St Mirren 2-2 Saints

Graham Carey had Saints ahead on 33 minutes when he converted from the spot after Scott Tanser had been penalised for a handball in the box following a VAR review.

St Mirren were level on 41 minutes thanks to a Greg Kiltie strike. The Perth side were then reduced to ten men after Alex Mitchell had been sent off following a VAR review for his challenge on Kiltie.

It had looked like that St Mirren had won the match when Mark O’Hara scored from 25 yards with 9 minutes remaining. However, this Saints side has character in abundance and it came through in the closing stages as Clark got on the end of an Ali Crawford cross to send a fabulous over-head kick into the far corner of the net to rescue a point for Callum Davidson’s side.

This evening’s result sees Saints remain in sixth place in the cinch Premiership with 20 points.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Motherwell on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Following Sunday’s fantastic 2-1 win against Rangers at McDiarmid Park Saints were back in action this evening as they headed west to Paisley to take on St Mirren at The SMiSA Stadium. Callum Davidson made four changes to his starting eleven this evening as Remi Matthews, Drey Wright, Jamie Murphy and Connor McLennan came in to replace Elliott Parish, Adam Montgomery, David Wotherspoon, who all dropped to the bench whilst Stevie May missed out due to illness. St Mirren lost 3-2 at Ross County at the weekend and manager Stephen Robinson made three changes to his starting eleven for this evening’s match as Scott Tanser, Greg Kiltie and Alex Greive came in to replace Alex Gogic, Keanu Baccus and Jonah Ayunga.

It was a dreich evening in Paisley as Jamie Murphy got the match underway for Saints and it was the Perth side who created the first chance of the match in the first minute. Melker Hallberg’s corner from the right was played to the unmarked Graham Carey on the edge of the box however, his driving effort was blocked by a St Mirren defender. Then shortly after Saints created another chance as Connor McLennan got up well to meet a James Brown cross however, he couldn’t direct his header on target as the St Mirren defence cleared the danger.

The hosts got their first sight of goal on 13 minutes as Greg Kiltie cut the ball back to Curtis Main and the forward unleashed a low strike which was well saved by Remi Matthews. The Buddies created another chance on 18 minutes as Main turned provider, picking out Alex Greive in the centre of the box however, his shot on the turn didn’t trouble Matthews as it went wide of the target.

PHOTO: Connor McLennan directs his header towards goal

Just before the half an hour mark play was halted as there was a VAR check for a possible handball in the box as Drey Wright’s cross appeared to have been handled in the box by Scott Tanser. After a lengthy check, which also involved referee Euan Anderson going to the monitor to review the incident, a penalty was awarded to Saints. Carey stepped up to take the penalty and he sent his effort low into the corner of the net despite Buddies keeper Trevor Carson guessing the correct way.

However, the hosts levelled the match with 3 minutes of the first half remaining as Ryan Strain’s cross was only cleared as far as Kiltie and the midfielder smashed a right-foot volley into the bottom left-hand corner.

PHOTO: Graham Carey scores from the spot

On 51 minutes a Brown cross from the left was met by Clark however, the Saints forward put his header wide of the target. Clark got on the end of another Brown cross on 58 minutes but his glancing header went inches over the crossbar.

Then just after the hour mark Saints were reduced to ten men as Alex Mitchell was sent off following a VAR review. The on-loan Millwall defender was originally shown a yellow card for a foul on Kiltie however, referee Euan Anderson was asked to review the incident on the VAR monitor and he soon upgraded his decision to a red card.

Saints immediately made a change as Liam Gordon came on to replace Connor McLennan. That was followed by another change shortly after as Ali Crawford replaced Jamie Murphy.

PHOTO: Referee Euan Anderson reviews Alex Mitchell's challenge on Greg Kiltie

With Saints now down to ten men the momentum was with The Buddies and they pressed forward in search for a winner. Despite the challenging weather conditions the pressure eventually told with 9 minutes remaining as Mark O’Hara hit a screamer from 25 yards that gave Matthews no chance as it flew high into the net. That goal looked like it had sealed all 3 points for the hosts however, there was another twist still to come.

Saints then made a couple of more changes as Theo Bair and David Wotherspoon were introduced into the action replacing Drey Wright and Graham Carey.

Callum Davidson’s side pressed forward in the closing stages for an equaliser and it dually came deep into the 5 minutes of added on time. Ali Crawford delivered a fine ball into the box from the right and Clark made a sweet connection with it as he sent a delightful overhead kick into the far corner of the net to spark wild celebrations amongst the 473 Saints fans in the Stand behind the goal.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark celebrates his goal

St Mirren: Carson, Tanser, O’Hara, Main (Shaughnessy 84), Kiltie (Gogic 84), Erhahon, Dunne, Greive (Ayunga 75), Fraser, Strain, Gallagher (Brophy 76)

Unused Substitutes: Urminsky (GK), Flynn, Henderson, Reid, Olusanya

Booked: Dunne, Carson, O’Hara, Tanser

Scorers: Kiltie (42), O’Hara (81)

Saints: Matthews, Brown, Considine, Mitchell, McGowan, Wright (Bair 83), Hallberg, Carey (Wotherspoon 84), McLennan (Gordon 64), Murphy (Crawford 67), Clark

Unused Substitutes: Parish(GK), Gallacher, Montgomery, Kucheriavyi, Phillips

Booked: Carey, Hallberg, McGowan

Sent Off: Mitchell

Scorers: Carey (33 pen), Clark (90+6)

Referee: Euan Anderson

VAR: Mike Roncone

Attendance: 5,387 (473 Saints fans)

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Nicky Clark celebrates his dramatic injury-time goal