Samson saves again but credits Mullen for win

Craig Samson shook off his hero tag after saving his fifth penalty of the season.

Instead the St Mirren keeper admitted he could have easily been the villain had he not made the crucial save to stop Sofien Moussa putting Dundee in front.

The Saints stopper was pivotal to the Buddies’ first win upon their return to the top flight, making countless blocks to keep the Dee at bay.

But he insisted it was the least he could do – after being the one to give away the penalty in the first place.

The 34- year- old said: “I saved a penalty, but if I didn’t then the papers would read that I lost St Mirren the game.

“That’s how close it can be between being the hero and being the villain.

“If I save it then I’m a hero and if I don’t then no one will really blame me – apart from this game because I gave it away.

“I shouldn’t have given it away in the first place, so, if I am going to give it away then I need to save it.

“I suppose I got myself out of a hole after a mix up between me and big Cole. “It is what it is. “On another day the striker will score but it was my day.

“I think that’s the fifth penalty I’ve already saved this season.

“We have had a lot of penalties but as goalkeepers you do your homework and you watch people hitting them.

“I just thought today that going to my left was the way I would go and luckily enough for me I chose the right way.”

The experienced stopper instead singled out Saints striker Danny Mullen for praise after the former Livingston man’s double sealed the three points in a 2-1 win.

He said: “Danny is what I would call a game player.

“During the games that wee guy gives everything he possibly can.

“People might say he doesn’t score enough goals but there he has gone and popped in two in his first game in the Premiership.

“I honestly couldn’t be happier for the wee guy, he is so likeable it is frightening.

“Out on that park he gives it absolutely everything every single week.”

And Samson revealed he felt sorry for Dundee keeper Jack Hamilton after the keeper’s late mistake gifted the Buddies the points late on.

He said: “Of course I have sympathy for him because it has happened to me in the exact same place before.

“Leigh Griffiths took the ball off me in the exact same place and put it in an empty net. I am sure Jack will learn from it.

“It’s the job that we are in, if we make a mistake then it goes in.”