Bozo Mikulic’s second-half strike gave bottom side St Johnstone a hard-fought 1-0 win over St Mirren and boosted hopes of William Hill Premiership survival.
Both sides went into the game on the back of two-successive victories which suggested an upturn in form but it was mostly uninspiring fare until well into the second half.
The visitors threatened for the first time after an hour and then – in the 71st minute – defender Mikulic struck from close range following a corner with his second vital goal in two games.
Simo Valakari’s side are four points behind Kilmarnock, who host Dundee United on Saturday night, and five behind Ross County, who travel to Rangers on Sunday.
And a third-successive win in all competitions for the first time this season will offer encouragement for the McDiarmid Park outfit, while Stephen Robinson’s side showed the inconsistency which has marred their season.
The Buddies were buoyed by their terrific 3-0 win at Aberdeen last week, Robinson made one change, with Elvis Bwomono back in the side at right wing-back and teenager Callum Penman dropping out.
Midfielder Elliot Watt, who joined St Johnstone on loan from Burton, made his debut at the expense of Max Kucheriavyi, while goalkeeper Ross Sinclair took over from new signing Andy Fisher.
The game started poorly and deteriorated. Buddies striker Mikael Mandron forced a save out of Sinclair in the fourth minute when he broke free of the visiting defence to latch on to a pass from midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce, but the offside flag was up.
More hustle and bustle ensued, mostly outside both penalty areas.
In the 32nd minute, Watt was dispossessed by Mandron just outside the St Johnstone box but his left-footed shot was comfortably saved by Sinclair.
Moments later, visiting wing-back Drew Wright bumped Bwomono to the ground inside the St Johnstone box to elicit penalty claims from the home players and fans but referee Dan McFarlane awarded a goal kick, a decision confirmed by the VAR.
The second half offered the chance of improvement but the early stages suggested otherwise.
Every attack was repelled by an organised and determined defence.
Valakari’s side eventually made Zach Hemming work on the hour mark and the St Mirren goalkeeper parried a powerful drive from Graham Carey before pushing the rebound shot from Makenzie Kirk past the post for a corner – which he plucked out of the air.
Carey flashed another shot from 25 yards over the crossbar moments later, giving more encouragement to the small band of travelling supporters behind the goal.
Robinson brought on James Scott and Greg Kiltie – for Mandron and Mark O’Hara respectively – and Kiltie had the ball in the net after 68 minutes but the goal was ruled out for an earlier foul by Toyosi Olusanya in the build-up.
The Paisley side then suffered another blow. Carey swung a corner into the St Mirren box from the right, three minutes later, the home defence failed to clear and Mikulic turned the ball low into the net.
The goal was against the run of play and it forced St Mirren to step up their efforts but their opponents had something precious to hold on to and they battled to the end for three points which could prove crucial.
