St Mirren claimed all three points in the most dramatic fashion with a 3-2 win away to St Johnstone.
An early Killian Phillips goal gave Saints an early, and well-deserved, first-half lead. Second-half goals from Makenzie Kirk and Benji Kimpioka looked like giving the Perth side all three points, only for St Mirren Youth Academy Evan Mooney to score his first senior goal with two minutes of normal time remaining. The Buddies were then awarded a penalty deep into injury-time following a VAR intervention after Roland Idowu's shot came off the hand of a St Johnstone defender. Mark O'Hara's spot-kick was saved by Josh Rae, but the drama didn't end there as a retake was ordered after the goalkeeper had come off his line. Idowu stepped up and slotted home in the 99th minute to see the points return to Paisley.
There were two changes from the side that lost agonisingly to Motherwell last weekend. Alex Gogic missed out due to suspension and was replaced by the returning Alex Iacovitti who made his first start since August after a lay-off with injury. Mikael Mandron also came into the starting eleven in place of Toyosi Olusanya.
Saints hit the front with just 10 minutes on the clock. Greg Kiltie drove down the left and found Mandron in the middle of the park around 25 yards from the St Johnstone goal. The forward found Phillips who had made a great run into the box and slotted coolly beyond Josh Rae to score his second goal for St Mirren. There was a brief VAR check for offside but Neilson had played the Irishman well onside.
Killian Phillips celebrates our opener (Image: Willie Vass)
Saints were well worthy of the lead heading in to the half-time interval but didn't create many clear cut chances before the break. A floated Conor McMenamin ball over the top almost found Kiltie who would have gone one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but it had just too much on it which meant the forward couldn't bring it down to get a shot away.
St Johnstone drew level seven minutes after the restart. Nicky Clark slipped the ball to the unmarked Makenzie Kirk who took a touch before rifling a nice finish low into the far corner of the net from a tight angle.
Saints were dealt a major blow just after the hour mark when Richard Taylor had to be stretchered off with an injury. He was replaced by St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Luke Kenny, while Scott Tanser also made way for Declan John. Stephen Robinson made another double change five minutes later with the introduction of Roland Idowu and Olusanya in place of McMenamin and Mandron.
Phillips had a big chance for his and Saints' second on 71 minutes when a ball ricocheted into his path but he smacked over from close range.
St Johnstone should have hit the front when they won the ball in midfield and Kimpioka drove forward. He had options to his left and right but elected to go alone, only to be stopped by a brilliant challenge from Kenny.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, manager Stephen Robinson made his final substitution with Mooney, who only just celebrated his 17th birthday on Wednesday, coming on for Kiltie as the Saints looked to turn one point into three.
But it was St Johnstone who took the lead when Kimpioka netted on 81 minutes. The forward played a one-two with Drey Wright and Elvis Bwomono tried to stop the ball reaching Kimpioka, but couldn't prevent it finding the striker who knocked beyond Ellery Balcombe from close-range.
However, Saints looked like they grabbed a share of the spoils when Mooney showed great composure to draw us level with just two minutes of normal time remaining. O'Hara's cross to the back post found Iacovitti who headed back across goal. Rae couldn't gather under pressure from Phillips and Mooney slammed into the net to make it 2-2.
Evan Mooney celebrates after his first senior goal drew us level (Image: Willie Vass)
With seven minutes of added on time announced, St Johnstone captain Clark passed up a huge chance to put his side back in front when he sent a free header over from just a few yards over.
There were huge appeals for a St Mirren penalty deep into stoppage time when an Idowu shot came off the hand of Jason Holt. Play carried on before referee Euan Anderson was sent over to the pitchside screen by VAR Steven McLean. After a quick check, the whistler pointed to the spot. Up stepped O'Hara but his effort was saved by Rae to the delight of the home support. However, the referee was advised that the St Johnstone goalkeeper had come off his line before the penalty was struck and ordered a re-take. This time Idowu was tasked with the spot kick and he rolled into the net, sending Rae the wrong way, to spark wild celebrations in the away end and ensure the points would be making their way back to Paisley.
Roland Idowu strokes home the winner from the penalty spot (Image: Willie Vass)
Full-Time: St Johnstone 2-3 St Mirren
St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Iacovitti, Taylor (Kenny 64), Bwomono, O'Hara (c), Phillips, Tanser (John 64), McMenamin (Idowu 69), Mandron (Olusanya 69), Kiltie (Mooney 79)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Boyd-Munce, Smyth, Scott
St Johnstone: Rae, Mikulic, Sanders, Neilson (Keltjens 46), Holt, Clark (c), Wright, Sidibeh, Smith, Kirk, Kimpioka
Subs Not Used: Sinclair, Cameron, Carey, Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Franczak, Brookfield
Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: Graham Grainger
VAR: Steven McLean
Attendance: 4,001
