Match report: Saints 2-3 St Mirren

The Paisley side took the lead on 10 minutes when Killian Phillips slotted home a Mikael Mandron through ball.

However, Saints came back in the second half and Makenzie Kirk levelled the match on 52 minutes before Benji Kimpioka gave Saints the lead with 9 minutes remaining.

Evan Mooney equalised for St Mirren on 88 minutes before the Buddies were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time for a handball by Jason Holt. Mark O’Hara saw his penalty saved however, it had to be retaken as Josh Rae had come off his line early. Roland Idowu stepped up to take the penalty and he slotted the ball beyond Rae to secure the points for the visitors.

Saints are back in action next Sunday as they travel to Edinburgh to take on Hearts at Tynecastle Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed St Mirren to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a William Hill Premiership match. Saints earned a deserved point at Aberdeen last weekend and Simo Valakari made two changes from the side which started at Pittodrie as Božo Mikulić and Adama Sidibeh came in to replace Kyle Cameron, who dropped to the bench, whilst Sven Sprangler missed out due to suspension. A stoppage time goal from Tony Watt saw St Mirren fall to a 1-0 defeat at home to Motherwell last Saturday and manager Stephen Robinson also made two changes to his starting eleven. Toyosi Olusanya dropped to the bench, whilst Alex Gogić missed out due to suspension and they were replaced by Alex Iacovitti and Mikael Mandron.

Killian Phillips got the match underway for St Mirren however, it was Saints who created the first chance of the match after 4 minutes. Lewis Neilson’s through ball played in Adama Sidibeh as the forward broke into the Buddies box however, his shot wasn’t the cleanest as Ellery Balcombe gathered easily.

The Buddies took the lead on 10 minutes as Mikael Mandron played in Phillips who got in behind the Saints defence before slotting the ball beyond Josh Rae. There was a VAR review for a potential offside however, the review showed that the on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder was being played onside by Neilson.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka gets away from Elvis Bwomono

St Mirren created a great chance to double their lead on 24 minutes as Conor McMenamin tried to pick out Greg Kiltie with another through ball however, he couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball as it went out for a goal kick.

Saints were starting to come into the game as Matt Smith saw his cross gathered by Balcombe. Then on 39 minutes Drey Wright’s ball forward played in Sidibeh however, Alex Iacovitti was able to get back to turn it behind for a corner. Smith took the corner from the left and his delivery picked out Sidibeh at the near post but he couldn’t direct his header on target.

The Buddies finished the half strongly as on 43 minutes Mandron saw his strike gathered by Rae. Then a minute later Scott Tanser’s cross was headed clear by the Saints defence however, the clearance only went as far as Mark O’Hara and the St Mirren captain blasted his effort well wide of the target.

PHOTO: Božo Mikulić and Mikael Mandron

Saints made a change at the break as Lewis Neilson was replaced by David Keltjens and the Israeli played a key part in Saints equaliser on 52 minutes. Keltjens played a long ball down the right channel to Nicky Clark. The Saints captain made a good run forward before picking out the run from Makenzie Kirk into the box and he took a touch before sending a low effort beyond Balcombe and into the far corner of the net.

Saints started the second half strongly and on 56 minutes Sidibeh saw his effort go wide of the target. Then 3 minutes later a quick Saints counter attack saw Smith play in Sidibeh however, the Gambian forward saw his strike go narrowly wide.

On 68 minutes Keltjens was pulled to the ground by Marcus Fraser as Saints were awarded a free kick on the byeline. Smith took the free kick as he floated the ball into the box from the right and his delivery was met by Jack Sanders however, the defender put his header wide of the target.

PHOTO: Makenzie Kirk celebrates his goal

Phillips got a great chance to restore St Mirren’s advantage on 71 minutes as following a ricochet in the box the ball broke to the midfielder but he fired over.

Kimpioka then carved out a fantastic opportunity on 78 minutes as he burst forward and had the option to play in Sidibeh but chose to go it alone as he broke into the St Mirren box but Buddies substitute Luke Kenny was able to made a vital interception to clear the danger.

Kimpioka though made amends 3 minutes later as he put Saints in front. The Swede linked up well with Wright playing a neat one-two before taking a superb touch to get away from the Buddies defence and then slotted the ball into the corner of the net.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka scores for Saints

However, St Mirren were back on level terms on 88 minutes. A cross into the box by O’Hara was headed back across goal by Alex Iacovitti, which Rae didn’t get a clean punch to, as the ball fell to Evan Mooney and the youngster swept home the equaliser. A VAR review then followed for a potential offside however, the goal would stand following the review.

7 minutes were added on at the end and in the second minute of stoppage time Clark got a great chance to restore Saints lead however, he put his header over from a Smith cross.

Then deep into stoppage time St Mirren were awarded a penalty following a handball in the box from Jason Holt from a Roland Idowu shot. A VAR review of the incident then followed in which referee Euan Anderson was sent to the monitor by VAR official Steven McLean and following the review the spot kick was awarded. O’Hara stepped up to take the penalty however, before the Buddies captain could take it another VAR review took place for a potential red card for an incident between Sanders and Olusanya in the build up to the penalty in which both players had been booked by Anderson. Sanders had fouled the St Mirren forward and Anderson had played advantage however, Olusanya then shoved Sanders to the ground before Idowu’s effort struck the hand of Holt. However, following the VAR review the penalty award stood and it was taken by O’Hara but Rae superbly saved the midfielder’s spot kick.

However, yet another VAR review took place as Rae was deemed to have come off his line early to save the penalty and the spot kick had to be retaken. This time Idowu stepped up to take the penalty and he converted it with a right footed effort which went straight down the middle to secure the 3 points for the visitors.

PHOTO: Referee Euan Anderson awards St Mirren a penalty after a VAR check

Saints: Rae, Mikulić, Sanders, Neilson (Keltjens 45’), Holt, Clark, Wright, Sidibeh, Smith, Kirk, Kimpioka

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Cameron, Carey, Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Franczak, Brookfield

Booked: Holt, Sanders

Scorers: Kirk (52’), Kimpioka (81’)

St Mirren: Balcombe, Tanser (John 64’), Iacovitti, Taylor (Kenny 64’), O’Hara, Mandron (Olusanya 69’), McMenamin (Idowu 69’), Kiltie (Mooney 80’), Fraser, Bwomono, Phillips

Unused Substitutes: Urminský (GK), Smyth, Scott, Boyd-Munce  

Booked: Kiltie, Olusanya

Scorers: Phillips (10’), Mooney (88’), Idowu (90+9’ pen)

Referee: Euan Anderson  

VAR: Steven McLean   

Attendance: 4,001

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Adama Sidibeh tackles Elvis Bwomono