St Mirren are back at the SMiSA Stadium following the final international break of 2021. 

Jim Goodwin's men play host to Livingston on Saturday aiming for a win that could take them into the top six. Saints currently sit in eighth place in the cinch Premiership - three points above David Martindale's outfit. 

Despite a run of three wins on the spin last month, Saints have failed to win in their last four - drawing two (0-0 v St Johnstone & 2-2 v Motherwell) and losing two (0-1 v Dundee & 1-2 v Rangers). 

Livingston are unbeaten in their last four having drawn with Celtic (0-0) and Dundee United (1-1) in recent weeks as well as winning against Ross County (3-2) and St Johnstone (3-0). 

Match Details

St Mirren v Livingston
Competition: cinch Premiership
Date: Saturday 20th November 2021
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium

Ticket Info

Tickets for Saturday's match are on-sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online. Vaccine certification is not required.

Away supporters can buy directly from Livingston or online at this link.

The match is also available on PPV at a cost of £12.50 for anyone who can't make the match. However, due to UEFA broadcasting restrictions this service is not available in England. 

Previous 

It's been a little over a month since the last time the two sides met. 

The Buddies travelled through to Livingston at the start of October and came back to Paisley with all three points with Ethan Erhahon's first-half goal enough to secure a 1-0 win for Saints. 

That was the second meeting of the two this season with the other also at the Tony Macaroni Arena in the Premier Sports Cup in August. The Lions edged Saints out on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in normal time. 

Neither side could be separated on Livingston's last visit to Paisley back in February. A stunning Cammy MacPherson strike cancelled out Conor McCarthy's own-goal in a 1-1 draw. 

Ethan Erhahon celebrates after scoring the winner at Livingston in October (Image: David Henderson) 

The officials

Steven McLean is the referee on Saturday and he's assisted by David McGeachie and Craig Ferguson. Calum Scott is the fourth official. 

Starting today, Saints fans can benefit from a special warm up offer leading up to the big day, with 20% off all 2021/22 Trainingwear!

Whether you’re looking to match the manager and players, or simply want some new Saints gear that’s suitable for any occasion, there’s something for everyone.

A chance to show your support and build the ultimate Saints wardrobe, the offer will run until midnight on Monday 29th November – though we anticipate stock will become limited in some items.

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Marcus Fraser is looking forward to a busy festive period as Saints return from the final international break of 2021.

The Buddies face nine cinch Premiership matches before the winter break at the start of January.

It's a run of nine matches in 44 days that will see Saints hosting Livingston, Ross County, Hibernian, Celtic and Motherwell as well as heading away to Hearts, Aberdeen, Rangers and Dundee United.

The 27-year-old defender knows it's going to be a difficult spell beginning with this weekend's home match against Livingston, but is adamant everyone in the squad is up for the challenge. 

The next four to six weeks is going to be hectic so we're going to need everyone in the squad. 

"It is a really good squad that we've got so when anyone is called upon at any time I think everyone is going to be ready. It's going to be exciting so we'll look forward to it.

"Every game in the Premiership is tough," he continued. 

"Livingston always like to get in your face and make things difficult. I think they are on a decent wee run themselves but we're at home and need to stamp our authority on the game.

"The last two months we've started to play really good football and score a lot of goals which is obviously important. At the start of the season we weren't getting the results, but the last month or so we've started to pick up the results. 

"After the international breaks we've had a good bounce and hopefully that can continue on Saturday."

Marcus celebrates after scoring away to Ross County last month (Image: Ken MacPherson)

Marcus has a new biggest fan this season with his one-year-old son now regularly attending matches.

The defender admits that gives him added motivation heading into matches.

I think he's more of a fan favourite than me," Marcus joked.

"He loves coming to the games and singing all the songs. When we are at home he reminds me of all the songs that the fans are singing.

"I love looking up and seeing him jumping about and singing and dancing. It gives you that wee edge when you see that because you want to go out there and win for him."

Tickets for St Mirren's trip to Edinburgh to face Hearts on Saturday 27th November are on-sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office.

Hearts have informed us that there will be no cash turnstiles on the day of the match so tickets must be purchased in advance from the ticket office.

Please note that spot checks will be in place for this match so all supporters over the age of 18 need proof they are double vaccinated or have proof they are exempt. No refunds will be available for anyone who purchases a ticket without proof of their vaccination status. 

