Match ends, Dundee United 1, St. Mirren 5.
Dundee UtdDundee United1St MirrenSt Mirren5
St Mirren's "siege mentality" helped them bounce back from their League Cup exit by thumping Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership, manager Jim Goodwin says.
Joe Shaughnessy headed in the opener before Jamie McGrath dispatched two controversial penalties.
Ian Harkes' 30-yard stunner provided United hope early in the second half, but they never threatened a comeback.
Substitutes Dylan Connolly and Kristian Dennis rounded off a deserved win.
"We've had to go through a lot of ups and downs this season, with lots of different things and off-field issues and bad press about the club," Goodwin told BBC Scotland.
"I have to give great credit to the players, staff and people up the stairs to affect us. We've gained a siege mentality if you like and I'm just really pleased for the boys."
St Mirren have 11 games before the Premiership splits into two for the last round of games and Goodwin wants his players "to go into every single one of them with the mindset of trying to win". "Draws are no use anymore and that was our attitude tonight," he said.
The win puts St Mirren two points behind United with three games in hand as they maintain their charge for a top-half finish, the perfect antidote to Sunday's agonising semi-final loss to Livingston.
Micky Mellon's United, meanwhile, are now without a win in six league games, albeit this is just their second defeat in that run.
They started slowly but ought to have gone ahead through Dillon Powers as the American forced Jak Alnwick into a brilliant reaction save before turning the rebound over the bar from just seven yards.
However, that was the extent of United's threat in the opening 45 minutes as St Mirren caused problems with their deliveries into the box.
McGrath's deep free-kick was flicked on by Conor McCarthy and Shaughnessy was lurking at the back post to head home.
It was probably a deserved lead for St Mirren, who had not won at Tannadice since 2012, but the whole complexion of the game turned on the two penalty calls by referee John Beaton.
Centre-half Mark Reynolds was left stunned at the sound of the whistle after Shaughnessy fell to the ground following a slight nudge - and penalty specialist McGrath stepped up to roll the spot kick into goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet's left-hand corner.
Then, three minutes later, another delivery into the box was headed to the feet of Ryan Flynn, whose thumping shot struck the raised - but tucked in - arms of Lawrence Shankland for another spot-kick. McGrath found the other corner with another precise finish.
One can only imagine the scenes in the home dressing-room at the break and Mellon replaced Powers for academy graduate Kai Fotheringham. The United manager would have at least enjoyed watching Harkes' glorious effort.
The American midfielder swept Luke Bolton's pass right into the top corner to leave the impressive Alnwick rooted to the spot. It jolted United to life, but only for a brief spell before St Mirren regained complete control.
Dennis and Connolly both went close before eventually finding the net to add gloss to the scoreline.
Connolly outstripped Liam Smith to latch on to a through ball and loft a delicate finish over Deniz before Dennis tapped home from point-blank range after a surging run by Flynn, who was playing his first match for 11 months following a cruciate injury.
The victory ended a run of 10 losses and one draw at Tannadice for St Mirren, who are now breathing down United's neck in the race for the top six.
Man of the match - Jamie McGrath
What did we learn?
St Mirren were the lowest scorers in the Premiership coming into this match, with just 16 goals in 21 matches, but the general sense is that they are capable of a top-six finish. McGrath has been a transformational signing with his quality in midfield - and the return of Flynn is a boost.
They look like a side who are building on solid foundations laid earlier in the season, while the opposite could be said of United. St Mirren were the only side with a lower goal tally than Mellon's men, who are yet to figure out how to get the best out of Shankland and Nicky Clark up top.
Of the 19-strong matchday squad, 17 were with the club in the Championship last season - and it showed. If they start conceding goals at this rate, they will be in danger of a relegation scrap.
What they said
Dundee United manager Micky Mellon: "A lot of things went against us. Soft penalties which are going to change the course of the game, and chances missed at vital times."
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: "It takes a bit of courage to give two [penalties] in one game, but I felt they were obvious. We could've done with John [Beaton] on Sunday in the semi-final.
"It was a really great performance all round, in terms of the reaction from the players."
