ST MIRREN.........................................1 DUNDEE UNITED..............................2
St Mirren crashed out of the Scottish Cup with a real Jekyll and Hyde performance in which the Buddies left themselves with too much to do in the second half.
Dundee United dominated the opening 45 minutes, taking a 2-0 lead into the break.
Pavol Šafranko opened the scoring for the Terrors on the 15 minute mark, before Nicky Clark added a classy second on the stroke of half-time.
In truth, had it not been for the heroics of Václav Hladký in the St Mirren goal, the game could have been all over after half an hour with the Czech keeper regularly bailing out the porous Buddies backline.
Meanwhile, misplaced passes and poor decision-making in the Saints midfield gave plenty of encouragement for United.
Yet St Mirren were rejuvenated by the sending-off of Calum Butcher on the 62 minute mark and had Saints fans believing when Duckens Nazon reduced the arrears in the latter stages.
Mihai Popescu had earlier come close to netting as he rattled the bar with a powerful strike.
In spite of late pressure, the Buddies couldn’t force a replay - and would be left rueing an error-strewn first-half in which United took full advantage - as St Mirren’s full attention now turns to the league.
Oran Kearney’s starting 11 contained three changes from the midweek defeat to Motherwell, two of them enforced with experienced duo Stephen McGinn and Anton Ferdinand missing out through injury, while striker Simeon Jackson started on the bench.
In came Cameron MacPherson, Greg Tansey and Ryan Flynn as St Mirren started in a cautious 4-4-1 formation, with Anders Dreyer operating slightly behind Duckens Nazon in attack.
Dundee United meanwhile, backed by 1,500 vocal travelling supporters, lined up with several new January signings, including former Saints star Cammy Smith.
After a slight delay in kick- off - stewards had to remove dozens of toilet rolls hurled by United supporters into the St Mirren net - the home side were first to threaten.
Greg Tansey’s curled effort from the edge of the box was comfortably held by Terrors keeper Benjamin Siegrist.
It was United who deservedly opened the scoring.
Pavol Šafranko diverted home Peter Pawlett’s low effort on the rebound, after Václav Hladký’s superb double save denied both Nicky Clark and Šafranko from close range.
The keeper, and the onlooking Oran Kearney, will have been furious with the Saints’ defence, as United had three opportunities to turn the ball home, unopposed.
Moments later, Hladký prevented the Buddies from going two behind, the keeper making himself big to deny Šafranko as the striker poured forward on the counter attack and got behind the Saints back-line in search of his second goal.
As confidence oozed through the visitors, St Mirren got themselves forward in search of an equaliser - Brad Lyons connected with Greg Tansey’s corner but could only head over the bar.
But again, it was Hladký at the centre of the action, the Buddies stopper reacting smartly to keep out Šafranko after more hesitancy in the home defence.
The rebound, which fell to Ian Harkes, was well blocked by Mateo Muzek, as the St Mirren support grew increasingly frustrated. Hladký then held Cammy Smith’s low drive.
Eventually, the Saints keeper would be beaten again. St Mirren’s centre backs were once more caught napping under a high, hopeful United ball dropping at the edge of the box.
Clark reacted first, and stabbed a