Steven Thompson presents highlights from the afternoon fixture in the Scottish Premiership Dundee United v St Mirren,
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00:00knowing a win would close the gap on United to two points with two games to play.
00:30Saints also make a double switch, Mark O'Hara is missing, Smith is a sub, Edouin Boyd-Muntz makes starts.
00:45United by Victorious in the previous three meetings against St Mirren already this season.
00:52But it's Mandrawn looking to attack early.
00:56Walton looked troubled.
00:58Mandrawn was the match winner against Aberdeen and Paisley last Saturday.
01:04Looking to get St Mirren off to a flyer today.
01:10Jim Goodwin looking for an improvement.
01:12United side are still hurting from a bad defensive record in the last two games.
01:18Middleton lines up.
01:21Ferry heads across, Doherty!
01:24That's a strong stop from Hemming.
01:26And a crunching challenge on Hichko Shevei.
01:35And what a big stop this is from Hemming.
01:37The underrated captain coming close.
01:39Hidolu for St Mirren.
01:49Byunga already pointing.
01:52John continues to carry.
01:54Hidolu again encouraged to shoot.
01:57He will now into the side netting.
02:03St Mirren have started strongly.
02:05They're going for it this afternoon.
02:07They know they need to.
02:09Looking to catch Dundee United in the Premiership table.
02:18Jim Goodwin plotting how his side can get the opening goal here.
02:23Nadolu, not a clean header.
02:28Does well at the second time of asking.
02:33Middleton recycles the ball.
02:37And now crosses.
02:38Oh, and Dalby's there with the header.
02:42Looking for lead goal number 15.
02:46Usually so efficient from that kind of position,
02:49but heads over.
02:53Leung up.
03:01Does well to take that one.
03:02That's a look at the support.
03:06Slip, but Randrom will continue.
03:08Here's Boyd Munns.
03:09Threads through.
03:10Quick passing.
03:12That one stopped by Walton.
03:13Still alive.
03:14And United will now scramble it away through Docherty.
03:20Winning the goal kick.
03:23More St Mirren pressure on the United stopper.
03:26Look at this slick play.
03:28Just waiting to see who would have the effort on goal.
03:30And somehow they're still at 0-0 inside Tanadice.
03:42Jim Goodwin making a couple of changes to the United side.
03:45Phillips.
03:46Aliviosu.
03:47That's tidy footwork.
03:48Mikael Mandjon!
03:49St Mirren have the opener.
03:50And it's a seventh league goal for the French forward.
03:51The match winner last Saturday.
03:52This could be another massive Mikael Mandjon moment for St Mirren.
03:53And it's such a tidy finish to...
04:20It's such a tidy finish too.
04:22Caresses it with the left foot.
04:25Almost passing it into the net.
04:27United nil, St-Man and one.
04:35Sebald.
04:39Ferry.
04:41Floats the cross, the header from Doherty.
04:44He's always rising.
04:46That's the second time he's got into a glorious position
04:49around the six yard area.
04:51Couldn't keep that one down.
05:00Jim Goodwin looking for a big response
05:02from his Dundee United players in the second half.
05:05Here's Dalby.
05:06Drills it wide.
05:09He's getting into those spaces.
05:12Just couldn't get that one on target.
05:15Just rolls the defender well.
05:23Difference in the two managers.
05:30Alibi Ossou.
05:31Strugs off the challenge.
05:33St Mirren have the numbers here.
05:36It's a strong stop from Jack Walton.
05:38keeping Dundee United in it at the moment.
05:42Alibi Ossou had one thing on his mind, charging towards goal.
05:46St Mirren sweep up from the Dundee United throw.
05:51That's a slip from Doherty.
05:52St Mirren now looking to stretch their advantage.
05:55Iyunga taking aim.
06:03And Jonah Iyunga grabs St Mirren's second.
06:08The travelling support delighted.
06:10As is the striker.
06:12United caught out.
06:13United caught out.
06:14Iyunga just so relaxed as he shifts it onto the left foot.
06:16And powers the shot below Walton.
06:18And that gives the buddies some comfort now.
06:20Dundee United 0-0.
06:44Steven Robinson wants to get the three-point sealed up here.
