St Mirren 0-1 Dundee United: Louis Moult’s overhead kick sees visitors snatch Scottish Premiership win

Substitute Louis Moult scored a stunning late overhead kick before Jack Walton saved a St Mirren penalty as Dundee United left Paisley with a 1-0 win.

The game pepped up following a drab first half with United having a goal ruled out for offside and both sides hitting the woodwork.

Both teams had other chances but found the respective ‘keepers in good form until fit-again Moult, replacing Glenn Middleton just after the hour mark for his first action in a month, struck with two minutes remaining in normal time.

Saints substitute Toyosi Olusanya then won and took a penalty in the third of six added minutes but Walton made the save, giving Jim Goodwin’s side three points and a fourth successive United win over Stephen Robinson’s men this season – the Buddies having now lost four in a row.

In an attempt to get back to winning ways in front of their own supporters, Robinson made three changes with defender Alex Iacovitti, midfielder Roland Idowu and striker Mika Mandron returning.

Goodwin, back at his former club, made five changes with Kevin Holt, Ross Docherty, Ryan Strain, Luca Stephenson and top scorer Sam Dalby coming back.

The home side enjoyed the bulk of the early pressure in what soon turned into a physical encounter.

Handily-placed Stephenson cleared a header from Buddies defender Richard Taylor off the line in the fourth minute following a Scott Tanser corner.

Then, as United showed a threat of their own, a powerful Holt strike from distance was well held by Paisley ‘keeper Zach Hemming.

Duels were being enthusiastically fought all over the pitch and referee David Dickinson made good use of his whistle, at times to the irritation of the fans.

Neither side kept the ball for any length of time but in the 33rd minute a powerful Greg Kiltie drive from inside the United box was parried away by Walton, who made a fine save from a Killian Phillips header just before the break.

United’s Vicko Sevelj had the ball in the net from close range two minutes after the restart but the offside flag went up, with the VAR confirming Tayside disappointment.

In the 56th minute, St Mirren striker Mandron crashed a shot off the crossbar before a quick United break saw Middleton skim the Paisley bar with a deflected drive, the United wideman soon making way for Moult.

As United pressed, Hemming bravely saved from Holt at close range and then made another fine block to thwart Dalby, who had sped away from the Buddies’ defence.

Olusanya raced clear of the United defence in the 78th minute but shot straight at Walton and at the other end moments later there was a VAR check for a penalty when Hemming challenged Dalby but no offence was spotted.

St Mirren survived a frantic goalmouth scramble and a corner when Hemming blocked a header from Moult but the visitors continued to press and as the ball bounced around the box, Moult performed a sensational overhead-kick to give United the lead.

However, there was more drama in added time when Olusanya was tripped by Holt inside the box.

The striker picked himself up and took the kick but Walton saved to take the three points back to Tayside.

What’s coming up in the Scottish Premiership?