Buddies on a roll, insists hat-trick hero

DUNDEE 2 ST MIRREN 3

Cody Cooke says St Mirren are on a roll that could spare them the pain of relegation.

Striker Cooke climbed off the bench to fire a hat-trick as Oran Kearney’s side claimed a 3-2 win over Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday.

But the result was not enough to save the Buddies from finishing in the relegation playoff spot. They will now have to fight for their top-flight lives in this week’s Thursday-Sunday shoot-out with Dundee United.

But having chalked up six games without defeat, Cooke believes his team are hitting form at the perfect time to beat the drop.

He said: “We’ve got mixed emotions. We were hoping to stay up automatically but that’s not been the case.

“The last six results show momentumis with us”

“However, the last six results show the momentum is with us.”

Defeat was not the way already-relegated Dundee wanted to bow out of the top division.

And there was further agony for Darren O’Dea as his final match before retiring in the summer ended in a red card after 19 minutes.

O’Dea failed to control 16-year-old debutant Finlay Robertson’s pass and was forced to drag down Brad Lyons as the Saints forward burst through on goal.

The defender was treated to a standing ovation from the Dens faithful but caretaker boss James McPake was distraught to see the curtain come down on his friend’s career in such ignominious circumstances.

He said: “Darren didn’t deserve that for what he’s done for this club.”