Dramatic escape for Buddies
In today’s Flashback, we look back on St Mirren’s memorable play-off final clash in 2019, in the wake of their 0-0 draw with the same opponents on Sunday which clinched them seventh spot in the Premiership table.
In a season when their luck was so often out, St Mirren finally hit the jackpot.
Vaclav Hladky was the hero as the Buddies retained their Premiership status in the most dramatic of fashions after over 210 minutes of football couldn’t separate the Saints and Dundee United.
But the keeper’s shootout heroics ensured the air was filled with chants of “We Are Staying Up” long into the Paisley night.
There was no tension – only noise throughout. An absolute wall of it.
A capacity crowd was in after all. Paisley was the only show in town as the bell tolled on another season.
The pandemonium in the stands was replicated on the pitch inside the opening five minutes as both sides, buoyed by frantic backing, played their part in a whirlwind start.
The play was nothing more than helter skelter. The quality might have been lacking but the excitement wasn’t as the action ebbed and flowed from end to end.
Dundee United goalkeeper Benjy Siegrist followed up Thursday night’s heroics inside seven minutes when he did superbly to save Saints skipper Stephen McGinn’s vicious volley.
But the drama was only just beginning as two manic minutes ensured the emotional rollercoaster that was season 2018/19 showed no signs of stopping.
Hearts were in Paisley mouths as Slovakian striker Pavol Safranko gathered the ball with his back to goal but Vaclav Hladky produced a super save to claw his deflected drive away.
However, the ball broke only as far as Callum Booth whose low ball across the face of goal deflected up off of Jack Baird and appeared to hit the defender’s arm.
Referee John Beaton was in no doubt as he immediately pointed to the spot despite the dumbfounded protests of the St Mirren defenders who were clearly aggrieved at the harsh call.
Up-stepped Nicky Clark to wrongfoot Hladky and send the visiting support delirious. But they would soon be silenced, as no sooner had the Saints supporters rediscovered their singing voices the Buddies were back on level terms.
Paul McGinn’s speculative ball forward caused all kinds of problems in a suspect looking United defence as Mark Connolly blazed the ball skyward and over his own head.
As quick as a flash Danny Mullen, fresh from his return to the team, bounded clear of the Arabs backline to smash a volley home first-time, across Siegrist and into the bottom corner.
St Mirren had the ball in the back of the net again just two minutes later but Kyle McAllister’s neat finish was ruled out for offside.
But they could easily have been behind again had Clark hit the target from another teasing Jamie Robson ball across the front of goal.
Kyle Magennis fired over the bar as St Mirren finished the first half with a flourish – but it would have taken a brave man to choose a winner at half-time.
The second half started in the same pinball-like manner as the first as both sides attempted to carve out a lead.
Paul Watson’s header from a Paul McMullan corner required the fingertips of Hladky to prevent the Buddies from going behind again, before Saints upped the tempo and laid siege on United heading into the final 15 minutes.
Cooke was the first to go close as he bounded on to Hladky’s clearance but Siegrist reacted well to block at the Englishman’s feet.
Paul McGinn was next to almost make himself a hero as he latched on to Hodson’s inch-perfect cross but his downward header was again stopped as the tie went into extra-time.
Neither side could fashion a winner in the added 30 minutes, with substitute Duckens Nazon seeing red for an elbow on Connolly.
As the dreaded penalties began, one man was to become a Paisley legend.
Hladky’s three penalty saves from Pawlett, Safranko and Booth ensured he would never be forgotten by St Mirren supporters, with fans spilling from the stands on to the pitch to celebrate with their heroes.
Courtesy of a 2-0 penalty shootout victory, their Premiership status was secured in the most dramatic fashion possible.