Flashback Buddies win battle of the Saints at the death
Ahead of today’s crunch edition of the battle of the Saints, we’ve looked back at a seven-goal thriller in Paisley between the two sides back in October, 2013.
It was Danny Lennon’s side who edged this battle of the Saints in a game which served up seven goals, two penalties, one missed spot kick, a red card and a last gasp winner.
Kenny McLean fired St Mirren into the lead, but Steven MacLean levelled matters for the Perth Saints.
Paul McGowan made it 2-1 in the second half, before Nigel Hasselbaink restored parity.
Jim Goodwin blasted a spot-kick off the body of Alan Mannus but McLean bagged his second from 12 yards for 3-2 after Frazer Wright was red carded.
Substitute Rory Fallon levelled the game once again with time running out, then Steven Thompson struck in the 89th minute to secure all three points
The Paisley Saints took the lead after eight minutes when McLean picked up McGowan’s pass in an advanced position and, as the visitors looked for an offside flag, McLean produced a low shot into the bottom right hand corner from 12 yards.
The visitors drew level after 17 minutes when former Saints striker Hasselbaink picked up Stevie’s
May’s return pass in the penalty box and squared it for MacLean to slide home from inside the six yard box.
Hasselbaink brought out an excellent save from keeper Chris
Dilo after 29 minutes, the French ace leaping to his left to parry away his shot after he collected Brian Easton’s pass.
Early in the second 45, defender Lee Mair was penalised for a foul and the Perth Saints won a free-kick, but May’s effort struck the wall.
David Wotherspoon sent a free header inches over as he connected with Easton’s cross, before Gary McDonald avoided a booking for going through the back of McGowan 19 yards out on the angle of the box.
Up stepped Goodwin with the shot, but it deflected wide.
Saints took the lead in unexpected fashion with a simple through ball from Mair and it reached McGowan in the penalty box.
The midfielder raced on to it, showed great composure and slotted it beyond the exposed Mannus.
Back came the Perth Saints and, within a matter of minutes, it was
2-2.
Chris Millar got the better of John McGinn down the right, reached the bye-line and the midfielder cut it back for Hasselbaink to smash it low and home.
After 68 minutes, St Mirren won a penalty kick when MacLean nudged McLean to the ground as he picked up a Thompson pass.
Unfortunately, for the hosts, Goodwin blasted his shot off the body of Mannus.
McGinn tried to head home the rebound, but Mannus recovered quickly to make the save.
There was another spot kick when McGowan went to ground after a nudge in the box from Wright as they chased a Goodwin header upfield.
Wright had been booked earlier, but this time referee Willie Collum flashed a straight red.
McLean stepped up in place of Goodwin to send Mannus the wrong way for 3-2.
Keeper Dilo picked up a knock when he tried to come for an Easton free-kick.
He needed treatment from physio Gerry Docherty and, when play resumed, he looked a little uncertain.
Seconds later, it was 3-3 when May flashed a cross to the back post and sub Fallon was on hand to send it high into the net.
However, the pendulum swung in the home team’s favour when a McLean free-kick into the dangerzone was knocked on by Darren McGregor to Thompson.
The big striker showed great composure to crack it into the net for 4-3, sparking wild celebrations in the home ends.