06:55There may be a chance, Boyd Munns, Anabiosu's strong,
07:01clipped into the area, kept in play, Phillips tees it up!
07:07And skies it over the crossbar, what a chance for the Buddies to get number three.
07:13Phillips all alone around the penalty spot.
07:24Mandron carrying, Phillips on his right.
07:28United scramble again, Kilty.
07:34Anabiosu goes for goal, and it comes off Declan Gallagher.
07:39There isn't a couple of opportunities in this second half.
07:45Ryan Alibiosu wants to get his name on the score sheet.
07:48Do United have enough time left to try and get a couple of goals and take something from this one?
08:03But it's St Mirren looking to threaten again.
08:06And it's Jonah Iunga once again!
08:09But the flag is raised by the assistant.
08:13It won't count.
08:16And Jonah Iunga left frustrated.
08:18That time United had the numbers back.
08:24The defence immediately raising their hands.
08:28Now Iunga had that quick look towards the assistant.
08:32And Tadder on time.
08:44Trilled over.
08:45And it comes to Kilty.
08:46Stopped by Walton.
08:47And power towards goal.
08:49So, so close from Greg Kilty.
08:53To sealing the three points.
08:58More St Mirren pressure.
09:00United all at sea.
09:03But the buddies still believe in a return to European football.
09:07In these games over the season, the first goal has always been vitally important.
09:16And unfortunately, St Mirren got that.
09:19You know, it was a well-worked goal from their point of view.
09:21Kind of up, back and through.
09:23The midfielder running beyond.
09:24And then a really good finish from Andron.
09:26Yeah, we kept going.
09:28But the longer the game went on,
09:30I just felt that we looked as if we were running out of legs,
09:34you know, in the middle of the pitch.
09:36And, you know, we caused a lot of our own problems.
09:39With cheap turnovers of possession.
09:40We were getting hit on the counter attack.
09:43And, yeah, St Mirren thoroughly deserved our victory.
09:46Yeah, we made harder work of it than we probably needed to.
09:49I thought we started really brightly.
09:51The goal is excellent.
09:52The things we work on, up, back, through.
09:54And some of the football and the chances that we missed.
09:57You know, if some of them...
09:58You know, we just have that finishing product to it.
10:00It could have been four or five at times.
10:01And what delighted me most was when they had a spell of pressure,
10:04they were a good side.
10:06We stood up to it.
10:07The back five stood up to it.
10:08But we created a lot of chances.
10:10From a lot of good play.
10:11A lot of really, really good one-touch football and passes at play.
10:14So, delighted with the scoreline.
10:16Delighted with the three points.
10:18St Mirren continuing to love life in the top six.
10:22An absolutely brilliant performance.
10:23Michael, now only two behind United for their usual European spot.
10:27Well, it's certainly getting that way, isn't it?
10:29Yeah, I mean, you obviously compare and contrast.
10:32The two sides formed since the split and it's quite stark.
10:35Yeah.
10:36St Mirren very much on the up and everything's positive.
10:39Whereas for Dungeon United, it does feel like, you know,
10:41as Jim was talking about, obviously, in regards to this game,
10:43they're running out of legs and it's stumbling over the line.
10:47It will be a wee bit of a concern here in terms of how quickly
10:50St Mirren are coming up on them.
10:52Yeah, I have no doubt about it.
10:53St Mirren played a lot of good football today.
10:55Mandrone got the first goal.
10:56It was a lovely finish from a nice move.
10:58Yeah, it was.
10:59Again, you heard Steven Robinson, the manager, talking about this
11:03and you heard Jim actually regarding, you know,
11:06a good bit of play up, back and through.
11:08And I think this is, you know,
11:11the thing that I've noticed in the last few games we've done
11:13in the United is exactly like Jim Goodman was saying,
11:15that they're just looking a bit leggy.
11:16It's a great goal.
11:17I think the problem is that Jack Walton, the goalkeeper,
11:20is unsighted with his defenders.
11:22Adebayega's just right in his line of sight
11:24and that little bit deeper.
11:25He shapes it round him nicely though.
