Iredale terrier keeps Ton on track as Sons suffer
LATE NIGHT’S SPFL ACTION MORTON ......... 3 D’BARTON ...... 3 DUNDEE UTD..1 ST MIRREN..0
JACK IREDALE’S last-gasp winner kept Morton’s promotion dream alive in an incredible second half of drama at Cappielow.
Tom O’Ware’s late own goal looked to have given Dumbarton a point in their quest to avoid the relegation play-off spot.
But defender Iredale stabbed the ball home to keep Morton on the coattails of fourth-placed Dundee United, while Sons remain eight points behind Falkirk.
Cappielow boss Jim Duffy said: “The one thing I’d say about us is we keep hanging on in there and we keep fighting.
“We’ll fight right to the last game. With three games to go, we’re still in the mix.”
After a goalless first 45 Danny Handling put Sons ahead in 55 minutes.
Ton hit back and Gary Fraser lashed home before John Baird’s swivel and finish made it 2-1.
O’Ware diverted Liam Burt’s effort into his own net before Iredale, with the goal at his mercy, slotted home the crucial winner.
Sons boss Stevie Aitken said: “We have still got four games to go. There is no room for error now.” IT’S just as well champagne doesn’t easily go off. For the second time in four days St Mirren had to stick the plonk back in the fridge.
Events elsewhere wrecked the party at Brechin last weekend but this time it was in their own hands as Dundee United burst their bubbles.
Billy King pounced after just two minutes to put a cork in it for the huge band of Buddies in the away end and help the Tannadice men take a huge step towards sealing a play-off spot.
It wasn’t always pretty as Csaba Laszlo’s side got stuck in but it got the job done and halted a horrible slide.
Meanwhile, the wait goes on for Saints. They still need a point but didn’t quite do enough MICHAEL GANNON AT TANNADICE to nab one last night but will have the chance to seal the deal in front of their own faithful against Livingston on Saturday.
Jack Ross’s men remain in solid shape. They didn’t have a wobble on Tayside – they just ran into a side determined to scrap their way out of a tailspin.
Scrap being the right word. This was a battle for every inch and the seven yellow cards could’ve been double that amount if ref Andrew Dallas had taken the fancy.
At least it proved United still have the stomach for the fight – and were in no mood to allow another title party on their own patch.
The Arabs have had to suffer the likes of Celtic and Rangers winning leagues at Tannadice and were not going to give St Mirren the pleasure.
Saints supporters invaded Brechin and it looked like they had set up camp on Tayside with another huge following at Tannadice.
The Buddies filled the Shed – while Arabs could barely fill a Ford Fiesta.
Talk about a contrast. United’s season has unravelled on the back of a horror run of just two wins in their last 12. Faith is in short supply in these parts and even the diehards can’t see their side plotting their way through the minefield of the play-offs if they get there.
The team’s confidence has been shot to bits in recent weeks, so it was no wonder the Paisley crew were in party mood before kick-off.
United stuck a pin in the balloons within two minutes though. It was a cracking bit of play from Paul McMullan to burst into space and slide across the face.
Thomas Mikkelsen managed to make a nuisance of himself and nudge the ball on its way into King’s path for him to drill into the bottom corner.
The Shed were stunned into