St Johnstone 1-0 St Mirren: Late drama gives hosts priceless win
- Published
Chris Kane manages to stick away the rebound after having his penalty saved
Craig Levein labelled his St Johnstone's side late win over wasteful St Mirren "intoxicating" after Chris Kane's 95th-minute penalty secured all three points in the Scottish Premiership.
It looked like the game was destined to end goalless before Charles Dunne's swipe caught Liam Gordon, with Kane's penalty saved by Zach Hemming before the substitute tucked home the loose ball.
"I don't think he knows I had a heart attack five years ago," joked the St Johnstone boss.
"Honestly, just put the ball in the net, you know what I mean?"
His side move up to 10th in the Premiership, four points clear of bottom side Livingston.
"It's a drug," Levein added. "I've gone from down here to up there in a quick space of time. There's something intoxicating about it.
"I honestly didn't know Chris was going to take it - I thought it was going to be Graham (Carey). The last thing I'd have wanted was a dispute who was on it. Graham was a good team-mate in that situation and didn't create any hassle."
St Mirren stay fourth but have won just two of their last 10 games.
Stephen Robinson's men will be scratching their heads on the way back to Paisley, wondering how they're going home with no points after having the better opportunities in a tight game.
Dimitar Mitov denied Lewis Jamieson a goal on the St Mirren youngster's first league start and tipped a curling effort from Dunne over the bar.
The hosts had their chances too. Matt Smith aimed a volley straight at Zach Hemming in the St Mirren goal and Graham Carey passed up a few set-piece openings.
The best chance of the night fell to Mikael Mandron. The St Mirren sub was teed up brilliantly by Toyosi Olusanya but from a few yards out, he somehow hit the post.
Then came Dunne's moment of madness. Such was the quality of finishing that it was no surprise when Kane's initial penalty was saved, but the veteran striker managed to readjust himself and poke back at goal. Hemming got a hand to it, but the ball looped cruelly into the net.
Player of the Match - Daniel Phillips (St Johnstone)
Not many contenders, but Phillips was busy in the middle of the pitch in an all-action performance
St Mirren squander chance to go third as poor run continues - analysis
When the camera cut to Levein at full-time, a familiar wry smile was spread across his face. He couldn't believe his side had completed the heist and won all three points.
Come the end of the season, Kane's late strike - although undeserved - will represent a vital three points that really should have gone the other way.
It might not have been too big a surprise for Robinson that his side couldn't stick the ball away. That's now three games and 361 minutes without a goal.
What can the manager do when his side all but walk it in, and still miss from a few yards out?
They look low on confidence, a million miles from the beginning of the season, and need to turn it round soon if that start is to mean something.
What they said
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: "It was a fairly even contest, they had the better of the first half and tested us in the second. There was limited chances, we both had them. We left it late that's for sure.
"We played well in the last two matches without getting any rewards, so it was important that we got points this evening. Some of our play was good, some was a bit scrappy, I'll accept that, because it was quite tense."
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It's so frustrating. Arguably we played better than when we beat them 4-0. We missed four chances from three yards out.
"Then it's a poor decision at the end which leads to the penalty. I'll take what I can out of it, the boys' spirit still has to be positive. We haven't become a bad team overnight."
What's next?
St Johnstone are off to Motherwell on Saturday, while St Mirren host Ross County (both 15:00 GMT).