St Mirren 1-2 Dundee: Simon Murray’s double secures Scottish Premiership away win for Dark Blues in Paisley

Simon Murray scored two headers as Dundee battled to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium.

In blustery conditions, Murray headed home Josh Mulligan’s chipped cross to give the visitors the lead after half an hour.

Toyosi Olusanya expertly guided Elvis Bwomono’s accurate centre into the bottom corner to equalise for the hosts 10 minutes later.

But Murray headed Ryan Astley’s hooked cross in off the crossbar shortly after the hour mark to earn Dundee a much-needed win after a run of three straight defeats.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson had made just one change from the side that defeated Rangers on Boxing Day, with Alex Iacovitti replacing Richard Taylor in the starting XI.

Dundee boss Tony Docherty opted for two changes from the side who were defeated by Ross County last time out, with Finlay Robertson and Seb Palmer-Houlden coming in for Anthony Portales and Scott Tiffoney.

The home side had the first opportunity in the fifth minute as Roland Idowu latched onto Robertson’s poor clearance and drove into the box before firing in a low shot which Dundee goalkeeper Trevor Carson saved with his feet.

The visitors suffered a double blow after 22 minutes as defenders Jordan McGhee and Billy Koumetio were both forced off through injury, with Ethan Ingram and Sean Kelly coming on in their place.

Dundee’s first chance came in the 26th minute as Ellery Balcombe’s error presented the ball to midfielder Lyall Cameron, but Alex Gogic did superbly to block the ball on the line.

Balcombe made amends moments later though, coming out to save twice from Oluwaseun Adewumi who had raced through on goal.

However, less than a minute later, Josh Mulligan’s dinked cross was met by Murray, who headed powerfully into the corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Their lead would only last 10 minutes as St Mirren levelled through a brilliant goal from Olusanya.

Bwomono was the creator, getting to the byline and delivering an inviting cross that Olusanya directed into the bottom corner with his head to equalise.

It remained level at the break, although Saints were inches away from claiming the lead moments after the restart as Idowu released Olusanya, but he could only fire into the side-netting as the angle narrowed.

Palmer-Houlden then went close at the other end, running at the home defence and unleashing a powerful shot that Balcombe parried over the bar.

The game was beginning to drift until the 67th minute when Astley’s brilliant hooked cross was once again met by Murray, who headed in off the crossbar to restore the away side’s advantage.

St Mirren substitute Evan Mooney was close to an equaliser in the 84th minute as he plucked a ball out of the sky before firing narrowly over the bar.

That was all St Mirren could muster though as Dundee saw out the closing stages in relative comfort to secure three points.

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