Kevin Moon and Billy Mehmet try to win the ball in the air

St Johnstone leapfrogged opponents St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League table with victory at McDiarmid Park.

Chris Millar gave the home side a 19th-minute lead with a shot from outside the penalty area.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Michael Higdon was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Kenny Deuchar threatened for the home side as they tried to make sure of the win but one goal proved to be enough.

A yellow ball was used to combat the snowy conditions and St Mirren were first to threaten in the cold weather.

Craig Dargo meandered across the edge of the box and set up Billy Mehmet for a drive, which shaved the outside of the left-hand post.

Filipe Morais created an opening for the home side after 14 minutes but Jody Morris blazed over from 12 yards out.

Goalkeeper Graeme Smith came off his line to block Dargo's effort as the striker ran in on goal shortly before the deadlock was broken.

David Barron mis-queued as he tried to make a clearance and the ball fell to Millar 25 yards from goal and the midfielder drilled a shot under the body of Paul Gallacher.

Deuchar was off-target with St Johnstone's next effort after neat set-up play by the Perth side.

The home side started the second half in command but could not turn their possession into goals.

And they were almost made to pay as Stephen McGinn's cross was headed away by Danny Grainger as he ran back towards his own goal and Hugh Murray flashed a shot a wide after receiving the clearance 20 yards out.

Higdon had been booked for an earlier challenge on Graham Gartland and the St Mirren striker was given his marching orders after being cautioned for another tackle on the St Johnstone defender.

Deuchar intercepted a mis-hit clearance by Gallacher on the left flank but could not hit the target from distance.

Gallacher then claimed substitute Steven Milne's cross as Deuchar waited to pounce.

St Mirren introduced Stephen O'Donnell for Barron in the closing stages but the visitors could not find a decisive leveller.

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes: "We said we'd sacrifice a good performance as long as we got the result. I think it was more of that today.

"It was imperative that we showed the right sort of resilience and we were determined to get a clean sheet. That was the basis for winning the game.

"There were times we could have shown more quality, but the important thing was getting that victory.

"Chris Millar gets into good goalscoring positions sometimes and he kept his composure and it has to be a good strike to beat Paul Gallacher from that distance.

"We're getting a few goals from the middle of the park and when it's the winner, it's even better.

"In this league we've learned you don't always get what you deserve. St Mirren are probably two years ahead of us. They have come up and they have maintained their SPL status. We are envious of that.

"They have shown how to stay in the league. It's not always pretty but they work had for each other."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson: "The first half was pretty even but I'm really disappointed with the second half.

"The sending off (of Michael Higdon) epitomises the second-half performance.

"We had two or three good chances but we'll always be disappointed when you lose a goal in the manner that we did.

"We were frustrated that we lost a late goal at Falkirk, which would have seen us take the three points.

"These games against the teams around you are the crucial ones. You just need a couple of wins, gaining confidence from that and you can climb the table.

"You know it's going to be very tight for the remainder of the season because so many teams are evenly matched."

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