WATCH the Scottish Premiership LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on beIN SPORTS | Sign up here and save up to $60 on our Annual Pass Now | AU | NZ

Phillips scored in a goal in each half, netting at the the near post in the 11th minute to give the visitors the lead at the half-time break.

A video assistant referee (VAR) intervention denied Falkirk what it thought was an equaliser through Ben Parkinson in the second half, but Deniss Melniks was adjudged to have handled the ball in the lead-up after a lengthy check that upset the home support no end.

St Mirren made sure of the result, but not until the 87th minute when Roland Idowu squared to Phillips after running clear, and Phillips's shot almost didn't make it to goal after a deflection, but with goalkeeper Scott Bain wrong-footed, the ball eventually made it over the line to seal the points.

"This is a really hard place to come and we showed quality on the ball at times, we counter-attacked well, which was part of our game plan, and we dug in and fought when we had to," St Mirren boss Craig McLeish said.

"We could have had one or two more goals if the final action had been a bit better, but I'm absolutely delighted with the group. The boys coming off the bench gave us real energy."

Falkirk manager John McGlynn felt his side deserved more after improving in the second period and scoring what he felt should have been allowed as an equaliser.

"I thought we dominated the second half, we get a goal. It's denied on a handball which I've not seen. We're huffing and puffing and then from our corner kick, we lose a goal. It's crazy," he said.

"We've been punished for not doing an awful lot wrong.

But McGlynn did accept that St Mirren had been the better side and arguably deserved to take all three points.

"Have we done enough to really say that we deserve to win that game? Probably not," he said.

"We've not created enough, we need a little bit more quality. But early days, there's always going to be a quick turnaround. But we have to pick up points quickly."