St Mirren have secured their Scottish Premiership status with a 2-0 win that puts Dundee on the brink of relegation.
Alex Greive and Curtis Main scored the all important goals as Mark McGhee ’s side suffered another defeat and were only spared the drop by Livingston claiming a last-gasp point against second-bottom St Johnstone.
But the Perth men now need only a point to send the Dee into the second tier.
Saints, who were dealt a double blow this week with the news that loan pair Connor Ronan and Jordan Jones have returned to their respective clubs after injuries, came into the game on the back of that crucial win against St Johnstone last weekend.
The first goal only took four minutes to arrive for the hosts and it arrived in rather bizarre fashion.
Dundee skipper Charlie Adam played a chipped a ball across his own box and Greive was only too happy to accept the gift to put the Buddies ahead.
The Paisley side were dominant in the first half with Main forcing a great save from Harry Sharp.
Greg Kiltie would go close to adding to his Perth winner too before Conor McCarthy would nod over from a corner.
The closest McGhee’s side got to a goal in the opening half was Adam’s free kick, and subsequent rebound, which were both blocked by the wall.
But it was the visitors who started in the second half, with Jak Alnwick forced into a brilliant save by Ryan Sweeney.
They should have scored from one of the resulting corners but the ball ended up in the grateful arms of Alnwick after a spell of pinball.
Saints then extended their lead when Main hit the top corner leaving Sharp with no chance after 57 minutes.
That knocked the stuffing out of Dundee and pushed closer to trap door as St Johnstone drew with Livingston.
3 talking points
Dundee all but down
Coming into today Dundee knew that if they lost and St Johnstone beat Livingston, they would be relegated back to the Scottish Championship.
Their own defeat did nothing for their fate which has been all but sealed for a few weeks now was once again saved by an late equaliser from Livi but McGhee still hasn't won a league match since replacing James McPake.
It would now take an incredible turnaround for the Dens Park side to avoid the drop.
Saints safe
St Mirren will play Scottish Premiership football next season following a victory that pulls them clear of St Johnstone, who are now bound for the play-offs.
Greive and Main got the goals and after successive wins over the bottom two and Robinson can now build for next season in the top flight.
Buddies pull it all together
St Mirren are usually good at one or the other of keeping clean sheets or scoring, although at some points this season they could do neither.
But with clean sheets and three goals in the last two games, there's now more cause for optimism following a difficult start to life after Jim Goodwin.
Are things beginning to look up for Stephen Robinson? Only time will tell.
