Roland Edu scored the winner from a last-gasp penalty in St Mirren’s upset 3-2 Premier League win over St Johnstone as they moved back into the top six.
Mark O’Hara’s penalty was saved by Josh Ray, but VAR alerted referee Ewan Anderson that he had gone off the line early and – while replaying the shot – Idowu, on loan from Shrewsbury, sent Ray the wrong way to secure maximum points.
The Paisley side have won just once and scored twice in 10 visits to McDiarmid Park since promotion in 2018.
This match looked like another poor result in Perth, with Mackenzie Kirk and Benji Kempioka scoring the comeback goals for the hosts.
Killian Phillips had given St Mirren the lead on 10 minutes but they lost momentum in the second half.
However, 17-year-old Evan Mooney came off the bench to score in only his second substitute appearance to begin the dramatic finale.
How St Mirren got the three points
Home coach Simo Valacari, who was without the suspended Sven Sprangler, brought in Adama Sidibe as his only change as he tweaked his system to use a three-man attack.
Despite all this attacking power, they failed to threaten the visiting team’s defence, and Alex Iacovitti participated for the first time since August.
Mikael Mandron replaced Toyosi Olusanya in attack as St Mirren coach Stephen Robinson looked to address a lack of creativity and clinical touch in the final third in recent weeks.
Both cases were resolved quickly. Mandron created space to gather and turn for 22 yards and threaded a perfect pass to match Phillips’ route.
St Johnstone’s hands went up to call for offside but the Irishman timed it correctly and slotted a low goal past Rye.
Valacari made a straight swap at half-time with David Keltjens replacing Lewis Nilsson at right-back.
The Israel international took just seven minutes to make an impact, with a pass to set Nicky Clark free.
The St Johnstone captain connected with a bold diagonal run from Kirk, who slotted a wonderful low goal beyond the reach of Ellery Balcombe for his third goal in five games.
Luke Kenny, 21, made his Premier League debut for the Buddies after Richard Taylor was taken off on a stretcher.
Phillips skated to a big chance for St Mirren and there was wasteful work at the other end from Sidibe and Kembiouka.
However, Swede Kempioka made amends by putting Perth Saints ahead. Dre Wright’s determination kept St Johnstone in attacking mode and played with Kempioka on the left.
A wonderful first touch went past the defenders and shot into the roof of the net.
But the home side’s defensive weakness returned and they were unable to hold out.
Goalkeeper Ray provided an unconvincing punch to a routine ball into the penalty area and Mooney slotted home the equaliser.
In stoppage time, VAR awarded a penalty for Jason Holt’s handball and Edu made it where O’Hara failed, nine minutes into the first 90 minutes.
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