Oran Kearney gives his thoughts on St Mirren's 1-0 win over Motherwell at Fir Park.

St Mirren picked up their first away win since April as Simeon Jackson's second half goal gave the Buddies an important 1-0 victory at Fir Park.

Oran Kearney made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Aberdeen last weekend.

Paul McGinn returned from injury in place of Cameron MacPherson, while Cody Cooke made his first league start for Saints with Adam Hammill dropping to the bench. 

There wasn't much to write home about in an even first half where neither side created much.

A neat bit of play just after the half hour mark saw Stephen McGinn whip a tremendous ball out to the right to meet his brother Paul. Paul charged forward before sending a low cross into the arms of Mark Gillespie in the Motherwell goal.  

The best chance of the first 45 came two minutes later when Richard Tait's ball into the box met Curtis Main. The tall Englishman got on the end of it but sent a tame header into the welcoming arms of Dean Lyness. 

Saints started the second half brightly with Lee Hodson sending the ball wide to Ethan Erhahon who ploughed into acres of space on the left. The Motherwell defence failed to deal with his low ball into the box allowing it to fall to Simeon Jackson. But the striker failed to connect properly allowing it to trickle into the arms of Gillespie. 

Just 60 seconds later the home side had a good opportunity when Richard Tait picked out Danny Johnson inside the area. The striker took it first time but slammed over.

Oran Kearney made a couple of changes for the Buddies, with Cammy Smith and Adam Hammill entering the fray just before the hour mark.

Those changes coincided with Saints having their best spell of the game without really creating anything.

But they would soon be rewarded for their play on 68 minutes when Simeon Jackson opened the scoring.

Cammy Smith raced clear after a long ball forward and found himself one-on-one with Gillespie. The keeper saved Smith's effort but it fell kindly for Jackson who rolled into the empty net from just a few yards out.

Motherwell came at Saints as they looked for an equaliser - Lyness making good saves to deny Main and Turnbull either side of a Paul McGinn chance for St Mirren. 

There was time for late drama for both sides with Hammill almost grabbing Saints a second with just minutes to go. Then, with the game in the dying embers, Lyness made a top save to block a Motherwell header at the near post to help the Buddies on to all three points.

Full Time: Motherwell 0-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Lyness, P.McGinn, Ferdinand, Jones, Baird, Erhahon, Hodson, McGinn, Edwards (Smith 58), Cooke (Hammill 56), Jackson (Flynn 88)
Subs Not Used: Rogers, Breadner, McShane, Kirkpatrick

Motherwell: Gillespie, Tait (Bowman 81), McHugh, Aldred, Campbell (Sammon 81), Main, Grimshaw, Dunne, Mbulu (Bigirimana 61), Johnson, Turnbull
Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Taylor-Sinclair, Frear, Rodriguez-Gorrin

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvaney
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam
Fourth Official: Kevin Glancy

Attendance: 4,540 (678 St Mirren fans)

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren travel to Fir Park tomorrow to face Motherwell in our last match before Christmas.

FORM

Saints were narrowly edged out by Aberdeen last weekend at the Simple Digital Arena. 

Stevie May gave the Dons the lead from the penalty spot on the half hour mark. But the Buddies responded in good fashion with Cammy MacPherson scoring his first St Mirren goal just five minutes to level the scores. However, a second half goal from Sam Cosgrove gave the visitors the points. 

Well's form over five matches is the same as Saints having won one, drawn one and lost three of their five matches this month.

It started with a 2-0 loss away to Livingston, before a good 1-1 draw at home to Celtic a few days later. There was also 1-0 defeat at Tynecastle against Hearts.

Last weekend Stephen Robinson's side picked up three points on their trip to Perth to face St Johnstone as they came out on top 2-1. 

They come into tomorrow's match on the back of a 3-0 loss to Celtic at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.

PREVIOUS

The two sides have met once this season with Motherwell visiting Paisley on Halloween. It was a disappointing night for Saints who fell to a 2-0 loss with goals from David Turnbull and Chris Cadden giving Well the win. 

The Buddies last visit to Motherwell was a major disappointment for Saints as the home side ran out 5-0 winners in an all important match.

St Mirren's last win at Fir Park was back in 2011 when a late Michael Higdon goal gave the Buddies a 1-0 victory.

WHAT A WIN WOULD MEAN

St Mirren will be looking to stay above bottom side Dundee after the Dens Park club fell to the bottom of the league on goal difference after a 5-1 loss to Aberdeen on Tuesday night. 

Three points for Motherwell would see the Lanarkshire side move 12 clear of Saints and potentially Dundee depending on their result away to Celtic.

TEAM NEWS 

Saints will still be without Danny Mullen, Kyle Magennis and Gary MacKenzie. 

Oran Kearney confirmed to the press yesterday that Paul McGinn will return to the squad. 

