ST MIRREN need just eight more points from their remaining seven fixtures to seal promotion after a convincing 5-0 victory over Dumbarton at the Paisley 2021 Stadium last night.

Celtic-bound Lewis Morgan scored his 14 and 15th goals of the season, his first a low driven shot.

Cammy Smith netted the second on 32 minutes, before Danny Mullen piled more misery onto the visitors, scoring minutes after the break. Gavin Reilly and Morgan added another to move the Paisley side 14 clear of second-placed Livingston.

It was Saints’ seventh win at home in a row, their last loss coming to Dumbarton back in December, the only home loss in the league in 15 months. 

Saints manager Jack Ross was delighted to see his side edge closer to winning the league and said: “The points total we’re getting towards is going to be very difficult to catch, we know that.We’ve had that goal since pre-season and the great thing now is the players can see it, it’s close, they understand if they keep winning they’ll get there.

“Some of our play in the final third was magnificent, and when you add to that a clean sheet then it keeps a terrific record going for us at home as well.

“Dumbarton are the only team to beat us here in the league this season, and deservedly so that day, but that was something we wanted to put right. To lose only one league game here all season to date is incredible in this division.”

Dumbarton remain in the relegation play-off place, seven points from safety, but boss Stevie Aitken said it was always going to be a tough ask, especially after their Irn-Bru cup final loss to Inverness

He said: “The players didn’t deserve to lose that cup final and it’s hard to pick them up again in a game only three days after.”