We got beat by quality. I thought first-half we were absolutely superb. For me there are positives."
The manager gave his thoughts after our 3-0 loss away to Celtic in the cinch Premiership.
Three second-half goals saw Saints defeated 3-0 at Celtic Park.
After an even first 45 finished goalless, Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah netted after the interval to secure the points for Brendan Rodgers' side.
There were two changes for the Buddies from the side that lost to Hearts last week. Captain Mark O'Hara returned to the midfield alongside Keanu Baccus who also started. Hyeokkyu Kwon was unable to play against his parent club so he dropped out of the squad while Mikael Mandron dropped to the bench. Toyosi Olusanya led the line with Greg Kiltie playing just off him.
Saints were forced into an early change when Elvis Bwomono has to be subbed off on 23 minutes. The wing-back had tried to play on after a clash with Hyunjun Yang but a few minutes afterwards realised he couldn't continue and was replaced by Ryan Strain. The Australian went into the book not long after his introduction following a foul on Yang.
The Buddies had a big opportunity to hit the front on 26 minutes when Olusanya played a dangerous low ball in from the right that found Kiltie. But the forward couldn't get the connection required to guide it beyond Joe Hart. The hosts then broke up the park with Matt O'Riley seeing an effort blocked inside the box.
Greg Kiltie couldn't get the connection required to take the ball beyond Joe Hart (Image: Allan Picken)
Baccus almost got himself on the end of a Tanser cross with 10 minutes of the first-half remaining, but Celtic goalkeeper Hart managed to get in ahead of the midfielder to punch clear. Two minutes later it was Baccus' countryman Strain who had a decent chance to put Saints in-front when Kiltie's cross from the left drifted all the way to the far end of box where Strain had time to take a touch and hit only for the effort to be cleared by Maik Nawrocki.
Saints made another change at the break as Jaden Brown came on for Tanser. Stephen Robinson was forced into a THIRD change on 50 minutes when Kiltie could no longer continue after colliding with Cameron Carter-Vickers and he was replaced by Lewis Jamieson.
The home side would take the lead on 52 minutes when Hatate fired them in front. The Japanese midfielder had too much space to run on to an Alastair Johnston pass and lashed a quality finish into the top corner with the outside of his foot to break the deadlock. The hosts had a good chance to double that advantage just two minutes later but Yang fluffed his lines from close range and Saints cleared.
After a period of pressure, Saints looked for a way back into the match with Baccus' low ball finding substitute Jamieson in the Celtic box but it was blocked by Nawrocki before Tomoki Iwata managed to launch clear. Just a minute later Kyogo made it 2-0 to Celtic when he got his head on to a Johnston cross and bulleted home from close range.
Celtic could have added a third before the eventually did in the closing stages. Hemming made a good block at his near post to deny Hatate on 66 minutes before a stunning save to turn substitute Luis Palma's effort over on 78 minutes.
But the hosts would round off the afternoon with a third in the closing minutes of normal time when substitute Adam Idah netted. Hemming saved O'Riley's low strike after the Denmark international had been teed up by Palma, but the ball spun up in the air for Idah to nod into the net despite Hemming's best efforts to keep the ball out.
Saints will return to league action in a fortnight - our opponents yet to be determined - with the top-six split fixtures due to be announced in the coming days.
Full-Time: Celtic 3-0 St Mirren
St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 83), Bwomono (Strain 23), O'Hara (c), Baccus (Scott 83), Boyd-Munce, Tanser (Brown 46), Kiltie (Jamieson 50), Olusanya (Mandron 72)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, McMenamin
Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki (Welsh 64), Taylor, Iwata (Bernardo 72), Hatate (McGregor 72), O'Riley, Yang (Palma 72), Kyogo (Idah 72), Kühn (Forrest 80)
Subs Not Used: Bain, Lagerbielke, Ralston
Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Fourth Official: Peter Stuart
VAR: David Dickinson
It's our final match before the cinch Premiership split as St Mirren go to Celtic Park to face the league leaders.
Celtic vs St Mirren
cinch Premiership
Venue: Celtic Park
Date: Saturday 13th April 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Tickets for this match have sold out!
You can follow the action on our X page @saintmirrenfc.
UK subscribers to St Mirren TV can listen to live audio commentary as part of their subscription. St Mirren TV international subscribers can watch live on tv.stmirren.com as part of their subscription. International subscriptions start at £14.99 per month or £149.99 per year for access to all of our cinch Premiership matches. Please note there is no PPV.
