Saints followed up their Premier Sports Cup success with a second league win in a row as they recorded a narrow, but thoroughly deserved win over Livingston in Paisley.
Jonah Ayunga had Saints' best chances in the first half but was unable to add to his Hampden due to a combination of deflections and visiting keeper Jerome Prior, as well as a header that he put wide.
The striker did find the net just after the break but that was soon followed by the increasingly familiar sight of a referee being called over to the VAR monitor, Chris Graham deciding that Dan Nlundulu had fouled Daniel Finlayson in the build up. Thankfully, there was no reason for the officials to get involved when Mikael Mandron turned home Declan John's cross shortly after coming off the bench for what proved to be the winner.
There was just one change to the Saints side which started at Hampden, Roland Idowu replacing the injured Keanu Baccus with skipper Mark O'Hara again among the substitutes. Graham Carey, who won the League Cup with the Buddies in 2013, was on the bench for Livingston, with former Saint Daniel Finlayson starting in defence and Scott Pittman making his 450th appearance for the visitors.
Saints threatened first, Idowu's cutback finding Ayunga whose shot was deflected behind. From the corner Saints went close again, Ayunga unable to bundle the ball into the net after wining the initial header. Last week's two goal hero had another chance when strike partner Nlundulu slid the ball through to him but his shot was parried away by Prior.
Ayunga should really have put Saints in front from his next chance, rising unmarked to meet Marcus Fraser's fine cross, but he sent his header wide. The Buddies were controlling the game but were unable to make the breakthrough, Idowu lashing a shot wide and Nlundulu seeing his effort blocked before the interval.
Ayunga looked to have fired Saints in front just after the break, slamming home from close range after great work on the right by Nlundulu. However, the Livi players felt Nlundulu had fouled Finlayson while winning the ball and, after being called to the VAR monitor, ref Chris Graham quickly agreed and disallowed the goal. Despite that setback, the Buddies remained on the front foot, Idowu's cross finding its way to Killian Phillips whose shot was deflected just wide.
It looked as if it was going to be one of those afternoons for Saints but they finally broke the deadlock 20 minutes from time. A fine pass sent John in behind the Livingston defence and his cutback was stabbed home by Mandron, who had only just replaced Nlundulu, with some help from the post.
In the final minute Ayunga went close to adding a second, his shot palmed away by Prior with sub Mark O'Hara unable to force it home, but the flag was up anyway for a late offside against the forward. Prior denied O'Hara deep into stoppage time as Saints tried to kill things off, the visitors then racing forward and forcing a corner that came to nothing but a foul and then the final whistle to cap off a festive three points for the Buddies.
Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Livingston
St Mirren: George, Fraser (c), King, Freckleton, McMenamin (O'Hara 83), Phillips, Gogic, Idowu (Richardson 68), John (Tanser 83), Ayunga, Nlundulu (Mandron 68)
Subs: Mullen, Taylor, Donnelly, Dijksteel, Mooney
Livingston: Prior, Brenet, Wilson (c), Sylla, Finlayson, Tait (Smith 83), Pittman, Montano (McLennan 78), Bokila (Winter 68), May (Shinnie 68), Yengi (Muirhead 77)
Subs: Hamilton, Susoho, Carey, Lawal
Referee: Chris Graham
AR1: David McGeachie
AR2: David Dunne
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 5,764
