They made a slower start than normal and struggled to get the ball down, as usual St Mirren made it tough and even after the first ten minutes Dundee continuted to struggled. St Mirren could have scored twice early on and only bad finishes let them down.
Dundee did create a couple of chances when Cameron played in McCowan but he failed to control the ball well enough, then he had a decent shot saved by the saints keeper.
But St Mirren took the lead on 37 minutes it was a sloppy goal to lose when Gogic put the ball home after Dundee failed to clear.
Mo Sylla took a head knock in the first half and he was replaced at half time by Malachi Boateng.
Second half and it was much the same from Dundee too slow on the attack and they just looked out of sorts than normal.
Cameron had a shot but it troubled the saints keeper, then soon after it was 2-0 when they failed to clear and Tanser made space and beat McCracken with neat finish.
Curtis Main and Michael Mellon came on for Amadou Bakayoko and Scott Tiffoney and did give the Dee some fresh energy up front. Any hope, however, was extinguished after 72 minutes when St Mirren punished more poor defending and helped themselves to a third goal.
Dundee did fight back and Michael Mellon headed home to give Dundee some hope, Cameron came close soon after and Mulligan had a effort which was just wide. Also McCowan had his touched onto the post and that was that.
St Mirren deserved to win today and they just done the job in hand needed to seal the vital three points.
Next up is a trip to Tynecastle next Saturday it should be a good day hopefully.
Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Lamie (Costelloe 77), Donnelly, McGhee, Cameron (Mulligan 81), Sylla (Boateng at half time), McCowan (c), Dodgson. Bakayoko (Main 65), Tiffoney (Mellon 65). Unused Subs: Sharp (gk), Astley, Robinson, Robertson.
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Att: 6,877