St Mirren regained their 11 point gap at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship with a 1-0 win over Brechin City at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.
The Buddies controlled the match for large spells of the first half and took the lead through a Kyle Magennis free kick. Ian McShane had the chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot but saw his effort saved by Brechin goalkeeper Patrick O'Neil. In the end one goal was enough to see Saints pick up all three points and get back to winning ways.
Saints got off to a quick start winning a succession of corners in the opening few minutes but couldn't profit from any of them despite the returning Gary MacKenzie going mightily close.
St Mirren cranked up the pressure with Cammy Smith having an effort from 25 yards saved by Patrick O'Neil before a good run from Liam Smith saw the full back get into a good position inside the box, but he fired over.
A goal looked inevitable after the start made and it would come with 15 minutes on the clock. Gavin Reilly was fouled around 25 yards and referee Steven McLean awarded Saints a free kick. Kyle Magennis stepped up and powered his effort off the bar and into the net via a bounce off Brechin goalkeeper O'Neil. It was awarded as an own goal but it would be harsh to take the strike away from Magennis as he opened his account for the season.
Saints were in total control of the match and didn't seem keen to settle for just one goal. Cammy Smith pounced upon a poor clearance from O'Neil but scooped his shot over the bar. Then captain Stephen McGinn almost added his name to the scoresheet a minute later. A blocked Lewis Morgan shot was played into the skipper's path by Reilly but his curling shot was pushed away by O'Neil.
From the resultant corner The Buddies were awarded a penalty as Kostadin Gadzhalov brought down a Saints player inside the box. Ian McShane, returning to the side, stepped up to take the spot kick, but was denied by O'Neil who dived to his right to push the attempt away.
But The Buddies still created good openings with Cammy Smith the next to be thwarted by the Brechin goalkeeper. Cammy then found Liam Smith inside a good area in the box five minutes later with the loanee firing just over the cross bar.
Saints continued to push for a second early after the interval - this time Cammy Smith was denied by the bar rather than O'Neil as the forward smashed the ball from distance.
The woodwork then came to St Mirren's rescue three minutes later as Brechin almost found themselves level. Liam Watt had a go from distance and has goalkeeper Craig Samson beaten only for the shot to smack off the post.
The game went a bit flat with neither side creating much. Brechin's Dylan Mackin was denied on 75 minutes by a good save from Samson. The Buddies tried to grab a second to kill the match in the final 10 minutes with substitute Jack Baird sending a header over from a corner and Lewis Morgan shooting into the arms of O'Neil.
One goal proved to be enough though as Saints regained their 11 point lead over Livingston heading into the final 10 matches of the season.
Full Time: St Mirren 1-0 Brechin City
St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley, McGinn, McShane (Flynn 60), Morgan, C.Smith (Baird 78), Magennis, Reilly (Hippolyte 68)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Stelios, Hill, Mullen
Brechin: O'Neil, Dyer (Layne 68), Dale (Storie 76), Tapping, Watt, Spark, Morrison (Orsi 53), Gadzhalov, Crighton, Mackin, E.Smith
Subs Not Used: G. Smith, Fusco, Graham
Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Assistant Referee: David McKniff
Attendance: 4,358
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography and John Millar © - Millar Pictures
