St Mirren ensured there was no hangover from their historic Premier Sports Cup triumph over Celtic as Mikael Mandron’s goal earned them a deserved 1-0 victory over Livingston at the SMiSA Stadium.
Saints fans were in the mood to continue the celebrations in Paisley and their side obliged with a dominant performance, with last weekend’s cup hero Jonah Ayunga unfortunate not to convert one of several first-half chances.
The striker also had a goal chalked off by VAR before Mandron sidefooted home Declan John’s cross to earn the Saints a third straight win, while visitors Livi created little as they remain bottom of the William Hill Premiership.
St Mirren came flying out of the traps and twice came close to taking the lead in the eighth minute as Ayunga had a close-range shot deflected over and then saw a header cleared off the line from the resulting corner.
Mo Sylla had Livi’s first opportunity five minutes later as the home side failed to clear a free-kick but the defender’s left-footed shot was deflected over.
It was St Mirren who looked more likely, however, and Ayunga passed up another good chance in the 25th minute, firing straight at Livi goalkeeper Jerome Prior after Dan Nlundulu had intercepted Macaulay Tait’s loose pass and released the striker through on goal.
Ayunga was proving a constant threat although he remarkably passed up an even better chance three minutes later, heading into the side netting when picked out by Marcus Fraser in the six-yard box.
It was one way traffic, although Livingston were defending resolutely and blocked efforts from Declan John and Nlundulu as the first half came to an end.
Ayunga’s frustrating afternoon continued in the 52nd minute as his superb near post finish was ruled out by referee Chris Graham following a VAR review for what was deemed to be a foul by Nlundulu on Daniel Finlayson in the build-up.
Killian Phillips was next to go close for St Mirren in the 63rd minute after Prior could only parry Roland Idowu’s dangerous cross but the close-range strike deflected narrowly wide.
Both sides rang the changes with 20 minutes remaining and it was St Mirren’s replacement Mandron who made an instant impact with one of his first touches.
John, who had looked a threat all afternoon, got to the byline and his low cross picked out the striker who side-footed the ball goalwards, with the shot ricocheting off keeper Prior and nestling in the far corner.
There was a flash point with 15 minutes remaining as Finlayson appeared to catch Conor McMenamin with an elbow, although referee Graham deemed that a yellow card was sufficient, to the frustration of the home fans.
Prior had been the busier of the keepers and he saved well from Scott Tanser in stoppage time, while Saints captain Mark O’Hara blocked well from Cristian Montano as Livi belatedly tried to find a leveller.
St Mirren saw out the win comfortably, however, to move further away from danger while Livingston have now gone 16 matches without success as they remain bottom of the league.
