Scottish Premier League bottom side Dundee came from behind to beat St Mirren and reduce the gap between the two sides to 14 points.

The visitors led at the break courtesy of Dougie Imrie's 14-yard strike, with Lewis Guy and Sam Parkin also threatening for the Buddies.

John Baird fired the hosts level midway through the second half.

And Jim McAlister netted with 12 minutes remaining to give John Brown his first win in charge of Dundee.

Victory boosts the Dark Blues' hopes of avoiding relegation with nine matches still to be play.

Imrie put St Mirren ahead when he raced into the box to fire high past Rab Douglas following a neat combination between Conor Newton and Guy.

Guy tested the Dundee keeper 15 minutes later, cutting in from the left to hit a low shot that Douglas was down smartly to palm away.

And Douglas again rescued Dundee as half-time neared, this time with an athletic leap to his left to beat away a net-bound Parkin header from Graham Carey's cross.

Dundee had a fair share of possession but failed to trouble Craig Samson with a single shot on goal in the opening period.

And Brown brought on Nicky Riley and Ryan Conroy for Kevin McBride and Steven Milne at the start of the second half to inject some energy to their performance.

Riley brought the first save from Samson in the 67th minute at the left post.

But it was Baird who fired the home side level just moments afterwards, reacting quickly to crack the ball past the keeper at his right post from outside the box.

Ten minutes later, Dundee took the lead. Gary Harkins' ball across goal was laid off by Riley for McAlister to steer past Samson.

As Dundee grew in confidence Conroy raced down the left and fired a powerful shot high over the bar.

That was the last effort of the game as the Dens Park side claimed only their fourth SPL win of the season.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Dundee

  • 01 Douglas
  • 02 Irvine Booked
  • 21 Grassi
  • 25 Toshney
  • 26 Easton
  • 06 Davidson
  • 08 McBride (Riley - 46' )
  • 29 Harkins Booked
  • 10 Baird Booked (Finnigan - 76' )
  • 15 Milne (Conroy - 46' )
  • 20 McAlister

Substitutes

  • 36 Baird
  • 17 Benedictus
  • 07 Riley
  • 11 Conroy
  • 22 Morgan
  • 09 Finnigan
  • 27 Stewart

St Mirren

  • 01 Samson
  • 02 van Zanten
  • 05 Mair (Dummett - 77' )
  • 14 McAusland
  • 10 McGowan
  • 11 Carey
  • 17 Mclean
  • 24 Newton
  • 07 Imrie
  • 19 Parkin Booked (Thompson - 76' )
  • 27 Guy (Goncalves - 76' )

Substitutes

  • 16 Adam
  • 03 Dummett
  • 08 Robertson
  • 21 Teale
  • 09 Thompson
  • 29 J McGinn
  • 77 Goncalves
Ref: Finnie
Att: 3,674

Match Stats

Shots

12 15

On target

4 9

Corners

5 6

Fouls

13 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:09 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +1:06

Unfair challenge on Carl Finnigan by Paul Dummett results in a free kick. Davide Grassi takes the free kick.

89:14

Effort from just outside the box by James McAlister goes over the bar.

88:23

Centre by Kenny McLean.

86:30

Dougie Imrie produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.

86:30

Nicky Riley has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

85:45

Free kick awarded for a foul by Esmael Goncalves on Brian Easton. Brian Easton takes the direct free kick.

85:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David van Zanten by Carl Finnigan. David van Zanten takes the free kick.

83:36

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Conroy.

82:55

Unfair challenge on Ryan Conroy by Conor Newton results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Conroy.

82:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Esmael Goncalves by Brian Easton. Free kick taken by David van Zanten.

81:14

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Conroy from the left by-line, Iain Davidson has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

77:33

Nicky Riley provided the assist for the goal.

77:33 Goal scored

Goal - James McAlister - Dundee 2 - 1 St Mirren James McAlister grabs a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Dundee 2-1 St Mirren.

75:43 Substitution

Substitution Lee Mair goes off and Paul Dummett comes on.

75:43 Substitution

Substitution Sam Parkin leaves the field to be replaced by Steven Thompson.

75:43 Substitution

Substitution Esmael Goncalves on for Lewis Guy.

75:43 Substitution

Substitution Carl Finnigan replaces John Baird.

74:00

Iain Davidson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc McAusland. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.

73:19

Gary Irvine restarts play with the free kick.

73:19 Booking

Booking Sam Parkin is booked.

