There was VAR drama at Tannadice as Saints were beaten 2-0 by Dundee United in the William Hill Premiership.
The hosts took a late lead through Kevin Holt after being awarded a penalty on 78 minutes after the VAR instructed referee Matthew MacDermid to review the incident at the pitchside monitor. Saints were then reduced to 10 with Marcus Fraser shown a red card in injury time after another VAR intervention before Emmanuel Adegboyega secured the points for United.
Despite Saints seeing more possession and playing more of the game in the United half, it was the hosts who created the better chances in the early stages. Sam Dalby should have put Jim Goodwin's side ahead when he raced away from the Saints defence to meet a ball over the top from Will Ferry. The forward moved into the box, one-on-one with Ellery Balcombe, but blazed well over the bar.
United goalkeeper Jack Walton was shown a yellow card on 13 minutes after a late foul on Toyosi Olusanya who had ran on to a Balcombe ball down the left channel. The United stopper raced from his line but wiped out the Saints forward with referee Matthew MacDermid quick to give him a yellow card. A brief VAR check looked to see if the tackle warranted a red card for serious foul play but the decision was that the booking was justified.
Toyosi Olusanya in pain after a late challenge from Jack Walton (Image: Andy Barr)
The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock when Ferry played a nice one-two with Dalby and surged away from the chasing Saints defenders. His strike came crashing off the post.
Ex-Saint Declan Gallagher made a vital block just after the half-hour mark to deny the Buddies the lead. Tanser's effort looked to be heading off target, but would have found Killian Phillips who was on hand to turn in from close-range had it not been for Gallagher's intervention.
Saints were dominating the game as the half wore on, but weren't creating enough to worry Walton in the United net. There were big appeals for a penalty with five minutes of the first-half remaining when Conor McMenamin's cross looked to come off the arm of Adegboyega. VAR had a brief look but decided the referee wasn't required a second look and play resumed.
United were creating the better openings after the restart. Glenn Middleton's low ball found captain David Babunski early in the second-half, but his body shape was all wrong as he turned well wide. Middleton again looked to be the provider when he found Holt on the edge of the area with the defender turning the effort well wide. The home side were inches away from the opener just before the hour mark when Adegboyega headed a corner inches wide of the near post.
Saints' first real chance of the second 45 came on 63 minutes. Tanser was found inside the box by Olusanya and his ball across was pushed away by Walton. Adeboyega could only turn it out as far as Olusanya who had fashioned the space to get his shot away. Holt got an important foot out to block the goalbound effort.
With a little over 10 minutes to play, Dundee United were awarded their first penalty of the match. VAR called referee Matthew MacDermid over to the screen when United substitute Holt went down in the box under a challenge from Marcus Fraser. The referee pointed to the spot after the check with Holt slotting home from 12 yards to open the scoring.
United were awarded a second penalty in the final minute of normal time with Fraser once again penalised as Moult fell in the box under pressure from the Saints defender. The referee was once again called to the screen, this time producing a red card to Fraser for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Marcus Fraser is shown a red card by referee Matthew MacDermid (Image: Andy Barr)
Holt's penalty was this time saved by Balcombe who got two strong hands to turn it behind. But the hosts would add a second from the resulting corner. Balcombe couldn't gather the initial header from Moult and Adegboyega knocking in from close-range.
Full-Time: Dundee United 2-0 St Mirren
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Bwomono, Phillips, O'Hara (c), Tanser (John 81), McMenamin (Mandron 64), Olusanya (Ayunga 72), Kiltie (Idowu 81)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Boyd-Munce, Smyth, Mooney
Dundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Gallagher, Holt, Stain, Sevelj, Babunski (c) (Thomson 60), Ferry, Stephenson, Middleton (van der Sande 72), Dalby (Moult 72)
Subs Not Used: Richards, Graham, Odada, Fotheringham, Stirton, Ubochioma
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Fourth Official: Ryan Lee
VAR: Don Robertson
Attendance: 8,868 (754 St Mirren supporters)
