St Mirren returned to the top of the Ladbrokes Championship with a hard fought 2-1 win over Brechin City.
The Buddies extended their winning run at the Paisley 2021 Stadium to eight matches as goals from Cammy Smith and Dale Hilson helped see off the stuffy Angus side.
Jordan Kirkpatrick, making his first league start for the Buddies, registered the first real chance on goal when his low effort on 10 minutes was deflected out for a corner.
A neat bit of play nearly yielded the opener 13 minutes in when a terrific cross-field pass from Ian McShane found Liam Smith galloping up the right side. He swung in a tremendous ball that found Stephen McGinn but the captain's touch was heavy, denying himself a chance to get a shot away. He turned back and found Lewis Morgan who had a go from the edge of the area. His shot was deflected into the path of Cammy Smith whose low effort was held by the Brechin goalkeeper.
Just a minute later though the Buddies were ahead. A nice ball over the top from McGinn was met by Cammy Smith who side-footed the ball beyond Graeme Smith to draw first blood.
Saints may have taken the lead but struggled to find their groove. Connor McLennan sent two shots wide for the visitors while Stelios and Morgan had efforts blocked and saved.
Brechin were level seven minutes before half time through ex-Saint Kalvin Orsi. The striker, who left the Buddies in the summer, stooped down to meet a deep cross from Jordan Sinclair to nod beyond Craig Samson.
Saints reacted well to going behind with Stelios charging forward, the ball eventually finding Lewis Morgan whose shot was sent by for a corner. Jack Baird climbed above the City defence to get on the end of it but headed over.
Half Time: St Mirren 1-1 Brechin City
Even after the break, the Buddies failed to reach the levels that supporters have become accustomed too over recent times at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. But the home side could have restored their lead early into the second half when a searching ball from McGinn almost found Stelios on his own inside the box.
Saints were piling forward in the hopes of getting back in front, but had to be wary of the threat Brechin were posing on the break. Another ex-Saint, Ally Love, sent an effort just by the post before Liam Smith had to clear a McLennan shot off the line.
Jack Ross made his final sub on 76 minutes when John Sutton replaced Gavin Reilly. St Mirren were trying to ramp things up in the search of a winner and it looked certain that birthday boy Morgan would add to his tally for the season when he was found in space inside the box. The winger lashed a fierce shot goal-bound with Graeme Smith showing strong hands to push it away.
It looked like it was just set to be one of those days for Saints. But then, just a few moments after Morgan's chance, St Mirren had a winner. A clearance from Liam Smith found Cammy Smith on the half way line. He drove forward before sending a reverse ball through to substitute Ross Stewart who burst into the box. He raced to the touchline before clipping the ball onto the head of Sutton. The experienced striker got in ahead of his man to flick the ball into the path of Dale Hilson. The winger gambling to get in ahead of the Brechin defence, getting a toe to the ball to slide it into the back of the net for his first St Mirren goal.
With Dundee United defeating Dunfermline at East End Park, the win means St Mirren return to the top of the Ladbrokes Championship with a meeting against League One leaders Raith Rovers in the IRN-BRU Cup to come next week.
Full Time: St Mirren 2-1 Brechin City
St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, Baird, McCart, Stelios (Hilson 67), McGinn, McShane, C. Smith, Kirkpatrick (Stewart 52), Morgan, Reilly (Sutton 76)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Irvine, Buchanan, Duffy, Sutton
Brechin: G. Smith, McLean, Dyer, McGeever, Dale, Graham, Spark, McLennan (Layne 84), Orsi (Love 63), Crighton, Sinclair (Watt 77)
Subs Not Used: P. O'Neill, Fusco, C.O'Neill
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvany
Assistant Referee: Chris McTiernan
Attendance: 3,928
