Victory will ease derby misery Gregor’s ready to forget all about Morton penalty drama

Gregor Buchanan has targeted turning his derby nightmare into a Tangerine dream as St Mirren return to action this afternoon.

The Saints centre back was the fall guy in last weekend’s clash with Greenock Morton, as he gave away the penalty that allowed Gary Harkins to strike the equaliser in a tightlycontested encounter.

Both managers were vocal in their criticism of referee Steven McLean in the aftermath of the encounter, and having watched the game back Buchanan insists that he still isn’t convinced his offence warranted the whistler pointing to the spot.

Buchanan told Express Sport: “I thought it was soft, to be brutally honest.

“I have seen it played back and I still think it is soft . But it’s in the past now, and I can’t do anything about it.

“I am sure the referee has watched it back too. I am not sure if he has changed his mind now, but I didn’t think at the time it was a penalty.

“The box is a delicate area and you have to be careful when you are in there.

“But, if you are going to give a penalty for that sort of incident, then you are going to have to give 10 penalty kicks a week.”

Buchanan is in line to return to the squad this afternoon as the Saints make the trip to Tannadice to take on managerless United.

And he revealed he hopes to replicate the results he has managed there in the past, having secured survival with Dumbarton in Tayside last year against all odds.

He added: “Your home games are obviously the most important, but it is also key that when you go to tough away games you don’t get beaten.

“You to be resolute in these games. But we are looking to go and win and that doesn’t change just because it is Dundee United that we are facing.

“On a personal level, Tannadice hasn’t been a bad ground for me and I have fond memories of going up there with Dumbarton.

“In terms of results I’ve had up there, it has been one of the better grounds for me at this level.

“I want to keep that momentum going playing in these good places to play football and hopefully get the three points.”