Roland Idowu snatches victory for St Mirren with extra-time winner at Airdrie

Roland Idowu struck in extra-time saved St Mirren’s blushes as they saw off a resilient Airdrie to book their place in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

Jacob Devaney’s 19th-minute opener gave the Saints the lead at the Albert Bartlett Stadium and put the top-flight side in control of the tie.

Euan Henderson brought the William Hill Championship club level with a strike after 66 minutes and with neither side able to find a winner, the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes as extra-time beckoned.

Substitute Idowu struck with five minutes remaining to settle the contest in dramatic fashion as the game looked set for penalties.

Airdrie, eighth in the Championship, went into the game bolstered by the Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Arbroath on Tuesday, while St Mirren arrived in North Lanarkshire boosted by their 1-0 win over Hearts.

Saints boss Stephen Robinson made one change to the side which started in the league triumph. Jake Young, who was sent off on his home debut against Dundee last weekend, came into the starting XI in place of Dan Nlundulu.

The Scottish Premiership side opened the scoring when on-loan Manchester United midfielder Devaney curled a shot over Airdrie goalkeeper Harry Stone and into the top corner after latching on to a flick from Mikael Mandron.

St Mirren had their tails up and could have doubled their lead when Jaydon Richardson fired a ferocious shot towards goal, only for the attempt to be parried away by Stone.

Airdrie had a penalty claim after Jamie Barjonas appeared to have been bundled over in the box by Richard King, but it was waved away by referee Kevin Clancy. And with no VAR for this Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie, the decision was final.

The away side were forced into a change when striker Young was forced off – 10 minutes before half-time – to be replaced by Idowu.

Airdrie came out in a confident mood after the break and it paid off when Henderson met a pass from Barjonas before firing the ball past Shamal George into the bottom corner to take his goal tally for the season to 18.

The visitors knocked on the door in search of a winner in the closing stages, but neither side could find the decisive breakthrough as the game went to extra-time.

There was no real note of a chance in the first period before St Mirren snatched victory with a 115th-minute winner through Idowu.

The ball bounced into the Airdrie box before the midfielder smashed the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot to seal the Buddies’ place in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-final draw.