Two games, two wins and 180 breathless minutes of football.
St Mirren have certainly brought the entertainment factor in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Far more importantly for Stephen Robinson, though, is sitting top of the league with a flawless record after victories over Hibs and Dundee which easily could’ve seen a lesser points return after scares in Edinburgh and in front of an expectant home crowd in Paisley.
Former Buddies Joe Shaughnessy and Trevor Carson combined to hand St Mirren the lead as the former nodded into his own net after a dangerous cross from Conor McMenamin after seven minutes.
Dundee struggled to match the pace but had a golden opportunity to level after 35 minutes as a VAR check led to a penalty kick for a Mikael Mandron foul on Lee Ashcroft. Zach Robinson stepped up but sent a poor spot-kick down the middle into the legs of Zach Hemming in the Buddies goal.
On the stroke of half time – with four of the five added minutes played –Mandron doubled the hosts lead. Caolan Boyd-Munce crossed for the big striker to glance expertly into the far corner.
Dundee grew into the contest in the second half and grabbed a goal back just after the hour. Scott Tiffoney whipped into the box where Josh Mulligan nodded home.
The visitors threw everything at a leveller but just couldn’t find a finishing touch.
St Mirren almost killed the game when Alex Greive looked to poke home only for his effort to be sliced off the line – with a VAR check, ruling no goal, ensuring a nervy finish to proceedings in Paisley.
Nightmare returns
It would have been understandable for Trevor Carson and Joe Shaughnessy to have been nervous ahead of a trip back to Paisley at their new club.
The pair were regulars for Stephen Robinson last season and contributed to an impressive top-half finish but traded Renfrewshire for Dundee in the summer. Shaughnessy leaving at the end of his contract with Carson making the move after a change of heart shrouded in mystery having earlier this year penned a contract extension.
A dreaded scenario would come to fruition for the duo as they combined to hand their former club the lead within minutes.
Shaughnessy would go on to receive appreciation from the home crowd during the match for his time as captain, for Carson it was quite the opposite with constant jeers all afternoon after his unexpected exit.
New Buddies make impression
They were the only two new faces in the line-up for St Mirren and had arrived in Paisley under differing circumstances. But Conor McMenamin and Mikael Mandron were both excellent.
McMenamin made the switch to St Mirren after lengthy negotiations with Glentoran and and eventual agreement with huge backing from the Buddies board for Robinson to get his man.
Mandron, conversely, arrived with less fanfare and perhaps caught supporters off guard when he took the No.9 shirt.
Quickly it has become unthinkable to view a St Mirren side without them. Mandron providing a natural finisher and target man in one since his arrival and McMenamin growing into the dangerous winger and goal threat Robinson had promised.
The core squad responsible for St Mirren’s superb season last term has remained and the new faces appear to be the perfect compliment.
Dundee signs of survival
In the first-half it was obvious Dundee were a newly promoted side and showed worring signs of not adapting to the level required in the top-flight.
A miscued cross and missed penalty kick were the only two sights of goal in a dreary opening 45 minutes.
It continued somewhat into the second period, but come the arrival of Scott Tiffoney and Zak Rudden in the second half and there were signs of a goal threat the visitors had sorely lacked.
It's no doubt going to be a huge task for Dundee this season, particularly with a swathe of new signings and the vastly experienced Tony Docherty in his first management role.
But on the display in the second half – with the visitors banging on the door to claim a point -there is ability and quality in the Dundee dressing room.
Whether it will be enough come the end of the season, is another question.
