Dundee United 0-2 St Mirren

Saints' Hugh Murray (left) celebrates his strike with Marc Corcoran

St Mirren took all three points at Tannadice, putting Dunfermline back in the SPL relegation spotlight.

Luckless United had Noel Hunt dismissed after just 21 minutes for a clash with Saints' defender Kirk Broadfoot.

Immediately, Hugh Murray put the Buddies ahead, smashing a 15-yard drive past Derek Stillie after United failed to clear Andy Millen's free-kick.

Stillie saved a 64th minute Stewart Kean penalty, but Kirk Broadfoot headed a second in the 88th to seal the win.

Interview: St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson

Interview: Dundee United manager Craig Levein

St Mirren made three changes from the side which lost 1-0 to Dunfermline in their last game, and now it's the turn of the Pars to face the pressure when they face Motherwell on Monday.

Millen, Alex Burke and Mark Corcoran came into manager Gus MacPherson's team, as John Sutton and Garry Brady moved to the substitutes' bench, while Richard Brittain missed out altogether.

The home side were without both Greg Cameron and Jon Daly from the side which drew 1-1 with Inverness last weekend - but Mark Kerr returned from suspension and William Easton was given a rare start.

It took only two minutes for the first caution to arrive, as Broadfoot was shown a yellow card by referee Kenny Clark for diving in the penalty area when challenged by Morgaro Gomis.

The visitors continued to put their opponents under pressure when United were in possession, meaning the Tannadice club could not get their passing game going.

United's David McCracken (left) wins possession at Tannadice

Gomis fired a shot over for the Taysiders, before Hunt tested Chris Smith with a low drive from 20 yards which was well saved.

With so much at stake for the Buddies, there was an extra edge to their play.

But United were rocked when Hunt received his second red card of the season for kicking Broadfoot while the pair lay on the ground after challenging for the ball in midfield.

As Craig Levein's men tried to re-arrange their line-up, Saints took full advantage three minutes later, with the unlikely figure of Murray, striding on to the loose ball, to lash a perfect drive past the stranded Stillie.

The visitors, backed by a vocal support, were making good use of their one-man advantage , but chances were still at a premium.

Kean went close to adding a second when Millen quickly fed Broadfoot, who in turn found the St Mirren striker only to be denied a goal by a great challenge from David McCracken.

The opening period ended with the visitors well on top with United lacking any real impetus.

Saints missed a fantastic opportunity to put further distance between the sides when, Kean saw his spot-kick saved by Stillie, after Broadfoot was fouled by Christian Kalvenes.

The Tangerine's Norwegian defender was kept busy by Billy Mehmet, with St Mirren making every effort to put the contest beyond United's reach.

The ten-man Tannadice side were feeling the effects, and struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities throughout the game.

And it was Broadfoot who headed number two from six yards towards the end, crowning a very positive individual display.

Saints' fighting performance more than atoned for their Love Street loss against Dunfermline, as the fight to stay in the SPL now edges towards it's climax.

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Dundee Utd: Stillie, Dillon, Wilkie (Mair 63), McCracken, Kalvenes, Samuel, Kerr, Gomis (Conway 68), Easton (Goodwillie 31), Robertson, Hunt. Subs Not Used: McLean, Duff, Robb, Cameron.

Sent Off: Hunt (21).

Booked: Wilkie, Dillon, Robertson.

St Mirren: Smith, Potter, Broadfoot, Maxwell, van Zanten, Reid, Millen, Murray, Burke (Mehmet 60), Kean (Malone 87), Corcoran (Brady 90). Subs Not Used: Hinchcliffe, Sutton, Mackay, McKenna.

Booked: Broadfoot, Murray, Potter.

Goals: Murray 23, Broadfoot 88.

Att: 6,875

Ref: K Clarke