Dumbarton are the visitors to the Paisley 2021 Stadium this weekend as St Mirren look to make it three league wins on the spin for the third time this season.
Saints returned to the top of the Ladbrokes Championship on Tuesday night with a fine 3-1 win over third placed Livingston at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. The Buddies fell behind in the first half when Dale Carrick followed up an effort from Josh Mullin to fire Livingston ahead. But second half goals from Lewis Morgan and Ian McShane were sandwiched in between a Neil Alexander own goal as Saints made it six wins from seven home league matches this season.
Meanwhile, tomorrow's visitors Dumbarton come into tomorrow's match on the back of a 2-2 draw with Queen of the South on Tuesday. The Sons twice took the lead against the Doonhamers at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Arena. An own goal from Queens' Callum Fordyce put Stevie Aitken's side ahead on 11 minutes. They held that lead until Stephen Dobbie struck from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining. Greg Morrison headed Dumbarton back into the lead on 81 minutes, only for Queens to peg them back again a few minutes later when ex-Saint Stuart Carswell turned the ball into his own net. That draw ensured they saw out the month of November unbeaten with three wins and two draws in all competitions including a 2-2 draw away to promotion chasing Dunfermline last weekend.
Dumbarton picked up a point on their last visit to the Paisley 2021 Stadium back in April. Kyle Magennis fired St Mirren into an early lead, but the Buddies were pegged back by loanee Lewis Vaughan. Saints had a glorious chance to re-take the lead before half-time when they were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Rory Loy who couldn't beat Alan Martin from 12 yards and the game finished 1-1.
Indeed, The Sons have proven to be difficult opponents for St Mirren since the Buddies relegation to the Championship in 2015. In the nine meetings between the two teams in that time Saints have only won two of them. The first was at the Paisley 2021 Stadium back in February 2016 when a second half Lawrence Shankland goal was enough to give the Buddies a 1-0 win. The other win came just last month as Jack Ross' men secured a first win away to Dumbarton since 1996 with goals from Gavin Reilly and John Sutton securing three points. In the same period, Dumbarton have come away from Paisley with three points on two occasions. Goals from Willie Gibson and Garry Fleming saw the Sons win 2-1 in August 2015, while Fleming was on the scoresheet again in November 2016 as he netted the game's only goal in a 1-0 win.
Saints will be looking to add to their three wins in a row in all competitions and maintain their position at the top of the table. Dumbarton, six points clear of Falkirk who occupy the relegation play-off spot, will be aiming to keep themselves away from the danger zone. Games between the sides have proven to be tight in recent times and that could be the case again tomorrow.
