Flashback Wylde hits a stunner
With St Mirren out of action during the international break, we’re looking back at the last four games of the 2013/14 season which saw Danny Lennon’s Buddies battling to beat the drop. Today is part two, with the Saints facing Ross County in Paisley on May, 3, 2014 after picking up a point against Partick Thistle.
Super sub Gregg Wylde’s only goal of the game on Saturday ensured Saints continued their recent impressive run and further strengthened their survival push.
The former Rangers winger clambered off the bench to unleash a magical left-footed effort from 25 yards that finally snuffed out County’s stubborn resistance and extended St Mirren’s unbeaten streak to five matches.
Saints won a free-kick early on in a good position 25 yards out when former Saint Graham Carey tugged the shirt of Kenny McLean.
Up stepped McLean with a leftfooted effort that goalkeeper Mark Brown parried behind for a corner.
When the cross came into the box Paul McGowan slashed a shot through a packed penalty box but the Staggies managed to get it cleared.
County midfielder Filip Kiss angled a tame effort wide of the mark after Jordon Slew picked up Marc McAusland’s poor first touch and played him in.
Towards the midway point of the first half midfielder McGowan saw a terrific effort saved by Brown.
Striker Slew won his side a corner on the left towards the half-hour mark. Carey swung it in with his left boot but Thompson managed to get his head to it.
McLean sent a sweetly-disguised shot into the arms of Brown as Saints continued to fashion chances in the final third.
Then Melvin De Leeuw carved out a good opportunity after 38 minutes, sending a deflected shot agonisingly wide for a corner after Saints looked a little slack at the back.
Early into the second 45 Jason Naismith drove low and across the face of goal with no takers on the end of it as Saints grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.
County skipper Brittain was penalised for a foul on left full-back Kelly and McLean was on hand to deliver the free-kick to the back post, where Thompson nodded over.
After 54 minutes McGowan flashed a volley from a Thompson cushioned header over the crossbar as the chances continued, then McGinn and McLean both saw efforts either blocked, or drift wide.
County’s best chance came towards the hour mark when they won a free-kick 30 yards out, slightly to the right of goal. Up stepped Brittain to strike a left-foot shot off the junction of the crossbar and post.
Keeper Dilo came to the rescue after 66 minutes, blocking a De Leeuw effort down at his left.
Striker Thompson saw a header in front of goal drift over after Naismith and Josh Magennis combined on the right. Moments later Thompson again nodded wide, this time from a Goodwin cross.
Saints could sense a goal coming and sure enough it did, courtesy of a beautifully-executed left-foot shot from Wylde with 11 minutes remaining.
County almost equalised when Rocco Quinn sent a volley off the top of the crossbar, but Saints held out to record a richly-deserved victory.