St Mirren vs St. Johnstone. Scottish Premiership.
The SMiSA StadiumAttendance4,286.
Match report as both sides score from the penalty spot in the first half; Callum Hendry put St Johnstone ahead with a retaken penalty; His effort was cancelled out by Connor Ronan's spot kick; Alex Greive's winner sends St Mirren into the top six; St Johnstone drop into bottom place
Wednesday 9 February 2022 23:47, UK
St Mirren extended their undefeated start to the new year after coming from behind to defeat St Johnstone 2-1.
Callum Hendry had given the visitors the lead through a retaken penalty which was then cancelled out by another spot-kick scored by Connor Ronan.
Alex Greive then claimed the winner early in the second half to move Jim Goodwin's men into the top six, while St Johnstone slumped to the bottom of the cinch Premiership.
St Mirren made one change from the team that defeated Hibs, with Alex Gogic replacing Jay Henderson.
Their visitors in turn made five changes. There was a debut for Tom Sang while Murray Davidson, Glenn Middleton, Tony Gallacher and Cammy MacPherson also all started.
Out went the suspended Melker Hallberg, plus Jason Brown, Jacob Butterfield, Stevie May and Callum Booth.
It was the home side who had the first chance through Greive, the New Zealander seeing his shot deflected for a corner.
Moments later Greg Kiltie had a shot on the spin that went just wide before Zander Clark did well to push Jordan Jones' effort around the post.
The former Rangers winger then turned provider with a brilliant ball in from the left but Kiltie got the header all wrong when he ought to have scored.
That could have proved costly barely a minute later when Ali Crawford fired in a spectacular long-range shot that Jak Alnwick did well to tip over his crossbar.
St Johnstone, though, would move in front after 28 minutes. Marcus Fraser fouled Glenn Middleton in the box and referee David Dickinson gave the penalty.
Hendry's first effort found the net but had to be retaken with the ball moving in the blustery wind. The striker, though, was just as clinical with his second effort to put the visitors ahead as the sleet teemed down.
Alnwick was then called into making another smart save to keep out MacPherson's low effort against his former club.
St Mirren drew level with the game's second penalty three minutes before half-time. Jamie McCart was adjudged to have fouled Greive as they contested Richard Tait's ball in and against Dickinson pointed to the spot. Ronan finished well.
The home team then forged in front just four minutes into the second half. Kiltie crossed from the right and Greive finished from close range for his first St Mirren goal.
The Buddies then looked for a second penalty after Liam Gordon impeded Kiltie but the referee was uninterested.
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: "This is where we want to be. We've spoken about it over past seasons about putting us in the mix for the top half.
"We've got a game in hand and if we win that it'll put us into the scary position of fourth which would be incredible at this stage. But we can't dwell on the win.
"We have to recover properly for the weekend. As it's so tight and congested we can't get carried away as you could quickly go back to ninth or 10th. We need to remember why we are on the good run and it's down to hard work."
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "I was disappointed with the penalty given against us. It was a horrendous decision.
"I've watched it back numerous times and I'm still to see it. He said it was a blatant shove to push the player down. To me the ball was waist height, the player tried to head it and Jamie was behind him.
"Big decisions in games can change it especially when confidence is fragile. I sound like a broken record but huge decisions have cost us so it's hard to take especially when confidence isn't high. These things have to go for us.
"I told the players I want them to fight and encourage them to play and believe they are good players and to do the right things. For 25 minutes of the second half we didn't do that."
St Mirren are at home to League Two side Kelty Hearts in the Scottish Cup fifth round on Saturday. Holders St Johnstone have already exited the competition so have a break until they travel to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on February 15.