Hearts vs St Mirren
cinch Premiership
Venue: Tynecastle Park
Date: Saturday 27th November 2021
Kick-off: 3pm

The ticket prices as follows:

Roseburn Stand

Upper, Row 9 and above

Four disabled seats are available at a cost of £15 with carer free of charge. Ambulant disabled supporters will be charged the regular match price with carer free of charge.

St Mirren Ticket Office Tel: (0141) 840-6130.

St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com

St Mirren return from the international break when Jim Goodwin's men host Livingston at the SMiSA Stadium on Saturday.

Tickets are on-sale for Saturday's match are available at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online.

Match Details

St Mirren v Livingston
cinch Premiership
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium, Paisley
Date: Saturday 20th November 2021
Kick-off: 3pm

Season Tickets ARE valid for this game. 

Home end tickets will be on sale (subject to availability) until kick-off. They can be purchased at the St Mirren Ticket Office or online at stmirren.com/matchtickets. Remember you can beat the queues on matchday and purchase tickets online right until kick-off and receive them as an e-ticket on your phone. 

Season ticket holders who can't attend can watch for free on tv.stmirren.com. PPV will also be available at a cost of £12.50 on ppv.stmirren.com. 

Livingston supporters can buy tickets directly from Livingston or online at stmirren.com/awaysupporters. 

Ticket Information

Jamie McGrath can't wait to turn out for the Republic of Ireland after fearing he was set to miss their upcoming qualifiers.

The 25-year-old was stretchered off with a hip injury in Saints cinch Premiership match against Rangers at the end of last month.

He missed the Buddies' subsequent matches against Motherwell and Dundee, but a scan result showed the damage wasn't as significant as first thought and he was able to return in Saturday's draw away to St Johnstone.

Jamie then travelled to meet his international teammates on Sunday ahead of their matches against Portugal and Luxembourg where he'll be looking to add to the five caps he's picked up for his country so far.

I am really looking forward to it," Jamie told stmirren.com.

"Hopefully I can get some minutes and see what happens, but I'm looking forward to getting in amongst it.

"The fear when I was on the stretcher was that I didn’t know what it was at the time. You always fear the worst and think months rather than weeks.

"When it settled down I was fine and Kevin [Bain, St Mirren physio] kept me in the loop that I wouldn't be out for long.

"I was gutted to miss the games against Motherwell and Dundee, but I’m delighted to be back now in trying to help us get the three points. Unfortunately it didn’t happen against St Johnstone. 

"It was good to get back and obviously bit quicker than expected. The medical team have been brilliant with me and I was delighted to get back out there.

"The gaffer asked me how I was feeling after 70 minutes and I felt good. I was still a bit tender but you never want to come off."

Jamie feared he was set for a significant spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off against Rangers.

While Jamie admits there was frustration that the side didn't create enough to win the match against St Johnstone, the 0-0 draw was Saints' fifth match unbeaten away from home in the cinch Premiership and the midfielder feels there are positives to take from performances over the last number of games.

I thought we started well," he said.

"We had a few half chances and when we are on top we need to start taking our chances because it is a different game in this league when you go one up. It forces the opposition to come out of their shape and we can play a bit more freely.

"It is frustrating being the better side, but not creating the chances we would have liked. I have to take some responsibility for that as well because it is my job to create at the end of the day and I don’t think we did create enough over the 90 minutes.

"I think the majority of our performances have been good so far. I think we have been dominating possession about 80% of games we have been playing. You’re always going to give yourself a good chance when you keep the ball and keep it moving but like I said we are disappointed not getting the win although St Johnstone are a quality side."

The midfielder returned to the side in Saturday's draw at St Johnstone.

Jamie also praised the Buddies faithful who have travelled in their numbers over the past few weeks to follow the Saints from Edinburgh to Dingwall and Motherwell to Perth.

Speaking on that fan support, the 25-year-old said: "It is unreal.

When you see all the fans there especially in the warm-up it just gets you going. They are brilliant and stick with us through thick and thin.

"Unfortunately we didn’t get that goal for them but up until the 90th minute they were still chanting and cheering so hats off to them - they are class."

Main image courtesy of FAIreland

Saints skipper Joe Shaughnessy praised the character of the team after Saturday's point away to St Johnstone.

The captain confessed he felt it was a fair result at a difficult venue as the Buddies drew 0-0 with the Perth Saints.

However, the point saw Jim Goodwin's men extend their unbeaten run away from home in the cinch Premiership to five matches and Shaughnessy puts that run down to personality within the changing room.

