Oran Kearney praised the resilience of his players after a last minute equaliser secured St Mirren a vital point in a crazy relegation battle in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
With stoppage-time goals affecting all three games involving the relegation-threatened sides, Danny Mullen’s thunderous volley could be crucial at the end of the season.
It looked set to be a frustrating day for the hosts until Jason Kerr’s headed clearance fell perfectly to Mullen who unleashed a truly stunning strike high past Zander Clark into the top corner to the delight of manager Kearney.
“Despite being an optimist, I just wasn’t sure that the goal was coming today. Against St Johnstone this season, we’ve had a couple of those games where we felt we should have probably got something,” he said.
“We lost the last game late here 1-0 and it had that same feeling today because although we huffed and puffed nothing seemed to fall for us.
“Credit to Danny because he will be the first to admit that it wasn’t his best game today but he will never forget this day because of that goal.
“To hit that with your right foot would be a heck of a strike but to do it on your weaker foot was fantastic.
“The positive is the mentality because earlier on in the season we would have lost that game. The big credit I have to give my players is that they kept on going and never quit because that is hugely important.
“Although we would have loved to get the three points today the magnitude of that point could be huge at the end of the season.”
Despite having relatively little to play for, St Johnstone edged proceedings and looked to have secured all three points when substitute Christopher Kane opened the scoring in the 79th minute.
Ricky Foster galloped down the right flank before sliding a pass into Kane, and the burly striker made no mistake with an accomplished low finish past Vaclav Hladky.
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright was disappointed with his side’s inability to seal the win.
He said: “I thought we did enough to win it and then it is a wonder strike but from our point of view it should be dealt with.
“It is a 70-yard lump into the box and we should cope with it better.
“In the conditions it maybe could go through to Zander Clark but we make a mistake and they produce a bit of magic to get a point.
“We were well in control of the game looking to get the three points but I think we deserved to win the game and we should have.”
