Bozo Mikulic scoresSNS

Bozo Mikulic (second from left) scored St Johnstone's all important goal

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

St Johnstone pulled off an unexpected victory against St Mirren thanks to Bozo Mikulic's bundled strike - and boosted their hopes of Scottish Premiership survival.

Simo Valakari's bottom side had won their previous league game and move to within four points of Kilmarnock, who host Dundee United later.

The Perth side dominated possession throughout in Paisley, but struggled to create any chances. They didn't have a single shot in the first half and had only had two efforts before the goal.

It was a set piece that ended up being St Mirren's undoing - something Stephen Robinson pointed out as a weakness pre-match - as they failed to adequately clear a corner with defender Mikulic steering into the bottom corner - his second later winner in a row.

St Mirren had plenty of chances and even had the ball in the back of the net through Greg Kiltie, but the goal was chalked off for a foul in the build-up.

St Mirren drop down to eighth in the table.

Valakari's plan comes together, but only just

St Johnstone travelled from Perth to Paisley with confidence given their recent performances against Motherwell and they played like a team with absolute confidence in the plan.

Or rather, a sheer unwillingness to adapt the plan. Only Elliot Watt had more touches than Ross Sinclair in goal, or Sven Sprangler, Barry Douglas or Mikulic in defence.

For large spells, they spent more time on the ball but they were always under pressure. It was like St Mirren were setting traps, and St Johnstone were tip-toeing dangerously close to them.

At times, they relied on the hosts' mercy in front of goal and had to absorb a lot of pressure. But Sinclair, back in goals for the first time since September, did well deputising in the sticks.

The team still looks a little patched together - the back three includes a left-back and a central midfielder - but they seem to have gelled quickly and Sprangler, who has worn the armband for the past few games, has taken to the role well.

Robinson predicts St Mirren's own downfall

"We've conceded way too many set plays and too many individual errors," the St Mirren boss said pre-match. It was like he knew.

The only chances St Johnstone had up until that point had been a long-range strike from Graham Carey, that was immediately followed by Makenzie Kirk's header.

St Mirren's defending had all come from the front as Mikael Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya pressed and pressed, and while they did force chances and looked dangerous on the counter, the final ball was desperately lacking.

That's now three home games on the spin that have ended in defeat - to Dundee, Dundee United, and now St Johnstone.

With the league this tight, they need to address their home form quickly or else they'll keep sliding down the way.

What they said

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari: "If you come here and try and play a basketball game with this team, you're not going to win. We did very well with the ball first-half.

"We didn't create but we took the momentum out. We knew it would open up second-half. Stay solid, defend, and we will get the chance.

St Mirren's Stephen Robinson: "I didn't think we had enough invention and I take ultimate responsibility for that. We've got to force the game and make something happen and we haven't been able to do that. I've obviously picked the wrong team.

"It's hard, after you win 3-0 with such a convincing performance at Aberdeen, to make changes. But that's what's needed in certain games so, that's totally my fault."

Related topics