St Mirren hitman Gavin Reilly admits he’s delighted to be back among the goals as he fired ten-man Buddies to a 3-1 win at Livingston on Saturday.

The striker netted a second-half brace as Saints recovered from Gary Irvine’s red card to claim the points in a chaotic encounter at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

And Reilly, who has struck six times in eight games for Jack Ross’s side, is enjoying his football again after a difficult season at Hearts last year.

“Last season was very frustrating for me,” Reilly admitted. “There was a lot of things going on that I don’t really want to go into detail about but I’ve just wanted to get back into playing football – if the goals come then great.

“I just wanted that feeling of waking up on a Saturday knowing that you’re playing again. It was difficult at Hearts because he [Ian Cathro] rotated things a lot and I got frustrated.

“But I’ve come here and started almost every game so it’s been great so far.”

Reilly’s goals were just reward for the thankless task of leading the line following Irvine’s first-half dismissal for a rash challenge on Dale Carrick, mere minutes after Livi captain Craig Halkett scored at both ends to keep the sides level.

The forward reacted quickest to fire home after Cammy Smith’s shot was parried by Neil Alexander and he was on hand again to divert Stelios Demetriou’s header into the same corner.

It was an unlikely turnaround for the Buddies after being left a man light for the second weekend in a row, with Reilly recalling Jack Baird’s costly sending-off at Cappielow which consigned Saints to a 4-1 derby drubbing.

“There was a bit of deja-vu after what happened last week,” he said.

“We gave ourselves a lot to do and it was a tough ask.

“We got ourselves in front but then when they get back into it and we end up down to ten men you’re thinking it’s going to be one of those games again.

“We went in at half-time to regroup and we came out really strong in the second-half which shows the character we have in the dressing room.

“This is a hard place to come so it’s great to come away with three points. We had to dig deep and we did that.”

The frenzied fixture was in keeping with Saints league campaign so far, which has served up a wealth of goals, not all at the right end, and sending-offs both on the pitch and in the dugout.

Paisley gaffer Jack Ross was sent to the stands after a heated exchange with referee Craig Thomson, following on from assistant James Fowler being given his marching orders on the opening day win over Falkirk.

Defender Baird was sent packing last week before being one-upped by Irvine’s recklessness on Saturday, making it four dismissals over three games which have also featured 13 goals.

It’s no wonder Reilly conceded he’d take a quiet 1-0 win when Saints host title favourites Dundee United at the weekend.

“I think we’ve only had one clean sheet since the start of the season and that was in the Betfred Cup,” the striker recalled.

“We’re always going to create chances and hopefully score goals so if we can start adding clean-sheets then I’d fancy us to win games.

“Last week was frustrating, we analysed the goals and they were bad ones to lose. Dundee United have had a good start to the season winning all three games, but we’re at home so hopefully we can take the game to them and get the three points.”