BUDS GET FATAH LIP

Late penalty piles pressure on strugglers

- SCOTT BURNS AT TANNADICE

AMAR FATAH netted the winner from the spot to keep Dundee United's slim top-six hopes alive - and pile more pressure on struggling St Mirren.

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

Alex Gogic was then penalised for a handball and Fatah punished him to claim a hard-fought three points.

It moves United to within nine 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.

They look forward to Friday's visit to Falkirk in the Scottish Cup having won on their last visit there. But it was another night when St Mirren, struggling in the Premiership, shot themselves in the foot.

They must now dust themselves down for their own quarterfinal clash with Partick Thistle on Sunday.