Saints head to Celtic Park on Saturday in our final cinch Premiership match ahead of the split.
Stephen Robinson's men go to Parkhead to face the league leaders having secured a second successive top six finish at the weekend despite defeat to Hearts at The SMiSA Stadium
The Buddies sit in fifth place in the cinch Premiership on 43 points - four points ahead of Dundee. One of Dundee, Hibernian and Motherwell will join Saints in the top six.
Celtic come into Saturday's match having drawn 3-3 with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday to remain in top spot - one point ahead of their Glasgow rivals, though Rangers have a game in hand.
Match Details
Celtic v St Mirren
Competition: cinch Premiership
Date: Saturday 13th April 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Celtic Park
There are an extremely limited amount of tickets remaining for Saturday's match. These are only available at the St Mirren Ticket Office.
International subscribers to St Mirren TV can watch the match live on tv.stmirren.com as part of their subscription. UK subscribers can listen to live audio commentary. There is no PPV available.
Celtic have won the three meetings between the sides in all competitions this season.
The Buddies were edged out at Celtic Park in November with Conor McMenamin scoring his first Saints goal to give us the lead. But David Turnbull equalised for the Hoops in the first-half before Hyeongyu Oh netted in the final 10 minutes to give them a 2-1 victory.
Celtic won 3-0 at The SMiSA Stadium in January in cinch Premiership action and followed it up with a 2-0 win in the Scottish Cup in February.
Saints defeated Celtic at The SMiSA Stadium last season with Mark O'Hara and Jonah Ayunga scoring in a 2-0 victory. The Buddies also took a point on our visit to Celtic Park in May 2023 with a Curtis Main double seeing us draw 2-2.
Conor McMenamin scored his first St Mirren goal to give us an early lead on our last visit to Celtic Park (Image: Allan Picken)
The referee on Saturday is Steven McLean and he'll be assisted by Calum Spence and John McCrossan.
David Dickinson is the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and Gary Hilland is the Assistant VAR.
The club put an appeal out to fans to donate Easter eggs for children to enjoy. The charitable effort was in partnership with Home-Start Renfrewshire and Inverclyde who act as a support network to families with children under the age of five.
Thanks to your generosity, Home-Start had even more Easter Eggs to share! Our fans never fail to amaze us in thinking of others.
St Mirren is focused on becoming the best community centred development football club in Scotland. We want to enrich the lives of those who live in the area and our strategic partnership with Home-Start is one of ways we are striving to make a difference. By joining us in our efforts to help others, you are bringing our mission to life!
Keith Lasley, Chief Operating Officer understands the need for families to have somewhere to turn to for extra support: "The Easter holidays can be a fantastic time for families to spend time together, however, like any occasion, it can bring extra demands to people. We were determined to be a helping hand to Home-Start with our fans and players gifting Easter eggs to make sure all children enjoyed themselves."
"We work closely alongside Home-Start all year-round. When raising a family, different challenges can arise and the charity makes sure essential support is always available and as the local football club, we are determined to be a valuable extension of that support network."
Tickets for our cinch Premiership match away to Celtic on Saturday 13th April are on sale.
The club has received an initial allocation of around 400 tickets for this match of which just under 200 remain. These are available online and at the St Mirren Ticket Office. Only restricted view tickets remain.
Online sales will be available (subject to availability) until 10am until Tuesday 9th April for UK postage and until 10am on Thursday 11th April for ticket office pick-up. Tickets bought using ticket office pick-up must be collected by 12pm on Friday 12th April. Please note that these are all physical tickets, there are no e-tickets available for this match.
Celtic v St Mirren
Competition: cinch Premiership
Date: Saturday 13th April 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Celtic Park
Restricted View
Adults - £30
Concessions* - £20
Under 13s** - £14
*65+ and U16s
**U13s must be accompanied by an adult
Wheelchair and Carer - £22 (Carer free of charge)
Wheelchair and carer tickets can only be purchased directly from the St Mirren Ticket Office.
St Mirren Ticket Office Tel: (0141) 840-6130.
St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com
We've been in top six the whole season. Over 32 games we've deserved that. We've gained the points to allow us to be clear. I'm delighted for the players."
Stephen Robinson gives his reaction after Saints secured top six for a second year in a row despite defeat to Hearts.
