St Mirren 3-2 Saints

Stevie May gave Saints the lead from the penalty spot on 22 minutes after David Wotherspoon had been fouled by former Saints player Joe Shaughnessy.

The Buddies equalised on 38 minutes thanks to an Ethan Erhahon strike. But Saints regained the lead on 44 minutes as Scott Tanser sent his low right-footed shot from 20 yards into the corner of the net.

However, barely a minute later Saints were reduced to ten men as Jason Kerr was sent off after he had lunged in on Ilkay Durmuş.

Saints defended resolutely during the second half but the hosts eventually got the leveller on 82 minutes as Lee Erwin headed home. Then 3 minutes from time the Paisley Saints won the match thanks to a header from substitute Jon Obika.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Rangers on Wednesday evening, kick off 6pm.

MATCH REPORT

After progressing to the semi-finals of the Betfred Cup on Tuesday evening with a penalty shootout win against Dunfermline Athletic, Saints were back in league action this afternoon as they made the trip to Paisley to take on St Mirren at the SMISA Stadium. Callum Davidson made four changes to the side for this afternoon’s game as Danny McNamara, Jamie McCart, Craig Conway and Stevie May, who was making his one hundredth Scottish Premiership appearance for Saints this afternoon, came into replace Callum Booth, Shaun Rooney, Liam Craig and Chris Kane. St Mirren also progressed to the Betfred Cup semi-finals in midweek with a 3-2 win at home to Rangers and manager Jim Goodwin made two changes to his starting eleven for today’s game. Both Brandon Mason and Jon Obika dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Ilkay Durmuş and Lee Erwin.

It was a cold and windy afternoon in Paisley as Saints got the match underway. The first opportunity of the match came for the hosts on 14 minutes as Lee Erwin’s shot from the edge of the box was palmed away by Zander Clark. Then 4 minutes later Jamie McGrath did well to lose Murray Davidson before advancing towards the Saints box but he dragged his effort wide of Clark’s right-hand post.

On 21 minutes Saints were awarded a penalty after former Saints player Joe Shaughnessy hauled down David Wotherspoon in the box and the St Mirren captain was subsequently booked for the foul. Stevie May placed the ball on the spot and despite Buddies keeper Jak Alnwick getting a touch on the ball the Saints striker slotted the ball low and powerfully into the right-hand corner of the net to give Saints the lead.

That goal gave Saints confidence and just after the half an hour mark Craig Conway took advantage of a mistake by Richard Tait and he drove forward before seeing his effort saved by Alnwick.

The Paisley Saints levelled the match on 38 minutes as a ball into the box was not dealt with by Saints and it fell to Ethan Erhahon. The midfielder drove his shot down into the turf and into the top corner of the net.

Saints though were soon back in front with a minute of the first half remaining. Conway’s cross from the left was deflected off Shaughnessy and into the path Scott Tanser. The Saints defender made space for himself as he cut inside before sending a low curling right-footed effort past Alnwick and into the corner of the net.

A minute after taking the lead Saints suffered a setback as captain Jason Kerr was sent off for a lunge on Ilkay Durmuş. The resultant free kick was taken by Durmuş and he sent a high ball into the box which Clark tipped behind for a corner.

Despite being a man down Saints were playing well and limiting St Mirren’s chances in front of goal as on 56 minutes Jamie McCart made a good block to deny Shaughnessy.

Saints were playing on the counter and 3 minutes later this almost got a third goal as a Conway cross picked out Liam Gordon but his header was brilliantly tipped over by Alnwick.

Both sides made changes just after the hour mark as Shaun Rooney came on to replace Craig Conway. Whilst St Mirren made a double change as Ethan Erhahon and Dylan Connolly were replaced by Kyle McAllister and Jon Obika as they looked to try and find a way past Saints who were defending well.

On 74 minutes one of St Mirren’s substitutes Jon Obika gave a glimpse of the creative spark he could offer the Buddies as he dragged an effort wide.

Both side then made a double change as the hosts brought on Brandon Mason and Cameron MacPherson for Marcus Fraser and Ilkay Durmuş. Whilst Craig Bryson and Callum Hendry came on for Saints to replace David Wotherspoon and Stevie May.

On 82 minutes the Saints rearguard was finally breached as the hosts equalised courtesy of a Lee Erwin header. Substitute Kyle McAllister sent a deep cross from the right into the Saints box and Erwin got his head to it to send it past Clark.

Then with 3 minutes remaining St Mirren got the winner. McAllister was again the architect as his delivery into the Saints box fell nicely to Obika who headed home the winner for the Paisley side.

It could have got even worse for Saints deep into the 5 minutes of stoppage time as the hosts were awarded a free kick just outside the box after substitute Junior Morias had been fouled by Ali McCann. The free kick was taken by MacPherson and he curled his effort around the Saints wall and it cannoned off the post with Clark beaten.

St Mirren: Alnwick, Tait, Shaughnessy, McCarthy, Doyle-Hayes, Durmuş (Mason 74), McGrath, Connolly (Obika 61), Fraser (MacPherson 74), Erwin (Morias 85), Erhahon (McAllister 61)

Unused Substitutes: Lyness (GK), Flynn, Finlayson, Foley

Booked: Shaughnessy

Scorers: Erhahon (38), Erwin (82), Obika (87)

Saints: Clark, Kerr, Tanser, Davidson (Melamed 90), McCart, May (Hendry 75), Conway (Rooney 61), Wotherspoon (Bryson 75), McCann, Gordon, McNamara

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Booth, Craig, Kane, Ferguson

Booked: McCann, McCart

Sent Off: Kerr

Scorers: May (22 pen), Tanser (44)

Referee: Steven McLean

Attendance: BCD

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Stevie May converts his penalty to give Saints a 1-0 lead