St Mirren took a crucial step towards Bank of Scotland Premier League survival with a deserved 2-0 away win at Falkirk.

A Stewart Kean penalty and a Garry Brady strike increased the gap over bottom side Dunfermline to four points with four games remaining and the two sides will meet in a crunch game at Love Street next Monday.

To add to Falkirk's wretched night, defender Karl Dodd was shown a straight red card in 62 minutes after a lunge at Paisley stopper John Potter.

The visitors had not won away from home since last September but they picked the right night to reassert their SPL credentials.

Amid a scrappy opening, it was St Mirren who threatened first after just three minutes, skipper Kirk Broadfoot's header from a David van Zanten raking cross going inches wide of Kasper Schmeichel's right-hand post.

Gus MacPherson's side piled forward, forcing several corners in quick succession which Falkirk defended unconvincingly.

The nervy home side escaped punishment in the 15th minute when Kean headed Richard Brittain's cross over the bar from barely six yards out.

The Buddies ignored the swirling wind to continue pressing for the opener and Kasper Schmeichel flapped at a couple of crosses which only added to the edginess in the Falkirk defence.

The Bairns were showing almost nothing going forward although, following a fine through ball by Vitor Lima in the 32nd minute, Saints were relieved to see that Alan Gow had been ruled offside with only Chris Smith to beat.

But in the 36th minute, and not before time, the visitors took the lead through a debatable penalty.

A long punted ball from Smith raced into the Falkirk penalty area and Sutton appeared to go down rather easily in a challenge by Bairns' defender Kenny Milne.

However, referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot and Kean sent Schmeichel the wrong way, before racing away to celebrate with the 738 travelling fans.

Falkirk began the second half with more purpose as skipper Jack Ross latched on to a Gow cross only to see his weak header from eight yards fade past the far post.

But St Mirren responded positively and Schmeichel had two good saves from Kean within a minute.

In the 52nd minute, Liam Craig replaced Stephen O'Donnell as Falkirk manager John Hughes tried to shake his side up, although the Bairns' midfielder appeared unhappy with being substituted as he remonstrated with his boss before being led up the tunnel.

However, four minutes later St Mirren doubled their lead with a goal inspired by Broadfoot on the counterattack.

The Saints skipper led the charge from his own half, played a one-two with Kean before slipping in Brady to side-foot past Schmeichel from 16 yards.

More woe visited Falkirk when defender Dodd was shown a straight red card after he lunged at Saints' stopper Potter on the touchline after he had over run the ball.

Much of the heat departed the game after that incident and there looked no way back for the Bairns who incurred the wrath of their frustrated fans in the closing stages.

In the 86th minute Jack Ross's poor attempt from 10 yards allowed Smith to gather easily and with that miss went any chance of a comeback.

St Mirren can now turn their attention to the relegation battle with Dunfermline next Monday knowing victory should all but secure their SPL status for another season.

Teams:

Falkirk Schmeichel, Ross, Milne, Dodd, Barr, Cregg,Latapy (Moutinho 67), O'Donnell (Craig 53), Lima (Mcstay 76),Finnigan, Gow.

Subs Not Used: Lambers, John Stewart, Twaddle, Scobbie.

Sent Off: Dodd (64).

Booked: O'Donnell, Lima, Mcstay.

St Mirren Smith, van Zanten, Maxwell, Broadfoot, Potter,Murray, Brittain, Brady, Reid, Sutton, Kean.

Subs Not Used: Hinchcliffe, Malone, Corcoran, Mehmet, Mackay,

McGinn, Lawson.

Booked: Brittain, Brady.

Goals: Kean 37 pen, Brady 57.

Att: 4,441

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).