St Mirren returned to winning ways as goals from Conor McMenamin and Keanu Baccus saw Stephen Robinson's men defeat Dundee United 2-0 at The SMiSA Stadium.
The Buddies' goals came either side of half-time as we picked up our first league victory since September.
Saints started brightly with McMenamin's brilliant touch seeing him wonderfully take down a ball over the top and get himself in on goal. He tried to squeeze the ball beyond David Richards from a tight angle with the United goalkeeper blocking. A minute later, Saints came close again with the ball eventually falling for Killian Phillips who saw his shot deflected wide.
The Buddies would get their reward on 17 minutes when McMenamin scored his first goal of the season. Mikael Mandron fed the ball to Jonah Ayunga who charged down the left. Under pressure from Ryan Strain, he fed it back to the arriving John. The Welshman's delivery was quality and met the onrushing McMenamin at the back post to bury the header beyond Richards in the United goal.
John, who returned from injury after missing Wednesday night's draw against Aberdeen, wasn't far away from adding his name to the scoresheet on 25 minutes. Ayunga's brilliant running saw him draw a foul from a United defender and win a free-kick 20 yards from goal. John stepped up to take but curled inches over the bar.
Shamal George was called into action with less than 10 minutes of the first-half remaining. Marcus Fraser's slip allowed Zach Sapsford to race clear on goal. Miguel Freckleton did well to keep pace with the Australian forward, though he still got the shot away. George made himself big to save the low strike.
The visitors started the second-half strongly as they looked for a route back into the match, but failed to test George in the early stages. Instead it was John's free-kick causing havoc in the United defence with Mandron seeing a strike blocked just before the hour mark.
United almost drew themselves with 25 minutes remaining when Sapsford's 20-yard free-kick crashed off the bar. A minute later, Saints doubled their advantage. Substitute Baccus netted his first goal since returning to St Mirren in the summer. Phillips' header was saved by Richards, but the United goalkeeper couldn't hold and Baccus was quickest to react on the follow-up, slamming into the net to make it 2-0.
George made a top class save to deny Amar Fatah and keep our two-goal advantage heading into the final 20 minutes of the match. The visitors looked to catch out Saints, taking the resulting corner quickly. Craig Sibbald struck but cannoned his attempt off the bar.
United threw on Ivan Dolcek and Kristijan Trapanovski with less than 10 minutes remaining to try and find the goal that would set up a nervy finish for Saints. But in truth it was Stephen Robinson's men who were the more likely to add to the scoresheet as they hit United on the counter on several occasions. Baccus was the closet, turning an effort just wide of the post in the final minute of normal time.
A welcome three points remain in Paisley as the Saints get ready to gear up for a big week ahead of the Premier Sports Cup Final next Sunday.
Full-Time: St Mirren 2-0 Dundee United
St Mirren: George, Fraser (c), King, Freckleton, McMenamin (Richardson 68), Phillips, Taylor (Baccus 59), Gogic, John (Tanser 82), Mandron (Nlundulu 68), Ayunga (Mooney 82)
Subs Not Used: Mullen, Idowu, Dijksteel, Douglas
Dundee United: Richards, Strain (Trapanovski 81), Iovu, Sevelj (Fatah 46), Graham (c), Sapsford (Dolcek 82), Ferry, Sibbald, Stephenson, Keresztes, Moller
Subs: Adams, Esselink, Stirton, Cleall-Harding, Beattie
Referee: Nick Walsh
AR1: Frank Connor
AR2: Sean Carr
Fourth Official: Joel Kennedy
VAR: Ross Hardie
Attendance: 6,518
