Trevor Carson was St Mirren's saviour as the confident keeper pulled off a trio of penalty saves to guide the Paisley side into the Scottish Cup last-16.
The Buddies number one was the star of a fairly uneventful show at the SMiSA Stadium all afternoon, pulling off two excellent saves in normal time to keep the scores level as Championship title hopefuls Dundee threatened to spring an upset.
In extra-time the Northern Ireland international again came to the rescue again, denying Kwame Thomas a dramatic late winner to send the tie to penalties.
And the experienced stopper was imperious in the shootout, denying Zak Rudden, Thomas and Lyall Cameron with Greg Kiltie landing the decisive blow to see the Saints squeeze into the hat for the next round.
St Mirren had a pre-kick off boost when stand-in skipper Mark O'Hara was named in the starting XI, having recovered from injury much quicker than anticipated.
Young striker Kieran Offord also came straight into the squad after being recalled from his loan spell with Alloa Athletic. The 18-year-old forward was on the bench alongside Ethan Erhahon, who lost his place in midfield to Alex Gogic.
Dundee had a couple of familiar faces in their side, with former Saints forwards Alex Jakubiak and Paul McMullan returning to the SMiSA.
The visitors suffered a setback after just six minutes when Tyler French unwittingly injured himself while fouling Alex Gogic. There was a lengthy delay while the 23-year-old received treatment and was eventually stretchered off with a suspected leg break.
From the resulting free-kick Ryan Strain fired straight at Adam Legzdins as the game eventually got back underway.
O'Hara then let fly from distance as he aimed to sting his former club, with Legzdins again saving comfortably.
Strain had another effort from a set piece but this time he fired well over the bar as the Buddies struggled to find a way through the visitors' resolute defence.
While not troubling Saints keeper Trevor Carson in the opening half an hour Dundee were posing a threat down the left flank, with former Queen of the South wing back Jordan Marshall constantly finding space down the wing.
Gary Bowyer's men created the first clear cut chance of note on the 35 minute mark. A clever through ball sent substitute Anderson in behind the Buddies' defence. Scott Tanser recovered just in time to execute a crucial block and snuff out the danger.
Jordan McGhee headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner as Dundee began to trouble the hosts' goal.
Declan Gallagher picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon for a cynical block on Jakubiak as he looked to race through on a potentially dangerous counter attack.
Dundee suffered another first half injury setback when Cammy Kerr hobbled off with a back problem, with the defender replaced by Lyall Cameron.
St Mirren keeper Carson pulled off a superb reflex save as the first half entered eight minutes of injury time. Marshall's pass found Cameron in space and his powerful effort was pushed desperately wide by the home side's number one.
Robinson wasted no time making changes at the break after an underwhelming first half performance. New Zealand international Alex Greive replaced Ayunga up front, while Erhahon took over from Gallagher with Gogic slotting back into defence.
Erhahon quickly got his foot on the ball, making numerous passes to try and open up Dundee's stubborn defence.
His wonderful long-range switch found Strain on the right wing, with the Aussie flashing a first-time cross into the box that was begging for a Saints striker to slot home. Unfortunately for the frustrated home support there were no takers.
Marcus Fraser, back in the team after his suspension, made a vital intervention with Dundee overloading the Saints on the break as the visitors continued to threaten in the second half.
Saints playmaker Greg Kiltie was introduced on the hour mark to try and inject some creativity into the Paisley side.
And the hosts almost found the opener just a minute later, with Greive knocking home from close-range only to see his effort chalked off for offside.
McMullan flashed a dangerous low ball into the St Mirren box as the Dee continued to cause problems up front.
Ex-Saint Jakubiak did well to make some space on the edge of the box after outfoxing Gogic. The striker blasted well over the bar, drawing loud cheers from the home support.
Main saw a strike from the edge of the box deflected wide as St Mirren tried to spark themselves into life.
In truth Dundee looked the more likely to break the deadlock heading into the final 20 minutes. Luke McCowan was causing the hosts all sorts of problems, driving relentlessly at the Saints defence.
A clever move saw Cameron pick up the ball on the six-yard line after a pinpoint cutback from Josh Mulligan, with Carson again required to pull off a brilliant save to keep the scores level.
Dundee defender Lee Ashcroft was next to spurn an excellent chance, lifting his effort high over the bar from a promising position.
Robinson turned to striker Eamonn Brophy with ten minutes left on the clock as the Buddies continued to struggle to make their mark in the final third.
O'Hara thought he'd found the winner when he let fly a powerful effort from just inside the box that looked destined for the top corner. A Dundee defender made a crucial block to deny the Saints captain.
Brophy had the chance to be the hero and wrap up the win just before full-time but, after turning into space on the edge of the box, his woeful shot was so off target it went out for a throw in.
St Mirren returned for extra-time with a long-awaited spring in their step. After 90 fruitless minutes they created their best chance just two minutes after the restart.
Gogic's close-range effort was saved brilliantly by Legzdins, with O'Hara's follow-up blocked by Ashcroft.
Charles Dunne did well to block Cameron's low effort from the edge of the box as Dundee threatened a winner.
Gogic picked up a booking after misjudging the flight of a ball over the top and pulling down Kwame Thomas. The striker was inches from netting when his flicked header from the resulting free-kick was again thwarted by Carson - who luckily for Saints was at his brilliant best.
Club captain Joe Shaughnessy entered the fray at the extra-time break as the Buddies entered the last chance saloon ahead of a dreaded penalty shootout.
Ryan Flynn picked out Brophy with an accurate cross but the striker's header was comfortably held by Legzdins.
In the end it seemed inevitable the tie would require penalties to decide who would progress.
And Carson proved his worth once again when it mattered most, saving brilliantly from Rudden, Thomas and Cameron.
Despite Brophy missing St Mirren's first attempt, O'Hara and Greive confidently netted their efforts setting up Kiltie to finally smash the Paisley side into the next round.
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