St Mirren picked up a point in Dundee with the spoils shared in an exciting four goal contest.
Toyosi Olusanya and Mikael Mandron twice had Saints ahead, but goals from Curtis Main and Ziyad Larkeche for the hosts saw the sides share a point.
There were three changes for the Buddies with Caolan Boyd-Munce returning from injury in place of Alex Iacovitti, with Alex Gogic moving back to centre-half. Scott Tanser and Mandron also came in for Jaden Brown and Jonah Ayunga who dropped to the bench. There was no place for deadline day signing Kevin Van Veen who will join up with the squad next week.
Stephen Robinson's men started brightly with a dangerous low ball from Rooney falling just behind Olusanya who would have had a tap in. A minute later Olusanya's flick on found Mandron who had beaten the offside trap to get in ahead of the Dundee defence, but goalkeeper Jon McCraken was out quickly to block before gathering the loose ball.
Olusanya nipped in ahead of the Dundee defender but the referees indicated that the forward handled in the build up so it wouldn't have counted had he scored. Curtis Main came close for the hosts with their first chance just after 20 minutes when he diverted a low Mo Sylla shot just by the post.
Olusanya was causing problems for the Dundee defence and it was his determination that would see him open the scoring on 26 minutes. Marcus Fraser hooked a ball over the top and the forward's strength got him ahead of Antonio Portales to run through on goal. Olusanya composed himself before slotting through the legs of McCracken.
Saints lead was short-lived though when Main levelled four minutes later. The ex-Saints striker beat Richard Taylor to reach a long ball over the top and he fired beyond Ellery Balcombe to level. Still Saints were forcing the issues with Olusanya a particular nuisance and he could have given the Buddies the lead for a second time when he raced on to a lovely low pass from Taylor, but McCracken was out well to block.
The Buddies would go back in front though with Mandron scoring from distance to restore our advantage on 36 minutes. It was a terrific strike from the number nine as he lashed a half volley into the net from 20 yards.
Dundee came close to levelling early in the second-half when Portales headed a Sammy Braybrooke free-kick just wide of the right-hand post. The hosts would equalise for a second time nine minutes after the restart when Ziyad Larkeche finished off a nice passing move from the hosts. Lyall Cameron threaded the ball through for the wing-back who finished low into the far corner.
Simon Murray almost put the home side ahead on 66 minutes when he managed to race clear on goal, but goalkeeper Balcombe made a wonderful one-handed save to block. Balcombe's task was easier 10 minutes later when Main's header was put straight into his arms.
After a spell of Dundee pressure, Stephen Robinson made changes with Brown, Dennis Adeniran, Elvis Bwomono and Ayunga all introduced. The substitutions helped give Saints more impetus and with seven minutes added it was the Buddies who arguably looked more likely to snatch a winner. There were appeals for a penalty when Bwomono went down after trying to meet Iacovitti's header on, but the referee and VAR both said no as the points were shared heading into the international break.
Full-Time: Dundee 2-2 St Mirren
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 46), Rooney (Bwomono 81), Phillips (Idowu 60), Boyd-Munce (Adeniran 74), O'Hara (c), Tanser (Brown 74), Mandron, Olusanya (Ayunga 81)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Smyth
Dundee: McCracken, Koumetio (Ingram 50), McGhee, Portales, Tiffoney (Palmer-Houlden 90), Cameron, Sylla, Braybrooke (Mulligan 62), Larkeche, Murray (c), Main
Subs Not Used: Sharp, Carson, Astley, Robertson, Graham, Vetro
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Matthew MacDermid
VAR: Greg Aitken
Attendance: 5,779 (572 St Mirren supporters)
