St Mirren champagne stays on ice but only one point required at Tannadice
Tannadice could hold a Championship title-winning party tomorrow night but it will be St Mirren that will be celebrating and not pre-season favourites Dundee United. The Paisley side defeated Brechin City 1-0 at Glebe Park but Livingston’s 3-2 win over Morton means that one more point is required.
Kyle Magennis fired the Saints in front via a post on seven minutes and, as news of a Greenock goal broke, it looked like the title might come early. Brechin refused to buckle and Jordan Sinclair rattled the bar with the visiting fans growing calmer as Livingston scored twice.
Brechin had strong claims for a penalty waved aside when Isaac Layne appeared to be held before excitement levels grew again when it became 2-2 in West Lothian.
The champagne was put on ice when a fifth goal was scored at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
St Mirren manager Jack Ross said: “We won the game, our 13th win in 16 games, but I have a flattish dressing room. We will move on to Tuesday and be ready for that game. I am sure that there will be a sense of excitement then and that is great as we have led from the front well.”
Livingston produced another fine performance to sit on the cusp of the play-offs. Thomas O’ware headed Morton into the lead on 18 minutes but Jackson Longridge levelled in a similar fashion.
Alan Lithgow put Livingston in front with the third header of the afternoon only for Ricki Lamie to lash home an equaliser. Lithgow headed in the winner four minutes from time.
Dunfermline took a step towards the play-offs with a 2-1 success at Falkirk, where Kallum Higginbotham’s deflected drive from 20 yards gave the Pars the lead on 24 minutes. Fraser Aird netted from close range to double their advantage three minutes into the restart, with Falkirk skipper Aaron Muirhead drilling in a penalty 11 minutes from time to reduce the deficit.
Dundee United recovered from going behind twice at second-bottom Dumbarton but they could not do it a third time as Sons secured 3–2 win. Calum Gallagher scrambled the ball in from a yard out after 11 minutes and the hosts held the lead until six minutes into the second half when Anthony Ralston headed home. Craig Barr nodded Dumbarton in front again just before the hour but Scott Mcdonald side-footed in to tie the score once more.
With most observers expecting United to score the next goal, Barr rose to meet David Wilson’s cross and give Dumbarton hope that they can avoid the relegation play-off place.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle could yet emerge as serious play-off contenders after a 2-0 win at Queen of South.
Nathan Austin swivelled and shot Caley into the lead on nine minutes and George Oakley glanced in the second after half an hour, with home substitute Derek Lyle hitting the woodwork late on with an overhead kick.