Dundee United striker Louis Moult scored an 88th minute winner against St Mirren to grab the Tangerines all three points.
The home team missed a penalty in injury time through Toyosi Olusanya. Both sides came in to the game on the back of defeats away to league leaders Celtic, the Saints’ defeat at Parkhead was their third in a row, while it was a second successive loss for United after they came out on the wrong side of a tight match against Hearts last weekend.
The hosts had the major opportunity of the afternoon when Richard Taylor’s header was hacked off the line after a Scott Tanser corner, before United had their first effort on target as Kevin Holt tested Zach Hemming. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half Greg Kiltie forced Jack Walton to spill a shot but it couldn’t be turned home by the on-rushing Rowland Idowu and the teams went in with nothing between them at half time.
The Tannadice club thought they were ahead following a Will Ferry cross from a short corner, however Croatian defender Vicko Ševelj was adjudged to be offside. That saw the game open up and both Mikael Mandron and Glenn Middleton hit the bar for their respective teams.
Hemming then made a couple of great stops but sub Olusanya missed a golden opportunity to put Saints in front as it looked to peter out into a draw before scored a winner. But there was even more drama as Moult notched a poachers goal to give United a win before Olusanya missed from 12 yards. Here’s three talking points from Paisley:
United back to winning ways in Paisley
Jim Goodwin has seen his team lose the last two games but they have been on excellent form this season. Since winning the Championship last term, the Tannadice side have gathered 37 points which has seen them jump above Aberdeen into third spot, in their first year back in the top flight.
Before successive defeats to Hearts and Celtic, it was four game unbeaten sequence, of which they had won three. Defender Emmanuel Adegboyega has scored in two of the thee previous meetings between the sides this campaign in all competitions, including United’s 1-0 league success at the SMISA Stadium back in October.
And today’s three points, thanks to the goal from Moult will be further joy for the Tangerines as they get ready for a fourth round Scottish Cup tie against rivals Dundee next up.
Losing run continues for Saints
Stephen Robinson’s men had been on a three game winning streak, which included the Boxing Day success against Rangers, however the recent three match losing run will have been immensely frustrating.
How the goals were conceded in last weekend’s defeat against Celtic would have really irked the Paisley gaffer, especially when Saints had opportunities to get on the scoresheet themselves. Today’s defeat just extends the recent run of consecutive losses heading into the Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Queen of the South at Palmerston Park next weekend.
The Buddies, who have came out on the wrong side of three tight meetings with the Tannadice outfit already in all competitions this campaign, will be disappointed to fall to a second straight home reverse in a row.
Moult is the man
Louis Moult climbed off the bench to win all three points for Jim Goodwin’s men in Paisley once again. Striker Sam Dalby has been ahead of him in the pecking order but the Englishman stepped up when it really mattered.
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