St Mirren 2-0 Hamilton Academical: Hosts keep fight to avoid relegation play-off alive

St Mirren kept their bid to avoid a Scottish Premiership relegation play-off alive with a frenetic win over 10-man Hamilton Academical.

Oran Kearney’s men move within a point of 10th-placed Accies heading into Saturday’s final round of fixtures.

Kyle McAllister and Kyle Magennis scored late goals amid a home onslaught after Alex Gogic’s first-half red card.

Saints travel to already-relegated Dundee for their last match, while Accies host St Johnstone.

The Perth side are guaranteed seventh place.

The team finishing 11th face a two-legged survival duel with Dundee United or Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Hosts prevail on night of drama

St Mirren knew the stakes. Win, or face the play-off. Accies, under former Saints coach Brian Rice, seldom set up to contain, and there was drama right from the off.

First, Hamilton’s George Oakley cantered on to a through ball, rounded Vaclav Hladky, but scooped horribly over with the goal at his mercy. Barely a minute later, Magennis lashed into the stand at the other end.

The tumult continued when Simeon Jackson spun Gogic and the Accies defender hauled him down. Willie Collum swiftly produced his red card, ruling Gogic to have denied Jackson a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Rice sacrificed teenage midfielder Reegan Mimnaugh for defender Lennard Sowah, but St Mirren toiled to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

And after the break, they survived a serious scare. Oakley’s flick-on sent Mickel Miller scampering through on goal, but the Englishman skewed his effort wide. It was a costly miss.

St Mirren began to grow as a force and captain Stephen McGinn’s teasing deliveries threatened to yield a breakthrough.

McGinn’s ball was attacked by Mihai Popescu, forcing a fine save from Gary Woods. Paul McGinn, Danny Mullen and McAllister all came close before, at last, the goal they craved was delivered.

Initially, McAllister made a hash of his shot after dancing into the box, but it was deflected back into his path and he fired low into the net to rapturous scenes.

The angst in the stands returned when Oakley fired wide, then came within inches from meeting a Scott McMann cross.

The contest, though, was effectively over when Miller was forced off with a suspected dislocated shoulder after Rice had made all three of his substitutions.

And Magennis put the icing on the cake deep in stoppage time, waltzing his way into the box before drilling home.

‘Another dramatic day’ beckons – analysis

The result means the race for Premiership survival will go right down to the wire. Accies are a point ahead, but their goal difference is significantly poorer.

Rice’s men are renowned survivalists. Despite modest resources and a small fan base, they will earn a sixth straight season in the top flight if they beat St Johnstone.

But if Hamilton slip up, St Mirren can complete a great escape with a draw or win at manager-less Dundee, already destined for the Championship.

A fraught Saturday beckons for fans of both teams, but the neutral can savour another dramatic match-day.