What's next?
United host Hibernian at Tannadice on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while St Mirren are away to Celtic at the same time.
Player of the match
ConnollyDylan Connolly
with an average of 8.26
Dundee United
Avg
- Squad number19Player nameMehmetAverage rating
4.23
- Squad number2Player nameSmithAverage rating
4.03
- Squad number23Player nameHarkesAverage rating
3.97
- Squad number20Player nameBoltonAverage rating
3.92
- Squad number5Player nameConnollyAverage rating
3.91
- Squad number24Player nameShanklandAverage rating
3.82
- Squad number9Player nameMcNultyAverage rating
3.81
- Squad number10Player nameClarkAverage rating
3.78
- Squad number6Player nameReynoldsAverage rating
3.66
- Squad number25Player nameFotheringhamAverage rating
3.63
- Squad number4Player namePowersAverage rating
3.58
- Squad number27Player nameAppéréAverage rating
3.44
- Squad number17Player nameRobsonAverage rating
2.40
St Mirren
Avg
- Squad number21Player nameConnollyAverage rating
8.26
- Squad number20Player nameDennisAverage rating
8.01
- Squad number17Player nameMcGrathAverage rating
7.99
- Squad number8Player nameFlynnAverage rating
7.76
- Squad number4Player nameShaughnessyAverage rating
7.75
- Squad number2Player nameTaitAverage rating
7.66
- Squad number5Player nameMcCarthyAverage rating
7.64
- Squad number22Player nameFraserAverage rating
7.45
- Squad number25Player nameErhahonAverage rating
7.36
- Squad number11Player nameDurmusAverage rating
7.34
- Squad number10Player nameMcAllisterAverage rating
7.26
- Squad number9Player nameObikaAverage rating
7.17
- Squad number1Player nameAlnwickAverage rating
6.76
- Squad number29Player nameBrophyAverage rating
6.64
Line-ups
Dundee Utd
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 19Mehmet
- 2Smith
- 5ConnollyBooked at 45mins
- 6Reynolds
- 17Robson
- 4PowersSubstituted forFotheringhamat 45'minutes
- 20BoltonSubstituted forAppéréat 72'minutes
- 10Clark
- 23Harkes
- 9McNulty
- 24ShanklandBooked at 45mins
Substitutes
- 1Siegrist
- 3Spörle
- 8Pawlett
- 12Edwards
- 25Fotheringham
- 26Mochrie
- 27Appéré
- 30Neilson
St Mirren
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Alnwick
- 22Fraser
- 5McCarthy
- 4Shaughnessy
- 2Tait
- 17McGrath
- 8Flynn
- 25ErhahonBooked at 55mins
- 11DurmusSubstituted forMcAllisterat 80'minutes
- 9ObikaSubstituted forConnollyat 71'minutes
- 29BrophySubstituted forDennisat 56'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Sheron
- 10McAllister
- 15Finlayson
- 20Dennis
- 21Connolly
- 26Lyness
- 30Henderson
- 33Jamieson
- Referee:
- John Beaton
Match Stats
Home TeamDundee UtdAway TeamSt Mirren
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dundee United 1, St. Mirren 5.
Post update
Foul by Lawrence Shankland (Dundee United).
Post update
Joe Shaughnessy (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kai Fotheringham (Dundee United).
Post update
Conor McCarthy (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kai Fotheringham (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Marc McNulty.
Goal!
Goal! Dundee United 1, St. Mirren 5. Kristian Dennis (St. Mirren) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Flynn.
Post update
Mark Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dylan Connolly (St. Mirren).
Post update
Attempt missed. Nicky Clark (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jamie Robson.
Post update
Mark Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kristian Dennis (St. Mirren).
Post update
Attempt missed. Kai Fotheringham (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Marc McNulty.
Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Kyle McAllister replaces Ilkay Durmus.
Goal!
Goal! Dundee United 1, St. Mirren 4. Dylan Connolly (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kristian Dennis following a fast break.
Post update
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Ian Harkes.
Post update
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Dylan Connolly (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie McGrath.
Post update
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Jamie Robson.
