Saints sink Pars to stretch lead
St Mirren............2 Dunfermline ......0
Craig Ritchie
The bandwagon keeps on trundling along nicely... and all without Lewis Morgan.
Some jibes had been thrown at St Mirren this season, a one-man team they said. There is no doubting that Morgan has been brilliant, but for those that have watched Saints most weeks this season they would know those ignorant assertions are more than misinformed. And so the side proved on Saturday. Unfortunately for Morgan, a bout of tonsillitis on the eve of Saturday’s game meant he was nowhere to be seen at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
But with misfortune came opportunity for January signing Danny Mullen – and he took it.
The former Livingston man did everything but score his first goal as St Mirren pretty much dominated from start to finish barring a few scares that kept them on their toes.
In the end Harry Davis’ penalty and Liam Smith’s stunner of a strike were more than enough to sink a Dunfermline side a shadow of the one once touted to be title threats.
The win moves St Mirren 11 points clear at the top of table after Livingston and Dundee United both found their games postponed. Star Saint: Danny Mullen Mullen was in superb form operating up front with Gavin Reilly in what was easily his best display for the Paisley side. Looks like he could be a real asset in the closing weeks of the season. Match Facts
Score - St Mirren 2 Dunfermline 0 Scorers - Davis, Smith Bookings - Talbot (17), Robinson (69), Morris (81) Red Carded - Talbot (68) Referee - Nick Walsh Attendance - 4,240 Teams: St Mirren Samson, L Smith, Eckersley, MacKenzie, Davis, McGinn, Flynn, Magennis (McShane 87), C Smith, Mullen (Baird 80), Reilly 6 (Hippolyte 85). Subs not used: Stewart, Stelios, Hill and Sutton. Dunfermline Robinson, Williamson, Talbot, M’Voto, Ashcroft, Vincent, Beadling, Craigen (Martin 70), Armstrong (Cardle 57), Clark, McManus (Morris 75). Subs not used: Gill, Wedderburn, Higginbotham and Ryan.
Undetered St Mrrren went on the front foot, creating a number of opportunities as they grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck on the hour.
Chances came but Saints were soon handed a golden opportunity from the penalty spot after Mullen was upended in the box by Talbot.
The Pars full-back was dismissed for a second booking but the visitors’ woes were compounded as Davis slotted home the resulting spot-kick.
There was no stopping the Buddies now and, with an 11-point lead now within their sights, they raced into a twogoal lead within three minutes.
Dunfermline’s failure to clear their lines from a Kyle Magennis corner saw the ball eventually drop to full- back Smith and the on-loan Hearts man didn’t need asking twice as he hammered home from the edge of the box, giving Robinson no chance as the ball flew into the bottom corner.