Poor show but Saints take home the points
Craig Ritchie St Mirren made hard work of lowly Brechin City as they stumbled across the line to all three points.
Any assertions of an easy afternoon were dispelled over the course of a turgid second-half that saw the visitors rattle the post, and put Saints under pressure at every opportunity.
St Mirren supporters have come to expect a certain brand of free-flowing football in Paisley this season, but frustrations were clear across the ground as fans let their disappointment be known to the players and the management team at the display on offer. the back of the net via the bar and keeper Patrick O’Neil’s back.
It may be one for the dubious goal panel – but Magennis will be claiming it, and probably deserves it for the technique alone.
The Buddies soon had the bit between their teeth with skipper Stephen McGinn forcing a corner, from which Harry Davis was pulled down by City debutant Kostadin Gadzhalov, who only joined them on loan from Dundee on Friday.
Referee Steven McLean had no option other than to point to the spot, but Ian McShane had his head in his hands after stepping up to hit the penalty kick, watching as O’Neil got down well to palm the ball around the post.
Opportunities continued to come thick and fast, with Cammy Smith pouncing on a loose back-pass from James Dale before firing from the edge of the box.
Namesake Liam Smith then had another effort, though he again blazed over, this time on the angle as the Saints headed into the break with a slender advantage. Star Saint: Adam Eckersley On a disappointing day for St Mirren, Eckersley provided a bright spark down the left hand side as Saints held on for all three points.
The Buddies stormed out of the traps in the second half, intent on doubling their lead as early as possible.
Cammy Smith was the first to have a goal, clattering the crossbar from range after finding space on the edge of the area.
But the Buddies’ hearts were in their mouths moments later as the visitors too hit the woodwork from distance.
Former Livingston man Liam Watt weaved clear from his marker before curling a stunning strike which left Craig Samson rooted to his spot, watching as
the ball cannoned back off his far post.
Frustrations were starting to boil over in the stands, with St Mirren seemingly struggling to take a stranglehold of proceedings against their lowly opponents.
One particular call from the crowd, calling for the Saints management team to take the game seriously, drew a stare from both Jack Ross and James Fowler with the duo clearly unimpressed by the assertion that they weren’t already.
But it would be fair to point out that St Mirren were making hard work of the clash.
Dylan Mackin forced a fine save from Craig Samson at the other end as Brechin cranked up the pressure with 15 minutes to go.
City boss Darren Dods clearly sensed blood as he introduced strikers Kalvin Orsi and Isaac Layne in the closing stages. Former St Mirren midfielder Craig Storie was also brought on for his debut to give Brechin a bit of dig in the middle of the park.
And the trio were ably backed-up by the Buddies inability to thread a series of passes together.
On another day, the visitors would have perhaps taken something from the game, with St Mirren fortunate to come up against a side sitting at the bottom of the league without a win to their name.
Although Brechin would force a corner deep into stoppage time, St Mirren held on to claw out what could prove to be a big three points in the title race.