A selection of pictures from Saturday's 2-2 draw with Dumbarton at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Arena in the Ladbrokes Championship. 

Goals from David Clarkson and debutant Harry Davis had Saints ahead on two occasions with the home side pegging back the Buddies twice.

Match gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography and John Millar - © millarpictures

Jack Ross gives stmirren.com his thoughts after the Saints draw with Dumbarton at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Arena in the Ladbrokes Championship.

St Mirren couldn't take a valuable three points back to Paisley after drawing 2-2 against Dumbarton away from home this afternoon. The Buddies led twice in the match after goals from David Clarkson and Harry Davis. But Saints were pegged back by a stubborn Sons side who kept up their unbeaten form against St Mirren this season.

It was Cammy Smith, who looked bright in his Saints debut the previous week, who fashioned the first chance of the match when he picked up the ball on the half way line. The forward went bounding forward before an effort from the edge of the area ended up in the arms of Alan Martin in the Dumbarton goal.

Smith thought he had put the Buddies ahead with just 11 minutes on the clock when his deflected effort was cleared off the line. He burst into the box and lashed the ball goalward which saw it cannon off the legs of a Sons defender and loop over Martin only to be scrambled away.

Craig Storie went into the referee's book when he took out a Dumbarton player on the edge of the box after Davis failed to clear his lines. The ball was laid off to Gregor Buchanan who sclaffed the effort high and wide with a shot that may well as have seen the ball end up in the nearby River Clyde.

It was Smith who was integral to Saints going ahead on 35 minutes through Clarkson. The loanee was the recipient of a tremendous cross field pass from Craig Storie and drove into the Sons before a great cross into a dangerous area was flicked home by Clarkson to send the sizeable away support wild. 

Saints were given a reminder of the fragility of a one goal lead just before half time when Sons striker Christian Nade almost put his side on level terms. The striker rose above the Buddies defence to get on the end of a corner that went fractionally wide. 

Half Time: Dumbarton 0-1 St Mirren

Stephen Aitken's side came out showing real intent early on after the break winning a corner. Substitution Tom Lang was up for Dumbarton, but sent his near diving header by the post.

It was a warning sign for St Mirren and Dumbarton would make them pay when they equalised just 10 minutes into the second half. Unlike in the first half, Nade would make no mistake from this corner kick as he bulleted his header beyond Billy O'Brien. The ball was whipped deep into the box with the Frenchman on his own able to force the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

This seemed to stir the St Mirren support and the Buddies eventually started putting the pressure on the home side. Gary MacKenzie, who has proved to be a threat from corners in the last few weeks, rose the highest only to put too much on the header and see it go over.

A few minutes later Saints would be ahead but only after Nade threatened to put Dumbarton ahead when he broke away from the defence and flashed a shot wide. 

Good work on the right hand side won St Mirren a corner. The ball in was cleared but Saints kept the ball in the home teams half and won a free kick. From the free kick debutant Harry Davis headed the Buddies ahead for the second time of the match. 

Dumbarton weren't out of the match though and continued to threaten with Lewis Vaughan going close from long range. And they weren't to be denied with 10 minutes to go when Robert Thomson netted from close range after Saints failed to clear the initial danger.

It was a blow for Jack Ross' side who continued to press into the final few minutes of the match, winning a succession of corners, but ultimately had to settle for a point.

Full Time: Dumbarton 2-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley (Stelios, 73), Magennis, Storie, McGinn, Smith, Morgan (Sutton, 63), Clarkson (Todd, 79)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Webster, Baird, Fjelde

Dumbarton: Martin, Docherty, Buchanan, Carswell (Vaughan, 55), Thomson, Stanton (Fleming, 55), Harvie, Barr, (Lang, 26) Smith, Stirling, Nade
Subs Not Used: Brown, Gallagher,

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane

Attendance: 1,377

Jack Ross will hand debuts to new signings Adam Eckersley and Harry Davis against Dumbarton this afternoon.

The English duo signed for the Saints on transfer deadline day and come into the team along with newly promoted club captain, Stephen McGinn as does David Clarkson.

Last week's goalscorer Rory Loy misses the game through illness while Stephen Mallan is also out due to a injury. Pal Fjelde, Jack Baird and John Sutton drop to bench.

St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley, Magennis, McGinn, Storie, Smith, Morgan, Clarkson
St Mirren Subs: Langfield, Demetriou, Webster, Baird, Todd, Fjelde, Sutton

Saints travel to Dumbarton tomorrow afternoon for the third meeting of the two sides in the Ladbrokes Championship this season. 

The Buddies have yet to win against the Sons this season with a draw and a loss in the two meetings between the teams. In September, the now departed Ryan Hardie scored a first half equaliser cancelling out Andy Stirling's early effort. While, as has often been the case when the two sides face off, Garry Fleming was the scourge of St Mirren in November when his 63rd minute goal gave Dumbarton a 1-0 win at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. 

