St Mirren head into next Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic on a high after they ended their eight-game Scottish Premiership winless run with victory over Dundee United.
Conor McMenamin’s first-half bullet header and Keeanu Baccus’ first goal since returning to the club was enough for Stephen Robinson’s side to earn their first league win since 27 September.
With both sides coming into the game in such poor form, expectations were low, but the Buddies, who will compete in their first League Cup final since winning the competition in 2013, seemed certain to make the trip to Hampden with a win in the bag.
Declan John, who threatened to be sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against Dundee last weekend, lofted a cracking cross to the back post for Northern Ireland international McMenanim to nod home.
It was nothing less than their bright start merited, and though they allowed United to creep back into the game, Australia international Baccus battered St Mirren into a two-goal lead with 25 minutes left and all-but resign United to a sixth league game without a win.
Visiting striker Zac Sapsford should have done better when through on goal in the first half, but tamely struck straight at the sprawling Shamal George, while he cannoned a free-kick off the crossbar just before St Mirren’s second.
Craig Sibbald smacked the bar while substitute Amar Fatah was superbly denied by George, but Jim Goodwin’s side left themselves too much to do.
The win lifts Robinson’s League Cup finalists to ninth, two points behind United who remain eighth.