St Mirren 2-0 Dundee: Visitors all but relegated after defeat in Paisley

Dundee are all but relegated from the Scottish Premiership after victory for St Mirren ensured safety for the hosts.

Alex Greive pounced on a Charlie Adam error to put St Mirren in front.

Ryan Sweeney and Jordan McGhee threatened an equaliser before Curtis Main doubled the home team’s lead.

St Mirren climb above Aberdeen into ninth place and are eight points clear of St Johnstone.

• Reaction & as it happened

McGhee’s men started in a positive manner without being able to fashion a chance and were undone by Adam’s unfathomable mistake.

The midfielder had the ball deep inside his own half on the left under no pressure and played it across the face of goal into the path of Greive, who gratefully received to score.

The goal shifted the momentum to the hosts and Main’s header was kept out only by a superb Harrison Sharp save before Greg Kiltie flashed a shot wide of the Dundee goal.

Conor McCarthy headed Scott Tanser’s teasing delivery over moments later.

Dundee came out refreshed in the second half and Adam showed character by being involved in some of their best moments.

His free-kick was helped on by the head of Sweeney, bringing out the best in goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.

And an Adam corner prompted a scramble in the St Mirren box with Sweeney forcing the ball forward and McGhee turning it on to the post.

But, again, St Mirren scored against the run of play. Main peeled off on the left of the box, took down Marcus Fraser’s cross and lashed a shot past Sharp. It was the striker’s first goal since September.

With Glenn Middleton heading St Johnstone in front in Livingston, it looked as though Dundee’s fate was sealed. However, Jack Fitzwater’s leveller prevented confirmation of the Dark Blues’ demotion.

Man of the match – Curtis Main

What did we learn?

St Mirren put themselves in a much stronger position with last week’s win at St Johnstone and victory against Dundee gave them their first back-to-back wins since February.

Though not their most impressive campaign, the Paisley side have benefitted from a squad full of seasoned Premiership pros and Stephen Robinson has plenty to work with next term.

Dundee’s last win of any kind is still James McPake’s final match in charge – the Scottish Cup defeat of Peterhead on Valentine’s Day.

They now are virtually certain to be relegated and McGhee is still without victory a dozen matches into his tenure.

What’s next?

Dundee host Hibernian on Tuesday evening (19:45 BST) and St Mirren’s penultimate match of the season is at home to Livingston on Wednesday (19:45).