Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

St Mirren are seven points clear of Scottish Premiership bottom club Dundee with three games left thanks to Danny Mullen's spectacular last-minute equaliser against St Johnstone.

The striker volleyed into the top corner from the edge of the box to keep St Mirren two points behind Hamilton Academical.

The Paisley side still occupy the relegation play-off spot.

Chris Kane had fired seventh-place St Johnstone ahead in 79 minutes.

But, until then, excitement was scarce. Anders Dreyer hit a post for St Mirren and team-mate Mateo Muzek forced a fine save from Zander Clark, while Murray Davidson came close for St Johnstone.

Mullen magic lifts hosts

St Mirren almost took a fortuitous lead when Dreyer drifted a free-kick into the box from distance and it evaded everyone before hitting a post.

Earlier, defender Muzek dispossessed a dithering Michael O'Halloran on the edge of the St Johnstone penalty area and let fly, with Clark going the wrong way but throwing out a hand to send the ball behind.

Davidson should have at least hit the target with the visitors' only clear glimpse of goal before the break. The midfielder burst into the box but, with just goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky to beat, fired a yard wide.

The second half was a succession of fouls and stoppages with neither side looking likely to break the deadlock.

However, St Johnstone conjured a goal out of nothing when a long crossfield pass from Liam Craig found Richard Foster galloping forward. He beat Kyle McAllister and found substitute Kane, who took a touch before firing into the bottom corner.

The hosts threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser and were rewarded in the 90th minute. A punt upfield from keeper Hladky was headed out to Mullen, and he produced a devastating finish to boost his team's survival hopes.

Chris Kane's goal gave St Johnstone the lead

'Gods with St Mirren' - analysis

BBC Scotland's Chick Young at the Simple Digital Arena

It seems the gods of relegation might be with St Mirren. When placed against what happened elsewhere across the country, this was a huge point for the Paisley club. Especially when you reflect on a nervous first half in which they seemed to have lost all self-belief.

When Kane put St Johnstone ahead it seemed St Mirren would wilt on the vine, but Mullen's glorious volley brought a stadium - with 5,000 Buddies in it - to their feet. But they should not forget how dreadful their team were in the early stages.

Dundee won't catch St Mirren now. But can St Mirren reel in Hamilton? At least it's still in their own hands.

'We played with fear' - reaction

St Mirren boss Oran Kearney: "I wasn't sure it was coming today. We didn't have a spark and looked edgy for the first time in a long while.

"Danny didn't have his best day, but he would have been proud of that goal with his right foot never mind his left. Playing with that bit of fear and edginess isn't good and it's important we eradicate that."

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "We knew St Mirren would fight until the end. I thought our goal was the end of the game.

"It is a magnificent finish from Mullen and I'm not taking anything away from the lad. But it's a 70-yard punt down the pitch, which we should deal with."