Dundee United slumped to their second Championship defeat in a row following this pulsating game against bottom of the table St Mirren in Paisley.
The Buddies opened the scoring through Harry Davis with United equalising thanks to Tony Andreu before Stevie Mallan netted again for the Buddies.
The home side’s Lewis Morgan made it three in the second half with Andreu again pulling one back. United then threw everything at St Mirren in a bid to find another equaliser but they were to be denied and missed out on the chance to move up to third.
Tangerines boss Ray McKinnon made three changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Hibs at Tannadice last Friday with club captain Sean Dillon coming in for the injured Frank van der Struijk, Jamie Robson replacing Paul Dixon who dropped to the bench while Charlie Telfer was drafted in for Lewis Toshney who was suspended after receiving a red card against the Easter Road side.
St Mirren boss Jack Ross made one change from the side that drew 0-0 with Dunfermline at the weekend with on-loan Dundee striker Rory Loy coming in for Josh Todd. There was a real Dark Blue flavour running through the Buddies starting XI with former Dundee players Gary Irvine, Gary MacKenzie and Stephen McGinn also selected.
Cammy Smith, who was on loan at United from Aberdeen in the first half of the season, also won the nod with Mallan making his 100th start for the Paisley side.
However, it was a start of the nightmarish sort for the Tangerines who conceded in just the second minute when Mallan floated a central free-kick to the United back post with the ball being headed back by Loy, flicked on by Sutton for Davis to prod home past Cammy Bell.
United tried to regain their composure after conceding so early but struggled to gain a foothold in the game against a visibly fired-up Buddies outfit.
As the first quarter passed, the Tangerines were struggling to get out of their own half and had yet to trouble home keeper Billy O’Brien.
There was a rare promising United attack in the 23rd minute when Telfer broke from within his own half before playing the ball out left to Robson but the full-back’s attempted cutback was easily mopped up by the St Mirren defence.
Shortly after, Simon Murray made space for himself in the home penalty area but his shot flew well over O’Brien’s bar.
United’s night then became worse in the 30th minute when Scott Fraser was injured in a tackle with Irvine and crumpled to the turf with what looked like a bad foot injury with the midfielder having to be carried off and replaced by Thomas Mikkelsen.
Just three minutes later, McKinnon’s men dragged themselves back into the game when Murray sent an inviting low cross in from the left with Andreu sweeping the ball home to make it 1-1.
However, United quickly fell behind once again in the 37th minute with Mallan hitting a stunning long-range free-kick from the left which flew past Bell at his near post to make it 2-1.
Just three minutes into the second half, United came agonisingly close to levelling when Willo Flood sent a cross in from the right with Andreu heading against O’Brien’s post.
The Tangerines threatened again when Telfer was teed up following a flowing move but the midfielder blasted well over when he should have at least tested O’Brien.
The next goal finally came in the 60th minute – but unfortunately for United, it was scored by St Mirren. Smith burst down the right before sending a low cutback across the Tangerines goal. Loy’s first effort was blocked but Morgan was on hand to fire the ball home at the back post.
This game then took another incredible twist in the 70th minute when Andreu spun 20 yards out before hitting an unstoppable curling shot into the far corner of O’Brien’s net.
United then tried manfully to find an equaliser, pinning St Mirren back but just could not get the vital break they needed with the Buddies holding on to secure a potentially priceless three points.
Attendance – 2,766.
St Mirren – O’Brien, Irvine, MacKenzie, Sutton, Eckersley, Morgan, Davis (41, Baird), Mallan, Loy (Magennis, 68), Smith (Storie, 81), McGinn. Subs not used – Langfield, Demetriou, Todd, Fjelde.
Dundee United – Bell, Dillon, Durnan, Murray (Van der Velden, 78), Fraser (Mikkelsen, 30), Nicholls (Coote, 61), Telfer, Edjenguele, Flood, Andreu, Robson.
Subs not used – Zwick, Dixon, Donaldson, Murdoch.
Referee – Greg Aitken.