Flashback Saints put on a show
In today’s Flashback, we look back on an entertaining clash between St Mirren and Dundee United in March, 2017 ahead of the Terrors’ visit to Paisley this Sunday.
The quest for Championship survival was well and truly on in Paisley as St Mirren secured another crucial three points in their bid to beat the drop.
Victory over promotion- chasing Dundee United meant that one point was all that stood between Saints and ninth placed Ayr United as the season entered its final eight weeks.
The Paisley side stormed out of the traps to catch United cold inside the opening two minutes with a well-worked set piece routine after William Edjenguele was penalised for a handball 25 yards from goal.
Called up to the Scotland under-21s squad on the same day, Mallan floated a free-kick towards for the back post, where Loy lay in wait to head back across goal.
Striker John Sutton managed to get a crucial nod on and Harry Davis was on hand to prod home from two yards out.
The visitors found an unlikely route back into the game in 32 minutes.
Saints’ failure to deal with a corner saw the ball break back out to Simon Murray on the left hand side of the box. The former Arbroath striker drove across the face of goal and there was Tony Andreu to sweep home the leveller.
St Mirren were back ahead within a matter of minutes thanks to another free-kick.
A crude challenge from Willo Flood on Loy saw Mallan line up from close to the touchline before firing a trademark stunner from the best part of 25 yards into the bottom corner to send the home support into raptures.
Dundee United started the second half on the front foot, with Andreu coming within a whisker of levelling the scoring yet again as he saw his header from a Murray cross come crashing off the post with keeper Billy O’Brien beaten.
Saints bagged the crucial third right on the hour mark. Smith burst down the wing, forcing his way beyond Robson before squaring across the face of goal. They all had a go, Loy first, before Sutton had an effort blocked from two yards out. But Saints’ luck was in as the rebound fell nicely to Morgan at the far post to fire home on the angle
Andreu fired an unstoppable strike low into the bottom corner from 20 yards out to give the Buddies a late scare, but Jack Ross’ side held on for the crucial three points.