Dundee United lost their unbeaten record and place at the top of the Championship table after taking a pounding in Paisley by St Mirren this afternoon.
The home side took the lead through Lewis Morgan with the same player making it two just after half-time before Ian McShane put the icing on the cake with a third.
United huffed and puffed but simply had no answer to the moments of magic from the Buddies who thoroughly deserved their victory.
United boss Ray McKinnon made two changes from the side that beat Brechin at Tannadice last week with Willo Flood being brought in along with Paul McMullan who returned from suspension with James Keatings and Scott Fraser missing out through injury.
The Tangerines started on the front foot with home keeper Craig Samson tested twice in the first six minutes by shots from Sam Stanton and McMullan.
United then had another opportunity in the 17th minute when McMullan sent a low corner towards Stanton with his scuffed effort flying through to Scott McDonald but the striker’s close-range shot was blocked.
Shortly after, Tangerines goalie Harry Lewis had to make his first save of note when he dived to his right to keep out a shot from St Mirren’s Gavin Reilly.
However, Lewis was helpless to prevent the Buddies taking the lead in the 25th minute when Morgan drove from midfield before unleashing an unstoppable low shot from 20 yards past the despairing dive of the keeper and into the back of the net.
Lewis then had another big scare when he spilled a whipped-in McShane free-kick with Buddies defender Gregor Buchanan pouncing but his shot cannoned off the United post.
McKinnon’s men were riding their luck and had another let-off in the 40th minute when Stewart Murdoch was short with a header, Lewis raced out only to be beaten to the ball by Reilly but he sent his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
St Mirren then hit the woodwork again when a McShane corner from the left bounced off the top of Lewis’s crossbar.
United were no doubt relieved to head down the tunnel at half-time just one goal arrears.
However, that relief evaporated just three minutes after the restart when Morgan doubled the home side’s advantage and his own tally with a stunning curling strike from the edge of the United penalty area that flew past Lewis.
The Tangerines needed a spark from somewhere and Jamie Robson tried to provide it with a long-range effort but it sailed just over Samson’s bar.
St Mirren though came close once again in the 64th minute when Stephen McGinn hit a 25-yard volley that rocketed past Lewis’s right post.
However, the Buddies did make it three in the 78th minute with another superb strike from the edge of the United penalty area by McShane with the diving Lewis again having no chance.
That was enough for many of the 971 away support who started heading for the exits.
For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
