O'Donovan (right) celebrates his first Dundee United goal
Late goals by Roy O'Donovan and Craig Conway gave Dundee United an SPL victory over St Mirren at Tannadice.
St Mirren's Hugh Murray drew an excellent save from Lukasz Zaluska in the best effort of the first half.
United's Morgaro Gomis cleared the ball off the line from another Murray effort before O'Donovan's deflected shot put United ahead.
Conway then sealed the win, ending a 50-yard run with a shot past St Mirren goalkeeper Mark Howard.
The match was preceded by a minute's silence as a mark of respect for Eddie Thompson, the United chairman who passed away earlier this month.
United made a determined start and both Conway and Darren Dods forced good saves from St Mirren goalkeeper Mark Howard in the opening stages.
But after weathering the early storm, the visitors almost took the lead on 24 minutes through Hugh Murray.
The midfielder fired met Dennis Wyness' deep cross with a volley which Lukasz Zaluska did well to save.
As half-time approached, United striker Francisco Sandaza spun on the edge of the box before releasing a shot which flew just over the bar.
United striker Jon Daly claimed for a penalty early in the second half following a challenge by John Potter, but referee Brian Winter allowed play to continue.
Billy Mehmet then chased Murray's long ball and escaped his marker before Zaluska came off his line to block the St Mirren striker's shot.
Dods came close again for United when his header from Conway's corner looped onto the bar and Scott Robertson then sliced a shot narrowly wide of Howard's post.
Sandaza (left) escapes the challenge of Scott Cuthbert
Gomis then saved his side with a goal-line clearance after Murray had met Garry Brady's corner on the volley from the edge of the box.
At the other end, Gomis volleyed straight into the arms of Howard.
Lee Wilkie blocked substitute Craig Dargo's shot before the United captain came close at the other end.
Paul Dixon's free-kick found Wilkie inside the six-yard box and the defender's header went just wide.
The breakthrough came with five minutes remaining when on-loan Sunderland forward O'Donovan grabbed his first goal for the Tannadice club.
The Irishman persevered at the by-line and resisted challenges from two defenders before chipping the ball over Howard's head via a deflection.
Conway fired home United's second in the last minute.
As United pressed forward on the on the counter attack, Conway resisted the temptation to pass to his team-mates and proceeded towards goal before lashing into the net.
Zaluska denied St Mirren in injury time when he blocked Stephen McGinn's long-range effort.
Dundee United manager Craig Levein: "It was a great relief, because I desperately wanted to win this game.
"It was tough because St Mirren are a really good side. For long spells in the game, I thought we played well but we struggled to break them down.
"On chances, we certainly deserved to win the match. Patience paid off in the end and the lads deserved to win.
"The person who would've been happiest today would've been the chairman if he was here."
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson: "I thought we defended superbly from the set pieces and the aerial bombardment that was coming at us.
"We played ever so well in the second half, we passed the ball and maybe didn't create as many chances as we would've liked but I thought we were reasonably comfortable.
"When the chances come along, especially away from home, you've got to take them at this level."
"Lo and behold, the goal that we lose is just crazy defending from us. Individual mistakes have cost us again."
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