SUBSTITUTE John Sutton scored late on for Saints to earn them a 1-1 against local rivals Morton at the Saint Mirren 2021 Stadium.

Ton had lead for most of the game via a Thomas O’Ware header after 17 minutes, nodding home Ross Forbes’s free-kick.

But Lewis Morgan, who signed a two-year extension this week, supplied a beautiful cross for Sutton to score on his return home to Saints.

The winger provided a ball into the box and Sutton rose highest and his header rolled in after 83 minutes, nine years since last goal for the Buddies.

Morton looked the much sharper side in the opening exchanges, and showed their attacking intent hitting the crossbar twice before taking the lead.

The visitors had dealt comfortably with the aerial bombardment that St Mirren provided for a majority of the first half.

Saints lacked the creative spark to unlock the Ton defence, as they continually lumped balls up front which the back four dealt with comfortably.

However Ton’s manager tried to defend the lead in the second half and paid for it.

And Saints manager Alex Rae made several changes and switched from 4-4-2 to 3-4-3 as he looked for the vital goal.

Substitute Sutton was able to rise highest and got the goal to bring them level.

Morton had looked like they had done enough to take all three points, but Saints made a breakthrough with minutes left.

Jai Quitongo looked a threat up front for the visitors, his pace made the Buddies back four struggle.

In the end bypassing the ball up to Sutton seemed to work, but if Rae is to persist with these tactics then Sutton must start.

St Mirren (4-4-2): Langfield, Naismith, Irvine (Sutton, 72), Webster, Clarkson (Hardie, 51), Shankland, Mallan, Gallagher (Walsh, 65), Hutton, Baird, Morgan.

Subs not used: Gallagher, Whyte, O’Keefe, McDonald.

Morton (4-4-2): Gaston, Kilday, Lamie, O’Ware, Doyle, Oliver (McAleer, 90), Forbes, Lindsay (Russell, 77), Tidser, McDonagh, Quitongo (Tiffoney, 86) Subs not used: McNeil, Scullion,, Stevenson, Strapp.