St Mirren secured a second successive top-six finish despite being beaten by Hearts at a packed and windy SMiSA Stadium.
Storm Kathleen made her presence felt from the word go and both sides were almost blown away in the first half. However, the Jambos led at the break thanks to Jorge Grant's penalty, which came after ref Alan Muir and VAR decided Marcus Fraser had blocked Kenneth Vargas' shot with his arm.
The visitors doubled their lead in bizarre circumstances after the break, Alex Cochrane's corner bouncing about the six-yard box before trundling over the line. Toyosi Olusanya then halved the deficit as he finished his lung-bursting run from the half way line with a composed finish.
Saints thought they would then get the chance to equalise from the spot when Conor McMenamin went down inside the box, however nothing was given despite a lengthy VAR check. However, before full-time news came through that both Hibs and Dundee had lost, meaning the Buddies are sure of their place in the top six regardless of what happens in the final week before the split.
After the teams entered the field to a tremendous reception from the home fans, there was little to get excited about as the fierce wind took its toll. Cammy Devlin shot well wide in the first minute but that was your lot for the first half hour until Kenneth Vargas saw his shot deflected wide off of Fraser. As the players got ready for the corner, the dread words “VAR check” were announced over the tannoy. Ref Alan Muir checked the monitor and decided it had hit Fraser's arm before pointing for a penalty that Jorge Grant was more than happy to fire home.
Fraser tried to make amends with a shot that was deflected away from goal and keeper Zander Clark eventually gathered. Saints looked a bit brighter after going behind but still hadn't created a chance as the half came to a close, which might explain why Stephen Robinson made two changes at the break with Keanu Baccus and McMenamin coming on for Kwon and Bwomono. At the same time, Hearts replaced Stephen Kingsley with Tony Sibbick.
The Jambos could have doubled their advantage within seconds of the restart as the Buddies found themselves caught short at the back, Devlin and Vargas trying their best to exploit the opening before the latter dragged his shot wide. The forward shot wide again after getting the better of the Buddies defence before Saints finally produced a chance of note as the hour mark approached, Olusanya's shot taking a deflection that seemed to have sent it on its way to the bottom corner before Clark produced a great save to keep it out.
Any momentum Saints were building was soon snuffed out. Alex Cochrane's corner was parried out by Zach Hemming, the ball ricocheting off another player before trickling into the net. It was hard to tell who got the final touch but the Hearts fans behind the goal didn't care as they celebrated their side doubling their lead.
Jonah Ayunga and Mark O'Hara were brought on for Mikael Mandron and Greg Kiltie as the Buddies desperately tried to salvage something from the afternoon. They nearly gave themselves some hope almost immediately as Richard Taylor got on the end of a corner but his header went wide. Alan Forrest then saw his shot blocked for a corner as Hearts looked to kill off any hope, but from the set-piece Saints broke, Olusanya outmuscling Dexter Lembikisa at the halfway line and charging forward before calmly slotting past Clark.
Toyosi Olusanya celebrates after a terrific solo goal (Image: Allan Picken)
The Buddies now sniffed a point but nearly undid their good work when Alex Gogic was disposed by Devlin and he burst into the box, but some frantic defending kept out the combined efforts of him and Vargas at the expense of a corner. Taylor was replaced by James Scott before Saints were screaming for a penalty when McMenamin went down inside the box, Mr Muir unmoved. He was then advised by VAR to have a look at the monitor but, despite a lengthy check, stuck with his original decision.
That was to prove Saints' last real chance of the game but results elsewhere ensured the fans were still in a good mood come full-time, results elsewhere ensuring top six football for the second year running – and with a game to spare into the bargain.
Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Hearts
Report by Stuart Gillespie
St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Scott 79), Bwomono (McMenamin 46), Kwon (Baccus 46), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya, Mandron (Ayunga 64), Kiltie (O'Hara 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Brown
Hearts: Clark, Rowles, Kent, Kingsley (Sibbick 46), Cochrane, Tait (Denholm 59), Devlin, Grant (Fraser 86), Lembikisa (Atkinson 73), Vargas, Forrest (McKay 73)
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Oda, Tagawa, Wilson
Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: Nick Walsh
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 7,740
Saints return to The SMiSA Stadium for the first time in over a month as we face Hearts in our final home match before the cinch Premiership split.
