BEN RAMAGE
Ethan Erhahon’s first goal of the season ensured the Buddies gained their revenge against Livingston.
The Buddies wanted to get their own back after Davie Martindale’s side sent them packing out of the League Cup at the same venue earlier this season.
St Mirren were also seeking to bag themselves back-to-back wins, and the travelling fans weren’t disappointed after their latest hard-fought clash with the West Lothian side was settled by Erhahon’s crisp strike in the first half.
The win ensures Jim Goodwin’s side head into the international break with a spring in their step, after what had been a fairly stuttering start to their Premiership campaign.
Having moved onto ten points, the Buddies face the long trip to Dingwall on their return to action when they take on lowly Ross County looking to make it three wins on the spin.
Jim Goodwin stuck with the exact same starting XI that defeated Aberdeen the previous weekend, hoping that lightning would strike twice in West Lothian as the Buddies looked to bag back to back wins for the first time this season.
The visitors started brightly, with Matt
Millar finding space on the right wing before cutting back to Eamonn Brophy on the edge of the box. The former Killie striker fired harmlessly wide.
Alan Power was marshalling the midfield well, controlling the ball under pressure on numerous occasions to try and spark St Mirren attacks.
Unfortunately the Buddies were struggling to create any clear cut chances, despite pressing the hosts well and forcing them to play long.
Jamie McGrath almost released Millar in behind with a clever through ball, but Livi keeper Max Stryjek was alert to the danger and quickly rushed off his line to snuff out the danger.
The hosts found a foothold in the match around the 20 minute mark.
After some neat play from Stephane Omeonga in the heart of midfield to beat two Saints players, Odin Bailey lashed at goal from just inside the box which Jak Alnwick did well to beat away to safety.
Millar was causing the Lions problems down the right wing and he flew past Jackson Longridge before cutting back a teasing cross which was begging to be slotted home. Unfortunately for the travelling Saints fans there were no takers this time around.
St Mirren were looking dangerous on the counter-attack, and they opened the scoring after a quick break when Connor Ronan brought the ball out from a Livingston corner.
With the scrambled Livi defence retreating, he found Marcus Fraser who took his time before picking out Ethan Erhahon. The midfielder turned inside before slamming into the bottom corner, with Stryjek likely feeling he should have dealt better with the near-post effort.
The goal seemed to spark the game into life, with Livingston determined to level before the break.
Andrew Shinnie’s clever through ball sent James Penrice in behind the Saints defence, with Alnwick producing a tremendous one-handed save to keep his side ahead.
Omeonga then tried his luck from distance, with Alnwick comfortably holding the former Hibs midfielder’s ambitious strike.
Ronan tried to go one better, but his stinging 30-yard effort fizzed harmlessly past Stryjek’s left hand post.
Chances were flying in at either end as the game hurtled towards half-time, with Alan Forrest next to let fly from just inside the Saints box.
His low drive deflected wide, before the Lions went even closer to levelling when Obileye’s fierce strike from a corner was desperately blocked on the line.
That crucial interception ensured St Mirren went into the break with their one goal advantage intact.
Both teams returned unchanged, with Livi picking up where they left off on the front foot. Jacksone Longridge swivelled inside his marker with a great turn before unleashing a shot which deflected narrowly wide of Alnwick’s right post.
The hosts were forced into an early change when former Aberdeen striker Bruce Anderson replaced the injured Shinnie.
They continued to press for an equaliser and almost grabbed it when Millar was beaten to the ball inside the box by Bailey.
His powerful shot looked destined to find the net, but skipper Shaughnessy’s trailing leg diverted the effort just over the bar with Alnwick stranded.
Scott Tanser’s set pieces have become a deadly weapon for the Buddies this season, and his brilliant free-kick picked out Millar on the edge of the six-yard box. He headed straight at Stryjek with the goal at his mercy.
Goodwin turned to striker Curtis Main to give his side more presence in the final third, with midfielder Ronan making way as the Buddies switched to two up front for the last 25 minutes.
Obileye found the side netting with a low strike from a free-kick as the Paisley side continued to hang on for all three points.
The Buddies almost made the result certain when McCarthy blazed over another pinpoint Tanser delivery, when it actually looked easier to score.
In the end the Saints did well to hold out for a huge six minutes of extra time to seal an impressive second win on the spin heading into the upcoming international break.
ALAN POWER: While Ethan Erhahon grabbed the headlines with his winner, Power was a calming influence in midfield throughout this frantic clash. The former Killie man dominated the middle of the park, ensuring Saints were never overrun by the Lions.
REFEREE
Grant Irvine