The Scotsman

Ronan grabs first win for Robinson as Dundee stay rock bottom

- By ANGUS WRIGHT At Dens Park

Dundee remain bottom of the cinch Premiershi­p after Connor Ronan's stoppage-time header helped St Mirren to their first victory under new manager Stephen Robinson.

The match looked set to be heading for a stalemate when the Wolves loanee fastened on to Jay Henderson's cross to earn his side a 1-0 win.

St Mirren stayed ninth, only a point behind fourth-placed Hibernian, while Dundee remained one point adrift of second-bottom St Johnstone.

Dundee boss Mark Mcghee missed the match after testing positive for Covid-19, with his assistant Simon Rusk taking the team in his absence.

The Dark Blues made three changes from the side that had drawn with Motherwell. In came Niall Mcginn, Luke Mccowan and Zeno Ibsen Rossi, replacing Vontae Daley-campbell, Shaun Byrne and Lee Ashcroft, the latter becoming ill in the warm-up.

St Mirren made two alteration­s following their defeat to

Ross County at the weekend. Alex Greive and Conor Mccarthybo­thdroppedt­othebench with Ronan and Eamonn Brophy starting in their place.

Opportunit­ies were few and far between and from a Dundee corner Jordan Mcghee volleyed over from Mcginn's delivery.

Cammy Kerr then had the game's first shot on target that was easily fielded by Dean Lyness before St Mirren finally threatened through Jordan Jones whose attempted chip was caught by Harrison Sharp.

Greg Kiltie then did well to pick out Brophy but the striker's shot was blocked by Rossi on the line. Mcghee then tried his luck from distance at the other end but his shot sailed well over the crossbar.

Dundee started the second half on top and Ronan almost put the ball into his own net as he stretched to clear Rossi's knock down from a Mcginn free-kick.

Jones then passed up a glaring chance to put the visitors in front, lashing his volley over an open goal after Brophy had been denied twice in quick succession.

Saints appealed for a penalty after Scott Tanser's cross appeared to strike Ryan Sweeney's arm but referee John Beaton waved play on.

Brophy had another chance from a Jones centre but headed wide before Sweeney

almost deflected a cross into his own net.

St Mirren had the ball in the net in the 90th minute but Richard Tait's header was ruled out for an infringeme­nt.

Their disappoint­ment was short-lived, however, when Ronan struck almost three

minutes into stoppage time, much to the relief of Robinson who was delighted with his side’s performanc­e.

"We got exactly what we deserved in the end," Robinson told BBC Sportsound. "We totally dominated the game, played a really nice style of

football. We were patient, passed the ball around.

"The chances we created, it was getting to the stage where you think it's just not going to go our way, but we got our just rewards for the effort and quality we put in over the 90 minutes.”

 ?? ?? 0 St Mirren midfielder Jay Henderson, left, vies with Dundee’s Shaun Byrne at Dens Park last night
0 St Mirren midfielder Jay Henderson, left, vies with Dundee’s Shaun Byrne at Dens Park last night

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