Dumbarton were held to a 1-1 draw with St Mirren at the CID Stadium on Saturday.

The Sons took the lead after 16 minutes when Andy Stirling fired in David Smith’s cross.

But Ryan Hardie equalised for Saints just before the break, while both sides had chances to win.

However, it was not enough for under-pressure St Mirren manager Alex Rae to keep his job, who was sacked on Sunday night by the club.

The Sons moved down to eighth after Morton and Ayr both picked up wins.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken opted for one change, with Ryan Stevenson swapped for winger Andy Stirling and Josh Todd moving into his preferred number 10 role, keeping the same 4-4-1-1 formation.

And it was Todd who carved out the first chance of the game, the Englishman dribbling through the box and Robert Thomson missing from close range.

But Saints came back shortly after, when Gary MacKenzie’s headed effort was cleared off the line by Grant Gallagher.

Saints were left to rue the missed chance when David Smith powered down the right flank and fired a ball across the six-yard box, with Stirling making a goalscoring return to the side as he tapped home.

It was an end-to-end game, with both attacks having plenty of chances to score throughout the afternoon.

Both Joe Thomson and Daniel Harvie had free kicks saved.

And it was the visitors who struck next, with Tom Walsh supplying the cross for Hardie to head the ball in after 41 minutes.

The visitors pushed for a second just before the break, as the Sons sat further and further back with the Saints in the ascendancy.

Dumbarton came out of the blocks the sharpest in the second half, with Todd having a glorious chance to take the lead.

Joe Thomson passed to Robert Thomson, with the former Brechin City man drilling a ball across the box. Todd, at full stretch, was agonisingly close to getting on the end of the cross, as he sunk his head into the turf knowing it was a clear chance gone begging.

The Paisley side continued to play long balls up to Walsh on the right wing, with his aerial dominance over Daniel Harvie proving fruitful for the away team.

The battle between the two was key to Saints’ chances and Aitken swapped the wingers to get Smith to assist more in defensive duties for the Sons.

On 54 minutes, Robert Thomson controlled a long ball well and volleyed the ball into the net.

However, to Sons fans’ disappointment, the ball was only smashed into the side-netting.

And after 60 minutes, Dumbarton had a great chance to reclaim the lead with Robert Thomson, Stirling and Smith all having quickfire efforts blocked and saved.

Gregor Buchanan was next to have an effort at goal. He managed to free himself from his marker at a corner on the 72nd minute, but he was unable to keep it down with the ball flying over the crossbar.

The game began to turn scrappy, with both teams racking up yellow cards, and both sides had chances to snatch three points in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Saints substitute Callum Gallagher had his effort clawed away by Alan Martin.

And then Robert Thomson rounded the keeper after 86 minutes, only to be bailed out by Gary Irvine sliding in at the last possible moment.

Saints countered next in a frantic finale to the fixture but Sam Stanton, making his home debut for the Sons, tackled well to relieve the pressure.

Dumbarton continued to search for the elusive winner, with Garry Fleming proving a handful for St Mirren defenders.

Robert Thomson had another chance to win it as Jack Baird allowed the ball to bounce, enabling the striker to control the ball on the edge of the box.

He fired in a volley from the edge of the box, going for an ambitious attempt which went well over the bar.

But the game ended in a stalemate, proving costly for Rae who was dismissed just six games into the season.

Dumbarton next travel to Kirkcaldy to face Raith on Saturday, kick-off at 3pm.

Dumbarton: Martin, Pettigrew, J Thomson, Buchanan, Todd, Gallagher, R Thomson, Harvie, Barr, Smith (Fleming, 73), Stirling (Stanton, 81).

Subs not used: Ewings, R Stevenson, McCallum, Wright, Kassarate.

St Mirren: Gallagher, Naismith, Irvine, Baird, MacKenzie, Sutton, Mallan, Hutton (Whyte, 80), Walsh, Hardie (Shankland, 86). Morgan ( C Gallagher, 73) Subs not used: Langfield, Clarkson, Webster, McAllister.