I think it’s the character of the squad," Joe said to stmirren.com.

"It’s [McDiarmid Park] not an easy place to come and it was a bit of a battle. To come away with a clean sheet is not a bad result at the end of the day. I don’t think we really created enough to say we could win the game, but I don’t think they did either so 0-0 is fair.

"You see lads coming in that haven’t played a lot of football and they do a really good job for us. It’s just a strength to the squad and that is what the success is down to.

"I think we know what we want to do when we get the ball, how we want to play and the players we want to get on the ball. It is just missing the few goals in the last few of games we haven’t scored.

"We just need to improve that side of the game and work the opposition goalkeepers a little more, but other than that I think we are coming into a good bit of form and playing pretty well."

Saturday's draw sees Saints head into the international break sitting in eighth place in the cinch Premiership - joint on points with Aberdeen and Hibernian who occupy the two spots above the Buddies.

I think in the main we’ve played pretty well," Joe said, reflecting on the club's form. "We have played some good stuff.

"The only game we didn’t really play the way we can was Dundee last week.

"We maybe haven’t got the results we really wanted but we have been playing some good stuff, so I think there is a lot to look forward to."

Joe Shaughnessy tussles with David Wotherspoon

Jim Goodwin was pleased with his the performance of his players, but frustrated that Saints failed to come away from Perth with all three points after a 0-0 draw with St Johnstone.

Most days away from home to keep a clean sheet and get a point on the board is a positive, but today I feel a little bit disappointed we haven't taken maximum points."

St Mirren and St Johnstone couldn't be separated as the two Saints played out a stalemate in Perth.

The Buddies created the better of the opportunities and had the majority of possession but couldn't find a way to break down the Perth side.

Jim Goodwin made two changes from the side that lost to Dundee last weekend. Jamie McGrath returned from injured, while Richard Tait also came into the starting line-up in place on Kyle McAllister and Eamonn Brophy with the latter on the bench after struggling with a virus all week.  

Curtis Main - leading the line on his own - had the first chance for Saints on 11 minutes. The Englishman was found in space on the edge of the box by the returning McGrath. He took a touch and swivelled before striking inches by the post with St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark at full stretch. 

It was an opening 45 in which the Paisley Saints dominated possession but neither side were creating any real opportunities. The closest the hosts came was on 36 minutes and even then that wasn't much more than a half-chance as Craig Bryson volleyed wide from 20 yards. 

Saints skipper Joe Shaughnessy tussles with St Johnstone's Chris Kane

St Mirren's best chance came five minutes before the interval when McGrath slipped a wonderful through ball forward for Main. The striker made his way into the box and struck low towards the far post with Clark pushing wide. Conor McCarthy was up to meet the resulting corner but nodded into the side netting. 

Jim Goodwin's men were still having the better of the match in the second 45 as they searched for a first win at McDiarmid Park in seven years. Main was hauled down by Liam Gordon on the hour mark as he looked to race clear on goal. The St Johnstone man was booked and Saints were awarded a free-kick around 25 yards from goal. Scott Tanser took it and wasn't far away as he whipped the effort inches over. Four minutes later, Tait went mightily close to grabbing the opener but his header was touched just by the post. 

Curtis Main was fouled as he looked to burst through on goal

With only five minutes remaining, Chris Kane was giving his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card. Saints looked to capitalise on the man advantage with Alnwick launching the free-kick deep into the St Johnstone box where Tait got his head on it but Clark managed to hold. 

In the end neither side could grab a winner in this stalemate with Saints stretching their unbeaten run on the road to five matches heading into the final international break of 2021. 

Full-Time: St Johnstone 0-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), McCarthy, Tait, Flynn (Dennis 90), Power, Tanser, Ronan, McGrath, Main (Brophy 68)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Dunne, Erhahon, Kiltie, McAllister

St Johnstone: Clark, Muller, Gordon, McCart, Booth, Davidson, Bryson, Crawford (Wotherspoon 67), O'Halloran (Rooney 46), Kane, Middleton (May 46)
Subs Not Used: Parish, Devine, Craig, Vertainen

Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Nick Walsh

Attendance: 3,482

St Mirren Football Club can confirm that Chairman John Needham has been served a notice of complaint from the Scottish Football Association for alleged breaches of disciplinary rules 71, 73 and 77.

The principal hearing is due to take place on Thursday 2nd December 2021.

The club will make no further comment at this time.