Saints 3-0 St Mirren

Saints took the lead on 26 minutes as Clark brilliantly controlled the ball with his chest before slotting it into the net from close range.

Drey Wright doubled Saints advantage on 66 minutes as he latched onto Adam Montgomery’s cutback to side foot the ball high into the net. Saints were then awarded a penalty late on after Marcus Fraser brought down Connor McLennan and Graham Carey brilliantly converted the penalty to seal the points for the Perth side.

Today’s result sees Saints move up to ninth place in the cinch Premiership, with 6 points. Next up for Saints is a trip to Kilmarnock next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

St Mirren were the visitors to Perth this afternoon as Saints looked to bounce back from last Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Hearts. Callum Davidson made two changes to the Saints starting eleven this afternoon as James Brown and Daniel Phillips dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Adam Montgomery and new signing Nicky Clark, who was making his debut after joining the club earlier this week from Dundee United for an undisclosed fee. There was also a place on the bench for fellow new recruit Connor McLennan who joined the club this week on a season-long loan from Aberdeen. St Mirren came into this afternoon’s match looking to extend their unbeaten run after they made it three wins, and three clean sheets, on the spin as they defeated Hibs 1-0 at The SMiSA Stadium last Saturday. Manager Stephen Robinson decided to go with the same starting eleven which started against Hibs although there was one change on the bench as former Saints player Scott Tanser came in to replace Kieran Offord.

It was a damp afternoon in Perth as Jamie Murphy got the match underway for Saints.

It was an even opening to the match and Saints got their first sight of goal on 10 minutes. A long ball forward was headed down by Nicky Clark to Stevie May however, his volley didn’t trouble Trevor Carson.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark is denied by Declan Gallagher

On 14 minutes good play down the left saw Curtis Main pick out Jonah Ayunga with his delivery into the box however, his left footed effort didn’t trouble Remi Matthews.  

Saints came close to the break through on 25 minutes as Clark got on the end of a Wright low ball into the box however, his effort at the near post went narrowly wide. Clark though didn’t miss a minute later as Saints took the lead. Wright’s deep cross from the right was head back across the box by May and Clark brilliantly controlled the ball with his chest to bring it down before despatching it beyond Carson from close range.

The first booking of the game came on the half an hour mark as Charles Dunne was shown a yellow card for a foul on Murphy. Then shortly after Carey also ended up in the referee’s book for a foul on the halfway line.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark scores to put Saints 1-0 up  

St Mirren started the second half brightly as they pressed higher up the park however, they couldn’t create any clear-cut chances to test Matthews in the Saints goal.

Just before the hour mark the Paisley side made a triple change as Scott Tanser, Jay Henderson and Eamonn Brophy came on to replace Richard Tait, Ryan Strain and Curtis Main.

Then a minute later Saints came close to doubling their lead as Melker Hallberg’s curling strike from the edge of the box went inches over.

Play then quickly switched to the other end as Mark O’Hara played in Henderson but his shot from distance was comfortably gathered by Matthews. The Buddies got another sight of goal on 64 minutes as Ayunga latched onto a Tanser pass but his right footed strike from the edge of the box went over.

However, 2 minutes later Saints doubled their lead. May did well to pick out the overlapping run of Adam Montgomery who carried the ball to the byline before holding it up to pick out Drey Wright who guided the ball high into the net from the centre of the box.

PHOTO: Drey Wright celebrates his goal

That goal prompted The Buddies to make another change as Alex Grieve came on to replace Ethan Erhahon. St Mirren continued to search for a way back into the game and on 70 minutes Tanser’s cross from the left broke to Declan Gallagher however, his effort lacked power as the ball trundled wide of Matthews’ left-hand post with the goal at his mercy.

St Mirren came within inches of pulling a goal back on 77 minutes as Henderson’s deep cross from the right picked out Tanser whose header hit the post. The loose ball then broke to Ayunga but his follow-up attempt hit the post.

Saints then made their first changes of the match as they made a triple substitution. Stevie May, Jamie Murphy and Nicky Clark were replaced by Theo Bair, Daniel Phillips and Connor McLennan, who was making his Saints debut.

Saints continued to look dangerous going forward and Wright had a go from distance with 10 minutes remaining but Carson got down well to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Callum Davidson made another change on 83 minutes as Liam Gordon came on to replace Melker Hallberg.

A third Saints goal would come with 5 minutes remaining. Quick thinking by Matthews saw the Saints number one send a great long kick forward which played in McLennan and he raced into the box before cutting the ball back as he looked to unleash a shot but Marcus Fraser came across and scythed down the attacker. Carey took the penalty and he despatched the ball high into the net to secure Callum Davidson’s biggest home league win as Saints manager.

PHOTO: Graham Carey scores from the penalty spot to make it 3-0

Saints: Matthews, Wright, McGowan, Mitchell, Considine, Montgomery, Hallberg (Gordon 83), Carey, Murphy (Phillips 77), May (Bair 78), Clark (McLennan 78)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Crawford, O’Halloran, Kucheriavyi, Brown

Booked: Carey, Mitchell

Scorers: Clark (26), Wright (66), Carey (86 pen)

St Mirren: Carson, Tait (Tanser 59), O’Hara, Ayunga, Main (Brophy 59), Erhahon (Grieve 70), Baccus, Dunne, Fraser, Strain (Henderson 59), Gallagher  

Unused Substitutes: Urminsky (GK), Shaughnessy, Flynn, Kiltie, Gogić

Booked: Dunne, Erhahon, Gallagher, Ayunga, Fraser

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 3,640

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Nicky Clark celebrates his goal