73:13

Sam Parkin challenges Gary Irvine unfairly and gives away a free kick.

72:03

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Conroy, Nicky Riley takes a shot. Blocked by Kenny McLean.

70:59

The ball is sent over by Gary Harkins.

69:48

Lewis Guy takes a shot. Rab Douglas makes a save.

67:17 Goal scored

Goal - John Baird - Dundee 1 - 1 St Mirren John Baird fires in a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Dundee 1-1 St Mirren.

66:10

Nicky Riley takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.

61:26

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Graham Carey.

61:26 Booking

Booking Gary Irvine is booked.

61:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Irvine on Dougie Imrie.

59:40

Lewis Guy is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Davide Grassi restarts play with the free kick.

57:41

Direct free kick taken by Lee Mair.

57:41 Booking

Booking The referee shows Gary Harkins a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

57:37

Gary Harkins concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Mair.

57:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Irvine on Kenny McLean. Conor Newton restarts play with the free kick.

55:41

Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.

55:41 Booking

Booking John Baird goes into the book.

55:37

John Baird is adjudged to have handled the ball.

53:25

Dougie Imrie concedes a free kick for a foul on Nicky Riley. Gary Irvine restarts play with the free kick.

49:03

Corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line to the near post, Sam Parkin takes a shot.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Riley comes on in place of Kevin McBride.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Conroy replaces Steven Milne.

45:00 +1:57 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +1:41

Foul by John Baird on Lee Mair, free kick awarded. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.

44:52

The ball is crossed by David van Zanten, save made by Rab Douglas.

43:56

A cross is delivered by Dougie Imrie, Sam Parkin takes a shot. Blocked by Davide Grassi. Graham Carey takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Steven Milne makes a clearance.

42:55

Foul by Gary Harkins on David van Zanten, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.

41:11

Sam Parkin takes a shot. Save made by Rab Douglas. Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey.

41:11

Sam Parkin takes a shot. Save by Rab Douglas.

38:39

Unfair challenge on Paul McGowan by James McAlister results in a free kick. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.

37:30

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the left by-line, Shot from deep inside the area by Lee Mair goes over the bar.

35:33

Gary Harkins has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

34:48

Lewis Guy takes a shot. Save made by Rab Douglas.

32:35

Gary Irvine delivers the ball, Graham Carey manages to make a clearance.

32:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Conor Newton on Steven Milne. Direct free kick taken by Lewis Toshney.

27:48

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the left by-line, Marc McAusland takes a shot. Clearance by Iain Davidson.

27:48

Graham Carey takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Iain Davidson.

26:39

John Baird is caught offside. Craig Samson takes the indirect free kick.

25:52

Effort on goal by Paul McGowan from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

25:52

Shot on goal by Paul McGowan from just inside the area goes over the target.

23:33

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by James McAlister, clearance made by Marc McAusland.

21:24

Shot from just outside the area by Gary Harkins goes over the bar.

19:17

Paul McGowan provided the assist for the goal.

19:17 Goal scored

Goal - Dougie Imrie - Dundee 0 - 1 St Mirren A goal is scored by Dougie Imrie from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Dundee 0-1 St Mirren.

17:45

Lewis Guy is penalised for a handball. Kevin McBride takes the free kick.

16:09

Gary Irvine concedes a free kick for a foul on Dougie Imrie. Free kick taken by Dougie Imrie. Paul McGowan produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

13:33

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by James McAlister, Graham Carey makes a clearance.

12:21

Iain Davidson has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

11:43

Marc McAusland concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Harkins. Free kick taken by Kevin McBride.

11:10

The ball is delivered by Dougie Imrie.

9:47

Shot by Gary Harkins from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

7:34

Shot from inside the area by Gary Irvine clears the bar.

6:17

Gary Harkins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David van Zanten. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.

5:59

Graham Carey challenges Iain Davidson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin McBride.

5:22

Sam Parkin fouled by Davide Grassi, the ref awards a free kick. David van Zanten restarts play with the free kick.

4:26

A cross is delivered by Graham Carey.

2:47

Sam Parkin takes a shot. Davide Grassi gets a block in. Graham Carey takes the inswinging corner, Sam Parkin takes a shot. Gary Irvine makes a clearance.

1:40

Foul by Steven Milne on Graham Carey, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Graham Carey.

1:02

Shot from just outside the area by Paul McGowan goes over the bar.

0:34

Paul McGowan takes a shot. Rab Douglas makes a save.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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