El Alagui hits late winner to swing thriller

FARID El Alagui did not take long to endear himself to fans as the short-term signing conjured up the winning goal in a 4-3 victory over

at East End Park. The striker came on as a secondhalf substitute and ended a pulsating evening by taking advantage of a hesitant St Mirren defence to net with just five minutes left.

Beforehand, John Sutton had scored twice to give St Mirren a 2-1 half-time lead but, after Nicky Clark’s opener, an own goal from Andy Webster and another from Clark had put Dunfermline 3-2 up with 10 minutes left. Ryan Hardie equalised but Dunfermline pushed St Mirren into deeper trouble at the bottom with El Alagui’s scoring instinct.

left it late to secure a 2-0 victory against in a game that failed to live up to expectation.

It was Ayr who came closest in the second half when Danny Rogers pulled off an excellent save to keep out a Kevin Nesbit volley.

It was the warning Falkirk needed and they made the breakthrough with 11 minutes left when a corner caused confusion and David McCracken’s header went in off Darryl Meggatt. Substitute Lee Miller then rubbed salt in the wound by scoring a second.

took revenge after their Betfred Cup exit in midweek by beating 2-1 at Tannadice.

Tony Andreu put United ahead midway through the second half and the Frenchman scored his second late on before Sean Dillon turned the ball into his own net for a late consolation for Morton.

survived a fightback to win 3-2. First-half goals from Kevin McHattie, Ross Callachan and Scott Roberts looked to have settled it.

But Dumbarton hit back with second-half strikes from Ryan Stevenson and Joseph Thomson before being reduced to 10 men.

St Mirren Falkirk Morton Raith Rovers Dumbarton Dunfermline Ayr United Dundee United