FATAH FANS FAINT HOPES

AMAR FATAH kept Dundee United's slim top-six hopes alive with a late winner from the spot to pile even more pressure on struggling St Mirren.

- BY SCOTT BURNS

Amar Fatah celebrates his late penalty, but it was a night to forget for luckless Jake Young (inset)

Marcus Fraser had bizarrely put through his own net before Jake Young netted his first goal for St Mirren.

Alex Gogic was then punished for a handball and Fatah was clinical from 12 yards to claim a hard-fought three points.

It moves United to within nine points of sixth-placed Falkirk.

There are still 12 points to play for but United will need to win all four games and hope the Bairns collapse.

United can now turn their attention to Friday's visit to Falkirk in the Scottish Cup quarterfinal. But this was another night when Stephen Robinson's men shot themselves in the foot.

They need to dust themselves down for their own quarterfinal clash with Partick Thistle on Sunday, as they continue their quest for a dream cup double.

Jim Goodwin's side started positively. Emmanuel Agyei put a good ball into the box, which sat up nicely for Vicko Sevelj to crack in a shot that Shamal George got down to block.

The ball looped into the air and Fraser tried to head clear but bulleted it into his own net in the ninth minute.