St Mirren vs Hearts
cinch Premiership
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium, Paisley
Date: Saturday 6th April 2024
Kick-off: 3pm
The match day officials for Saturday's match against Hearts are as follows:
Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: Nick Walsh
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Assistant VAR: David McGeachie
The game kicks-off at 3pm and season tickets are valid for the match. Full instructions on how to download and use the Future Ticketing digital app can be found HERE. Turnstiles will open to supporters from 2pm.
The St Mirren Ticket Office is open between 11am until just after kick-off.
The match is all ticket – tickets will be on sale (subject to availability) UNTIL KICK-OFF. Tickets are on sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online at stmirren.com/matchtickets. The fastest and easiest way to buy tickets for the home end is online at stmirren.com/matchtickets. Tickets will also be available in the West Stand Ticket booth which will be open from 2pm.
Hearts have sold out their allocation of tickets for Saturday's match. There will be no away tickets on sale at The SMiSA Stadium.
Ticket Office Phone No: (0141) 840-6130
St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com
Renfrewshire Foodbank will be taking donations at The SMiSA Stadium prior to our match against Hearts on Saturday 6th April.
Volunteers will be positioned at each turnstile ready to receive items kindly donated by our wonderful support and collections will be able to be made at the stadium from next week. There will also be collection tins if anyone wishes to make a cash donation.
If you wish to donate please bring tins, jars or packets. Fresh food cannot be accepted.
Below is a list of the most in need items:
International subscribers to St Mirren TV can still watch the match live as part of their subscription, while UK subscribers can listen to live audio coverage.
| Adult | £26 |
| Concessions* | £16 |
| Child (under 12) | £6 |
| Wheelchair User** | £16 |
| Carer | Free |
* 65+, full-time student, wheelchair users and U18s.
** – The 'Wheelchair user' ticket is only available to purchase directly from the Ticket Office, it is not available online. Proof must be provided for anyone requiring a carer. To be entitled to a free carer ticket you must be in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
| Adult | £26 |
| Concessions* | £16 |
| Child (under 12) | £6 |
| Wheelchair User** | £16 |
| Carer | Free |
* 65+, full-time student, wheelchair users and U18s.
** – The 'Wheelchair user' ticket is only available to purchase directly from the Ticket Office, it is not available online. Proof must be provided for anyone requiring a carer. To be entitled to a free carer ticket you must be in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
| Adult | £26 |
| Concessions* | £16 |
| Child (under 12) | £6 |
| Wheelchair User** | £16 |
| Carer | Free |
Please note that the Tony Fitzpatrick Family Stand is a Family Stand and therefore we expect no swearing within this area.
* 65+, full-time student, wheelchair users and U18s.
** – The 'Wheelchair user' ticket is only available to purchase directly from the Ticket Office, it is not available online. Proof must be provided for anyone requiring a carer. To be entitled to a free carer ticket you must be in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
| Adult | £26 |
| Concessions* | £16 |
| Child (under 12) | £6 |
| Wheelchair User** | £16 |
| Carer | Free |
* 65+, full-time student, wheelchair users and U18s.
** – The 'Wheelchair user' ticket is only available to purchase directly from the Ticket Office, it is not available online. Proof must be provided for anyone requiring a carer. To be entitled to a free carer ticket you must be in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The club would like to remind supporters of parking restrictions in and around The SMiSA Stadium on matchdays. Please click here for the full update.
Please note that seasonal car park passes have now sold out but a limited amount of matchday parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis for £5.
Red Zone - South
For hospitality and home disabled supporters (subject to availability).
To enter/exit Greenhill Road. Hospitality ticket to be shown for entry.
Black Zone - Southwest
For Family Stand and Main Stand Patrons.
To enter/exit via Drums Avenue.
White Zone - West
For West Stand Patrons and Pay on the Day. Home disabled supporters in bays behind West Stand. Away disabled supporters in bays behind the dome.
To enter/exit via Ferguslie Park Avenue.
At the SMiSA Stadium we have an electronic ticketing system in place at the turnstiles.
The process of using the system is fairly straight-forward and easy to use:
The whole process will only take a few seconds.
Please note that there will be stewards in attendance to help where required.
The Club has been made aware of problems occasioned by inconsiderate parking in the area of Tannahill Road.
Seemingly supporters are parking despite the presence of double yellow lines and as a consequence local bus routes are also being blocked because streets in this area are narrow and fans are parking on both sides. People, many of whom are elderly, are having to walk from Greenhill Road to their homes because buses can’t get access.
