Dundee United extended their unbeaten away run in the Scottish Premiership to four matches with a hard-fought win over St Mirren.

Emmanuel Adegboyega nodded in the winner in the final quarter after St Mirren goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe parried Ross Docherty's thumping shot.

It was an apt winner in a game defined by industry in midfield and set-pieces rather than flowing football and lots of attempts on target.

Both sides struggled for control, but St Mirren arguably had the clearer opportunities, with top goalscorer Toyosi Olusanya profligate when rare chances did arise.

The striker headed over from close range after Killian Phillips, who also passed up some opportunities, had flicked the ball into his path.

United also huffed and puffed, with their most promising openings both coming from goalmouth scrambles, but Adegboyega and Sam Dalby could not finish from close range.

However, the Irish centre-back did eventually get his first goal in United colours when Balcombe spilled Docherty's rocket from the edge of the box after a corner was initially cleared.

The win moves United on to 12 points from their first seven games as Jim Goodwin's newly-promoted side sit in fifth place, now four ahead of St Mirren in sixth.

Victory over struggling Hearts a fortnight ago could have been a turning point for struggling St Mirren, but it remains their only victory in 10 games.

Robinson switched from his usual three centre-back formation to a flat four, bringing in winger Roland Idowu and striker Kevin van Veen.

But neither seriously impacted the game, apart from Idowu's first-half effort that he dragged just wide.

Olusanya and Phillips looked the most likely to score for the home side, but the pair only managed to hit the target twice with their combined nine attempts at goal.

Van Veen, meanwhile, looks a shadow of the player who hit 29 goals in the 2022-23 season for Motherwell and it is now 16 Premiership appearances for Kilmarnock and St Mirren without scoring.

The most St Mirren worked United goalkeeper Jack Walton was Caolan Boyd-Munce's fierce shot from distance.

Three attempts on target from 16 shots and an expected goals rating 0.97 shows how much they toiled to create clear chances.

United were not much better than St Mirren in terms of their creativity and flow. They just managed to take one of their few good chances to score.

They remain a work in progress in possession, but Goodwin has instilled a competitive edge and Adegboyega continues to impress alongside Declan Gallagher and Ross Graham at the back.

Wing-backs Luca Stephenson and Will Ferry are also industrious and add quality.

The 1-0 home defeat by Rangers is their only loss in seven league matches this season and all of their games, regardless of the result, have been close.

The United fans and their manager will want them to develop a more dangerous attack and refined playing style so games are not always turning on fine margins.

It only takes a few things to change and suddenly results are turning when games are always so close.

However, right now, United have proved they will be extremely competitive after a season in the Championship.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "Very disappointed with the result. We're in a moment where things aren't going right for us.

"There are plenty of good things. I don't know how many chances we need to score a goal. The amount of crosses we put in and half chances we had, but the disappointing thing is we haven't hit the target often enough - which we work on tirelessly."

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It was a really scrappy game and St Mirren are such a difficult team to play against because of their physicality. They get the ball forward early and you've got to defend your box.

"It's a huge three points. We want to play better and we have played better this season - but you've got to credit the opposition. They don't give you a lot of time on the ball."