Ten-man Saints turn on the style
MIRREN MATCHES AS THEY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME
Livingston...............1
St Mirren................3
Ten- man St Mirren ended Livingston’s 17- game unbeaten run with a thumping victory that showcased their promotion credentials.
A Craig Halkett own-goal handed the Paisley side an early initiative, only for the Livi skipper to level the tie at the other end. Gary Irvine’s red card put any danger of an away win in doubt, only for two second-half strikes from Gavin Reilly to give St Mirren a deserved win.
In an action-packed encounter, which also saw Jack Ross sent to the stands, Saints were well worth their victory as they produced a steely performance that Ross’ side has started to pride themselves on.
St Mirren got off to a fast start as Lewis Morgan registered the game’s first shot on target inside the opening two minutes.
And despite their new-look shape it was St Mirren that looked the more comfortable of the two teams inside the opening exchanges.
Their positive play was rewarded inside 10 minutes with captain Stephen McGinn creating some luck for his side following a bursting run up the park.
The skipper out-muscled his markers before fizzing a vicious ball across the face of goal. Unfortunately for Livi captain Craig Halkett, his outstretched foot only managed to send the ball looping over his stranded keeper Neil Alexander to put the Saints in front.
Gavin Reilly then blew a glorious opportunity to double St Mirren’s advantage as he pulled his shot wide of goal.
However, it would only take David Hopkin’s side six minutes to restore parity following a whirlwind start at Almondvale.
And Livi’s sinner turned saviour as Halkett thundered home an unmarked header from Josh Mullin’s corner to give Samson no chance of replicating his heroics from moments earlier.
The tie was turned on its head in the 34th minute when St Mirren were reduced to 10 men. In a contentious call, Gary Irvine was the guilty party with referee Craig Thomson adjudging his sliding tackle on Dale Carrick to have been out of control.
Saints skipper McGinn took exception to the call as the bodies rushed in to contest the ref’s decision, but Irvine walked without much complaint.
Matching the St Mirren defence man on man, Livingston were getting most joy by stretching the backline of 10-man Saints and getting balls into the box.
Despite finding themselves a man down, seven minutes into the second half 10-man St Mirren found themselves back in front.
Ian McShane’s free-kick into the box, after Morgan was brought down, broke to Cammy Smith. The in-form frontman volleyed for goal but Alexander was able to parry away. But the former Scotland keeper’s luck was out as he could only divert into the path of Reilly, with the former Queen of the South man firing home into the empty net from close range.
And no sooner had the celebrations died down, St Mirren found themselves 3-1 in front.
Another McShane free-kick into the Livi box wreaked havoc with what was fast looking a fragile defence, finding the head of Stelios at the far post.
The Cypriot headed back across the face of goal to find Reilly again unmarked to volley home into the top corner.
Reilly soon left the field to a standing ovation from the large and vocal travelling support, as Jack Ross made his first change of the afternoon.
Just as the drama was beginning to subside, however, Ross stepped in to ramp it back up.
A poor tackle from old foe Danny Mullen on Stelios left the full back requiring treatment.
Ross raced from his technical area to vent his frustration at ref Thomson only for the whistler to waste no time in sending him to the stands.
The manager’s dismissal did little to turn the tide back in the favour of the hosts, though Livi sub Niko Todorov came closest to pulling a goal back in the closing stages, cracking the bar with a strike from just inside the box.
But the Buddies held on, looking the more comfortable of the two sides.