Residents who have cars parked in driveways are experiencing similar difficulties getting their vehicles in and out. On being approached by local residents some supporters have been somewhat aggressive which could lead to confrontation.
St Mirren Football Club strives to be a good neighbour and we would ask that ALL supporters attending the stadium not only park in accordance with local parking restrictions but also give consideration to the needs of local residents by parking sensibly so as not to occasion an unnecessary obstruction.
We are also aware of problems with patrons parking at the front of the Main Stand to pick up disabled supporters at the end of the game. This area is a 'no parking' zone on match days (with cones on the road) and has to be kept clear for emergency access. It is an inappropriate location for disabled spectator uplifts, as not only does it cause an obstruction on the road, it also causes a danger to pedestrians leaving the stadium.
Please note that the designated pick-up/drop off points are either in Drums Avenue or the two lay-byes on Ferguslie Park Avenue.
BY ROAD
Follow signs for Paisley & Glasgow Airport. Exit the M8 at Junction 29 (St James’ Interchange) which is just after Glasgow Airport turn off if travelling east to west. Be careful not to exit on to the A737 which is signposted for Irvine. It is best to stay in the middle lane when passing the Airport as this leads naturally to the St James’ Interchange exit.
At the interchange take the first left onto a dual carriageway with some football parks on the left hand side. Follow this road and after a sharp right hand bend you should now be in Greenock Road. Then take your first right on to Clark Street and drive to the end of the street which is the junction with Greenhill Road, turn left and you will see the stadium on the opposite side of the road.
BY RAIL
Get train from Paisley Gilmour Street to Paisley St James – exit from the station is straight onto Greenhill Road where the stadium is facing you. To plan your journey by rail with Scotrail please click HERE.
BY BUS
Most buses will stop at Paisley Cross or Mill Street, from both you will see the Paisley Town Hall. From the Town Hall cross the High Street towards the Piazza Shopping Centre, when acoss walk towards the town centre until you come to Gilmour Street. Turn right on to Gilmour Street and walk towards the railway station which is about 150 yards away. From there you can get train to Paisley St James or if you prefer to walk the following routes are advised by the police:
Home fans: cross road to the left on to St James Street – follow through up Underwood Road then turn right at Greenhill Road where stadium is 200 yards further along the road. Access to the Main Stand is from Greenhill Road and the South and West Stands will be accessed from Drums Avenue.
Away fans: cross road to Love Street continue up the street till you come to Albion Street where you will turn left. Follow Albion Street until you come to the junction with Greenock Road where you will turn right. Cross the road then walk about 200 yards before taking your first left on to Clark Street. Walk straight up Clark Street to the end of the street which is the junction with Greenhill Road, turn left and you will see the the stadium on the opposite side of the road. Access to the North Stand will be from Ferguslie Park Avenue.
St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce that Caolan Boyd-Munce has triggered an appearance based clause to extend his contract until summer 2025.
Caolan joined the club in March 2023 following the expiry of his contract at English Championship side Middlesborough, signing a one-year deal with a further year appearance based option.
The 24-year-old has started 20 matches in the cinch Premiership this season among his 36 appearances in all competitions this season. His form for Saints also saw Caolan called up to the Northern Ireland squad during the recent international break.
Speaking to stmirren.com, Caolan said: "I'm over the moon that it's finally done.
"We've been talking about it for a while and even if the clause hadn't been triggered I think we would have still come to a similar arrangement.
I've loved it. It's been a good season for all of us. I think I've improved massively and hopefully everyone can see that this season. Every month I feel like I've got better and still think I've got a long way to go."
Caolan Boyd-Munce celebrates after scoring his first St Mirren goal in a 1-0 win over Motherwell in the Viaplay Cup (Image: Craig Brown)
Manager Stephen Robinson added: "Caolan was a young boy that came in with not a lot of games but huge talent.
"I've known him since he was 15 so I've seen him progress. He's become pivotal in what we do.
"Eventually he'll get that first Northern Ireland cap in the summer I'm sure and he's certainly earned that."
| 06/04/2024 | 10:00-14:00 |
| 07/04/2024 | 10:00-14:00 |
| 08/05/2024 | 10:00-14:00 |
| 09/05/2024 | 10:00-14:00 |
| 10/05/2024 | 10:00-14:00 |
| 11/05/2024 | 11:00-15:00 |
| 12/05/2024 | CLOSED |
| Call | 0141 840 6120 |