11:26He's so late to be able to react
11:29because he's not able to see the ball until it's maybe
11:32a yard or so in front of him.
11:33The ball's not right in the corner,
11:35but with the defenders in the way,
11:36hence why it's ended up in the back of the net.
11:38But yeah, loads of energy from Smyrran,
11:40as you would expect normally.
11:41But I was just saying there,
11:42I think it's been quite, you know,
11:44apparent that Dundee United just looking that little bit lethargic.
11:48Is there a case that Dundee United, you know,
11:50three defeats in a row,
11:51after securing the top six,
11:54it just feels like,
11:55oh, we've accomplished what we wanted to accomplish
11:58and then maybe just drop their standards
12:00whereas Smyrran were like,
12:01oh, maybe we can catch United.
12:03Well, I mean, look, I hear what you're saying,
12:05but the fact is for Dundee United,
12:07they're right in the hunt.
12:08They were in the hunt for third spot,
12:09you know, getting into that top six.
12:11Yes, it's been a successful season,
12:12but it's a disappointing way to finish it off here
12:15if they don't pick up more points.
12:17I think just Smyrran,
12:19it's, you know,
12:20even when things are not going particularly well
12:22and there is a moment where it's a little bit of a trough,
12:25you always feel like they're capable of digging,
12:27you know, a result out somewhere.
12:28And at the moment,
12:29they're really riding the crest of a wave here
12:31and, you know,
12:32you wouldn't write them off being able to catch Dundee United.
12:34Well, Rangers for United at Ibrex on Wednesday evening,
12:39there's a full card on Wednesday evening.
12:40Jim will be looking for a reaction.
12:41He'll not want four straight defeats,
12:43but, you know,
12:45well, I suppose it's an easier place to go these days than normal,
12:48given Rangers home record,
12:49but he'll want a reaction from his players.
12:51Well, of course he will.
12:52I mean, you know,
12:53he's going to be wanting to pick up points
12:54and he'll be mindful of the fact that
12:56St Mirren are breathing right down their necks.
12:57But, you know,
12:58as much as it's not been a great run of form for Rangers at home,
13:01it's still Ibrex,
13:02it's still a difficult place to go.
13:04But Dundee United have got to come up with a performance
13:06and start picking up points quickly,
13:08otherwise they could find themselves behind St Mirren.
13:10St Mirren at home to Hibs,
13:11so they'll fancy themselves massively.
13:13If they can win that game,
13:14and United lose,
13:16they'd go above them.
13:17Yeah, it's a very interesting last couple of games
13:19that are going to shape up who gets into Europe or not.
13:22It's going to be exciting.
13:23Let's take a wee look at the table.
13:26Celtic now on 88 points
13:28after their win against Hibs,
13:29who remain in third,
13:31with Aberdeen playing Rangers tomorrow.
13:33United just two ahead of St Mirren
13:35following today's defeat.
13:36Hearts, Motherwell and Kelly safe,
13:38but it's all to play for at the bottom.
13:41Dundee 10th,
13:42two points above County and St Johnstone.
13:44Now just three adrift at the bottom,
13:46and as ever,
13:47there is lots for you to enjoy coming up.
13:50Starting with Sports Sound tomorrow,
13:51it's on air at 11.30,
13:52then on Wednesday at 6.00.
13:54Off the Ball is at 3 o'clock tomorrow,
13:56also on Radio Scotland in the SWPL.
13:58Hibs against Glasgow City,
14:00top of the table Clash is at 12,
14:02Celtic against Rangers at 4,
14:04both on Alipa.
14:05Highlights with Jonathan tomorrow night at 7.15,
14:08and on Wednesday night,
14:09six games on BBC One for you to enjoy in the SWPL.
14:13Highlights with Jane are here on Monday at 7.30 in BBC Scotland,
14:18and Partick Thistle against Livy on Tuesday and Friday,
14:22BBC Scotland at 7.30.
14:25And that is it for another Saturday.
14:27Thanks to Mikey for joining me on a dramatic day in the Premiership
14:31as St Johnstone live to fight another day.
14:34Good night.
14:35Go!
14:54Go!
15:00Go!
15:01I love you way up, you're gonna go up, you're gonna go down.