St Mirren 2
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

With the 10:30am pitch inspection was passed, the Premier Division leaders were finally back in league action after nearly a month of postponed matches due to the harsh weather. Iain Phillip was brought in for his first game from the start since signing back in November.

With only two minutes gone, Torrance broke clear in the pouring rain in Paisley, and drove in a low and hard shot that McAlpine managed to parry and Bone hit the ball over.United were playing against a strong wind, but in seven minutes they almost used that to their advantage. A long, drifting clearance was misjudged by the defence, and Narey came in to get a toe to the ball, but it drifted just over the bar. St Mirren took the lead a minute later when full-back Iain Munro drove a thunderbolt from 30 yards off the post, and Jimmy Bone was quickest to connect with the rebound. A brilliant McAlpine save prevented Billy Stark from scoring with an oblique drive. United were finding it hard to break down a determined St Mirren defence, but Paul Sturrock got into a good position to beat Thomson with a deflected effort, but it rolled past. St Mirren goalkeeper Thomson had struggled to hold a few high balls into the box, but no United player managed to take advantage. Bone for St Mirren and United's Ray Stewart both had long range effort go close just before half-time.

The opening moments of the second half failed to live up to the red-hot pace set in the first. Phillip was carried off the pitch in the 65th minute, replaced by Davie Dodds who added some life to the United attack. John Holt produced a good save from Thomson after beating two men, then United found the equaliser in the 75th minute. Payne touched on to Paul Sturrock who ran into the box and squeezed the ball between Thomson and the post. However, within two minutes St Mirren regained the lead. A McGarvey shot came back off the bar and fell perfectly for Bobby Torrance who headed home from close range. The goal knocked the wind out of United, who struggled to get going again in the atrocious conditions. With Partick's game against Celtic called off, and Aberdeen only drawing with Hibs, United remained a point clear at the top of the Premier Division.