JACK Ross was pleased to see St Mirren bounce back from last week’s Ladbrokes Championship home defeat to Dumbarton to claim a 2-1 win at bottom side Brechin City. Former Hearts striker Gavin Reilly opened the scoring in the 20th minute but seven minutes later Isaac Layne levelled.

However, in the 64th minute, Cammy Smith converted from the penalty spot to keep the Paisley side in second place behind Dundee United and leave the hosts still searching for their first league win.

Ross told St Mirren’s website: “At this stage of the season it is about winning games and you have to find a way to win them. In some games it will be by playing really well and playing stuff that is easy on the eye and scoring lots of goals. But sometimes it is about grinding your way through a game and finding a way to win which we did.

“It was a great reaction from the squad. Every time they have been asked a question this season they have won the following week.”

Dundee United remain one point ahead following their 2-0 win at Morton. Billy King scored both goals, the first just after the hour mark and the clincher in injury time.

Stephen Dobbie got a hat-trick as Queen of the South hammered Dunfermline 5-2 at East End Park. Chris Kane started the scoring with a first-half double but Nicky Clark reduced the deficit just after the break. Declan McManus scored a consolation goal for Dunfermline before Dobbie completed his treble in added time.

Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston described his side’s performance as the poorest in his time at the club. He told the club website: “I thought our defending was really poor but it is not just the defenders it is the whole team. We have to defend better. You cannot afford to lose five really poor goals.”

Queen of the South boss Gary Naysmith said: “We were different class in the first half and our forward play the whole match was as good as you will see in this league.”

Dumbarton’s game with Livingston and Inverness’s home match against Falkirk were called off.