Dunfermline boss Dick Campbell’s wild pre-match claims that his side would “go out there and prove that we are the better side” came back to haunt him yesterday as Saints extended their lead at the top of the table to six points.

In the same interview (the) Dick even had the cheek to call Tom Hendrie “silly” - this coming from a man who has been saying for three months that his team WILL win the league this season. While our friend, (the) Dick, has been talking up his own team - obviously he’s trying to convince himself that they aren’t that bad - Hendrie has remained realistic about his teams chances reminding us all that we are only a third of the way through the season.

True, there are still 24 games to go but after yesterday’s performance against (the) Dick’s second placed side, the Saints manager won’t need too much more convincing that his side have what it takes to be a premier league side come May.

Straight from the first whistle the home side had Dunfermline, including loan signing Steve Crawford, on the back foot and it came as no surprise when they took the lead after 33 minutes.  Iain Nicolson putting in a great cross from the right for Barry Lavety who hit a superb half volley from six yards past Ian Westwater and into the net.

Right on the stroke of half time Saints should have had the opportunity to go two up when Junior Mendes was blatantly tripped in the box by Jason Dair but referee, Tom Brown, waved play on despite the appeals.

It was a decision which could have had a major effect on the eventual outcome of the match as six minutes after the break the Fifers drew level.
David Moss’ clever dummy sent Steve Crawford through on goal and despite Ludovic Roy saving the striker’s effort Moss was on hand to drill home the rebound.

It would have been easy for Saints to let their heads drop at this point but as has so often happened this season an opposition goal sparked them back into life and three minutes later they found themselves in the lead once more.  Ian Ross picked the ball up wide on the left and his deep cross found Mark Yardley who rose brilliantly to send a looping header high beyond Westwater from ten yards.

Ross nearly found himself on the scoresheet soon after when he picked up on a loose ball 25 yards from goal and sent a superb curling right foot shot towards the top corner. This time though, Westwater was equal to it and brilliantly turned the ball over the bar.

With Six minutes remaining though, Saints claimed that killer third goal when another Nicolson cross caused problems inside the Dunfermline goal mouth with Yardley’s fine header forcing Andy Tod to poke the ball into his own net. The game may have been over at this stage but the controversy certainly wasn’t.

Four minutes after Tod’s strike, Andy Smith, in his first game back from suspension for elbowing an opponent, took it upon himself to break Barry McLaughlin’s nose in an aerial duel. Hendrie clearly wasn’t happy that the referee missed the incident and for protesting - no it seems you can’t do that either anymore - he was sent to the stand.

“There’s only one Tom Hendrie” sang the North Bank. A fact that the rest of the first division are currently being left to rue.

St.Mirren: Roy, Nicolson, Ross, Turner, McLaughlin, Walker, Murray, Baltacha, Lavety (McGarry 73), Mendes, Yardley  Subs Not Used: Rudden, Robinson

Dunfermline: Westwater, Thomson, Dair (Potter 46), Tod, Reid, Dolan (French 60), Skinner, Moss, Crawford, Hampshire (Smith 46), Petrie

Sizzling Saint: Again it was collective brilliance from the whole team that won the game for Saints. With the exception of the goal, the whole back three looked solid and the two wide men - Nicolson and Ross - also put in great shifts. Hugh Murray again had another great game but I’ll go with the man at the heart of the defence this week - Tommy Turner.