddies. Jamie Adams' pass sliced straight through the middle of the Saints defence and found Cairney, who completed his redemption by side-footing past Gallacher to put the visitors in front. Not for the first time at home in the last few months, Saints suddenly found themselves chasing an equaliser having looked the more likely side to opener.

Mallan burst forward to the edge of the box only to waste a glorious chance by shooting wide, then McAllister drew a tremendous save from Fleming, the keeper tipping the youngster's long range shot round the post. Next time he had the ball McAllister charged forward like a man possessed until his run was cynically and brutally brought to an abrupt end by Adams. Once again Mr Aitken didn't waste any time and instantly sent the Ayr man off, much to the ire of his team-mates although his manager Ian McCall later admitted it was probably the correct decision.

Saints could sense blood and, with John Sutton and David Clarkson already on, threw Ryan Hardie into the mix. The change in system had the desired effect almost immediately as Clarkson swung in a cross from the right and Sutton stooped down to head the ball past Fleming. It was the striker's 100th appearance for Saints and it seemed appropriate he mark it with the sort of goal he's scored numerous times before.

Having got level, the Buddies went in search of a winner, Hardie clipping the bar with a long ranger that took a touch off an Ayr man on its way. However, with Saints pushing they left themselves exposed at the back and as the defence screamed for offside, sub Kevin Nisbet tried to take advantage to drag his shot wide of the far post. Saints' best chances were falling to Mallan and it looked like he'd repeated his trick from Queen of the South game, except this time his long range shot was just the wrong side of the post. Deep in stoppage time the Buddies won a corner but Sutton's header was easily dealt with by Fleming as the two sides had to settle for a draw that did neither side much good.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-1 Ayr United

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Webster (Hardie, 79), MacKenzie, Irvine, Quinn (Sutton, 60), Magennis, Mallan, Morgan, McAllister, Shankland (Clarkson, 69)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Baird, Gallagher, McLear

Ayr United: Fleming, Devlin, Crawford, Forrest (Nesbit, 72), Harkins (Rose, 79), Cairney, Adams, Meggatt (Boyle, 70) Balatoni, Docherty, McKenna
Subs Not Used: Hart, McGuffie, Gilmour, O'Connell

Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Willie Ferguson

Attendance: 3,124

Match report and gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography and John Millar - © millarpictures