St Johnstone's flying start to the campaign crumbled to a halt when they were humbled at home by a resolute St Mirren side.
St Johnstone had been lucky to go in for their half time cuppa on even terms after an astonishing pair of misses by Buddies' front man Stewart Kean midway through the opening period. New team mate Billy Mehmet fed the ball through to Kean, standing free just inside the box.
A goal looked a certainty until Kevin Cuthbert flung out his right leg to force the ball out for a corner. Midfielder Hugh Murray swung in the corner and again the ball found Kean unguarded in the six-yard box, but his shot ballooned high.
St Johnstone's Steve Milne had a chance as early as the third minute, but his effort was well saved by Craig Hinchcliffe.
The second half was a storming affair with full-bloodied tackling, four yellow cards and three goals.
St Mirren pulled ahead when Brian McGinty intercepted a poor Simon Mensing cross field pass. The Paisley substitute's shot was turned away by Cuthbert, but Kean made amends for his earlier misses by tucking away the opener.
In the 65th minute there was a moment of real controversy as St Johnstone were awarded a highly-dubious penalty. 'Peaso' McDonald slotted the ball home from the spot to pull his side level.
The action was far from over and it looked likely that there would be a home win on the cards. However, former St Johnstone man Kevin McGowne, confounded the Perth crowd and sent the travelling Buddies into raptures when he headed in Kirk Broadfoot's nod back across the six-yard box to take all three points home to Paisley.