St Mirren Football Club can confirm that Matty Willock has left the Buddies and will return to his parent club, Manchester United. 

The midfielder joined Saints on loan from the English Premier League side in July and made 14 appearances in his time at the St Mirren. 

The club would like to thank Matty for his contributions and wish him well for his future career. 

Tickets are now on sale for our William Hill Scottish Cup match against Alloa Athletic at the Simple Digital Arena on Saturday 19th January 2019.

Tickets, which are on sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online, are priced at £17 for adults, £9 for over-65s and £4 for under 16s for Saints’ first match of the new year.

We are disappointed that we could not come to an agreement with Alloa for cheaper ticket prices.

We had wished to charge minimum prices, however, as per Scottish FA rules, both clubs have to agree on a price and if an agreement cannot be reached then charges which are normally made for regular fixtures of the home club apply so we had to agree to compromise.

The Buddies will be back following a three-week break as St Mirren Hall of Fame inductee Jim Goodwin brings his Alloa side to Paisley. And with the January transfer window in full effect by the time the game comes around we expect a few new players in the squad so get your tickets now as we look to progress to the Fifth Round. 

Season ticket holders will have until January 11th to purchase their own seats after which time all seats will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 22nd December), St Mirren head to Lanarkshire for a Ladbrokes Premiership match-up with Motherwell at Fir Park.

The info on Travel Clubs heading to Fir Park for the match is as follows:

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

The bus for Fir Park will leave Abercorn Street at 1:30pm.

Bus tickets are available from the bar.

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

Our bus for Motherwell will be leaving at 1:45pm..

If you would like to travel on the bus please contact Fraser Burns on Facebook or twitter.

Chivas Travel Club

The bus for the game against Motherwell will leave The Court Bar at 2:00pm

Non members bus tickets are available from the Court Bar.

North End Travel Club

The bus to Motherwell will leave the Sneddon at 1:45pm.

Bus tickets are available in the Brewer's Tap, £6 each.

St Mirren travel to Lanarkshire tomorrow to face Motherwell at Fir Park in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

* Full-time student must have a valid ID card
** One adult and two under 16s

Disabled tickets are as per the appropriate age group, with a free carer if the valid carer proof is produced.

Anyone requiring a disabled/wheelchair seat must purchase them in advance from St Mirren.

Tickets for this match are now on-sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office.

Additional Information for Travelling Fans

The referee on Saturday is Don Robertson and he will be assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Andrew McWilliam. The Fourth Official will be Kevin Clancy. 

We can confirm the opening hours of the stadium, ticket office and club shop for the festive period.

The stadium will be open tomorrow (Friday 21st) as normal, closed on Saturday & Sunday, open until 2pm on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day and then open on Boxing Day for our match against St Johnstone. 

Following our match against St Johnstone, the stadium, ticket office and club shop will all be closed until Thursday 3rd January when normal hours will resume.

Friday 21st Dec: OPEN AS NORMAL
Saturday 22nd Dec: CLOSED
Sunday 23rd Dec: CLOSED

Monday 24th Dec: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Tuesday 25th Dec: CLOSED
Wednesday 26th Dec: 10:00am - kick-off 
Thursday 27th Dec: CLOSED
Friday 28th Dec: CLOSED
Saturday 29th Dec: CLOSED
Sunday 30th Dec: CLOSED

Monday 31st Dec: CLOSED
Tuesday 1st Jan: CLOSED
Wednesday 2nd Jan: CLOSED
Thursday 3rd Jan: OPEN AS NORMAL
Friday 4th Jan: OPEN AS NORMAL
Saturday 5th Jan: CLOSED
Sunday 6th Jan: CLOSED

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

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

Please note that the following football centres have now finished for the year:

• Tuesdays @ Arkleston Primary School
• Wednesdays @ Ralston Primary School
• Thursdays @ Lochbarr Services
• Fridays @ Gryffe High School (finished on 30/11/18)
• Saturdays @ St Mirren Airdome

All football centres will resume on the week beginning Monday 14th January 2019.

St Mirren In the Community wishes all of its players, parents, guardians and families a very Merry Christmas and a happy & prosperous New Year.

St Mirren's final match before Christmas takes place this weekend as we travel to Fir Park to face Motherwell in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Tickets for this match are now on-sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online.  

Motherwell v St Mirren
Ladbrokes Premiership
Venue: Fir Park, Motherwell
Date: Saturday 22nd December 2018
Kick-off: 3pm

Prices

Adults - £24
Concession* - £17
Under 16s - £3
Family Ticket** - £28
Wheelchair Tickets - £17

*Over 60/16-18 year olds/full-time students with valid ID card
** One adult and two under 16s

Disabled tickets are as per the appropriate age group, with a free carer if the valid carer proof is produced.  

Anyone requiring a disabled/wheelchair seat must purchase them in advance from St Mirren.