St Mirren stretched their lead over the SPL's bottom side Gretna to six points with a narrow 1-0 win over the Black and Whites at Love Street.

Billy Mehmet's goal after 35 minutes of a dire first half separated the sides at the interval.

Gary Mason fed Miranda wide on the left and when his inswinging cross sped across the Gretna six-yard box, Mehmet threw himself to knock the ball past goalkeeper Greg Fleming.

After the break, Saints substitute Stewart Kean was denied by a point-blank save from Fleming and David van Zanten struck the crossbar.

Gretna had defender Craig Barr sent off in the 88th minute for a late challenge on Will Haining, his second yellow card.

Some late excitement inside the St Mirren penalty area as Gretna pressed for the equaliser raised the excitement levels but for the most part this was an unremarkable game.