A 99th minute penalty from Roland Idowu sees St Mirren run out 3-2 winners at McDiarmid Park as they climb into the top 6.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson made two changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Motherwell last weekend. Alex Iacovitti returned from a long spell on the sidelines, replacing the suspended Alex Gogic and Mikael Mandron started ahead of Toyosi Olusanya at the focal point of the Buddies’ attack.

St Johnstone also made 2 changes with Croatian defender Bozo Mikulic replacing Kyle Cameron in the heart of the Perth sides’ defence and Adama Sidibeh came in for Sven Sprangler.

In a half where clear cut chances were few and far between, the deadlock was broken after 10 minutes by the visitors. A well-timed pass by Mandron found Killian Phillips in acres of space and the Irishman calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net putting his side in front.

The away side continued to pile on the pressure, utilising the wide areas and smart, interchanging runs from Greg Kiltie and Conor McMenamin caused the home side issues.

An expert pass from McMenamin found Kiltie in the box but the Saints number 11 couldn’t get the ball under control in what would have been almost a certain 2nd goal.

Up the other end, Ellery Balcombe gathered 2 trickling shots from Sidibeh as the home side became more threatening in the closing stages as the half fizzled out.

Half Time: St Johnstone 1-0 St Mirren

St Johnstone came out firing in the second half and dominated the opening stages.

Benjamin Kimpioka was a thorn in the side of the St Mirren defence, effortlessly gliding through their back line and linking up well with Sidibeh but it was Mackenzie Kirk who squeezed the ball past Balcombe from a tight angle to level the game for the hosts.

Trouble would hit St Mirren as ever-present centre back Richard Taylor had to be stretched off, in what they hope will be less severe than it looked. Stephen Robinson would turn to his bench and introduce youngster Luke Kenny to the fold.

The Saintees continued to pile on the pressure and the visitors would have Kenny to thank to keep Sidibeh at bay. The pacy striker went racing through after a mix up from Marcus Fraser and Alex Iacovitti but the St Mirren academy product stood firm and made an important interception in his box.

The away side looked to their bench to try and turn the tide of the game. Toyosi Olusanya, Declan John and Roland Idowu entered the game with immediate effect. Olusanya let the ball run through to John who crossed the ball and Phillips flashed his effort over the crossbar.

With 10 minutes to go, Kimpioka used his trickery to ease past Bwomono. He played a pass to Drey Wright before receiving the return and firing his side ahead.

The game looked dead and buried for St Mirren but highly rated 17 year old Evan Mooney had other ideas. Phillips looked to be taken out by Rae in the St Johnstone goal but Mooney was first to react at smashed the ball into the back of the net with 2 minutes left to play. His first professional goal breathed much needed life into the Buddies who went searching for a winner. Olusanya’s effort forced an excellent save from Josh Rae.

St Johnstone had a chance of their own, Nicky Clark heading over the bar with a chance he ought to have done better. 7 minutes of added time followed.

Roland Idowu danced and weaved through the St Johnstone low block and his shot hit the hand of  Drey Wright and after a lengthy VAR check a penalty was awarded.

St Mirren captain Mark O’Hara stepped up but after a stuttered run up his penalty was saved, yet again. Elation in the home end was short lived though as the penalty was ordered to be retaken with the St Johnstone stopper coming off his line.

This time, Idowu took the ball and put it straight down the middle, snatching the game at the death.

St Johnstone look ahead to a tough trip to Tynecastle next weekend meanwhile the Buddies make the long trip north to Dingwall to face Ross County.

Full Time: St Johnstone 3-2 St Mirren

Teams:

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

St Johnstone– Rae (GK), Mikulic, Sanders, Neilson (Keltjens, 46”), Holt, Clark (C), Wright, Sidibeh, Smith, Kirk, Kimpioka