St Mirren's last win against Dumbarton came in February 2016 when Lawrence Shankland scored in the second half to secure a 1-0 win for the Buddies.  

Jack Ross' side will look vastly different to the one that has faced Dumbarton already this season after an overhaul in the playing staff during the January transfer window. The manager has confirmed that Ben Gordon and Rocco Quinn are still out on the injured list while Lewis McLear is doubtful due to a hamstring problem. He also confessed that Stephen Mallan is currently 50/50 after a problem with his knee.

New signings Adam Eckersley and Harry Davis will be in line to make their debuts after signing deals with the club on transfer window deadline day. Saints will also be lining up with a new captain after the announcement that Stephen McGinn will now be skipper.

One of the players that left the club in January was Calum Gallagher who joined Stephen Aitken's men. Gallagher made 54 appearances during his time at St Mirren scoring eight goals. Gallagher has featured twice off the bench for the Sons since signing. Another ex-Saint likely to feature for Dumbarton is Stuart Carswell who left the Buddies in the summer. 

There doesn't tend to be much between the Saints and the Sons when the two meet with neither team winning by more than a one goal margin since The Buddies came down to the Championship last season so another close encounter could be on the cards.

MANAGER'S THOUGHTS

"We play against a team that's in as good a form as anybody in this league. The run they've been on recently has been terrific and they deserve a huge amount of credit for it."

"We need to go and put a consistent run together and if we can do that then we'll have a positive end to the season. I believe in the group and I think it's a stronger group now."

"Adam is someone I've worked with previously at Hearts and played a big part in Hearts winning the Championship. He was a popular player amongst the players and supporters. It's a big asset for us.

"Harry's played a couple of hundred games at a good level in England and he's a good age. He's up here determined to prove how good he is and the incentive for him is that he can become a hero if he's part of a side that goes and gets us out of the situation we find ourselves in. They both come into the squad for the game." 

St Mirren in the Community are pleased to confirm that the community classes are back on at the Carbrini@JD Airdome from 9:00am to 11:00am on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

For more information on the community classes please contact Fiona Dainty by e-mail at fiona.dainty@stmirren.com.

St Mirren is continuing to suffer issues with the phone system at the Paisley 2021 Stadium and we still can't receive phone calls as a result. 

We'd like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and would ask supporters to send all queries to either info@stmirren.com, tickets@stmirren.com or commercial@stmirren.com 

We hope to have our phone lines back up and running by the beginning of next week.

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 4th February), St Mirren head over the Erskine Bridge to face Dumbarton in a Ladbrokes Championship fixture at The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium.

The info on Travel Clubs heading to The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium is as follows:

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

The bus going to the league match at Dumbarton will leave at 2:00pm.

Bus seat tickets are now available.  

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

The bus will leave at 2:00pm for Dumbarton.

Tickets for this bus are now on sale from The Bankhouse.

Chivas Travel Club

The bus for Dumbarton will leave the Court Bar at 2:00pm.

Bus tickets are now on sale from behind the bar.

North End Travel Club

The North End Travel Club bus to Dumbarton will leave the Sneddon at 2:00pm.

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

* proof of status will be required and can only be purchased at the St Mirren Ticket Office.

Tickets for this match are on sale from the St Mirren Ticket Office.

The St Mirren Ticket Office opening hours for the remainder of this week are as follows:

03/02/2017 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
04/02/2017 - CLOSED

Ticket Office Phone No: (0141) 840-6130.
St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com.

Additional Information for Travelling Fans

Tomorrow, Saturday 4th February, St Mirren head over the Erskine Bridge to face Dumbarton in a Ladbrokes Championship match-up.

The ticket prices and availability have now been confirmed for the fixture at The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium and these are shown above.

The referee tomorrow is John Beaton and he will be assisted by Graeme Stewart and Thomas Shaw.

For directions to The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium click here

Harry Davis admits he's not familiar with Scottish football. 

But the central defender says he is relishing his opportunity at St Mirren.

The 25 year-old joined the Buddies on loan until the end of the season in a deal that just beat the transfer window deadline on Tuesday night. 

And after speaking to players he knows that are plying their trade in Scotland, Harry can't wait to be a part of it all.

I'm delving into the unknown a little bit," he confessed. "I don't know a lot about Scottish football, but I wanted to come here. It's a great experience for me and a new chapter in my career. 

"I spoke to Abdul Osman who is at Partick Thistle and he only had good things to say. I know Luke Hendrie at Kilmarnock as well and they only had good things to say about Scottish football and I'm excited.

"I'm delighted to be here. I'm still getting used to the lads names, but I enjoyed my first training session and it's good to be here."

The big defender has made over 200 appearances for parent club Crewe Alexandra and believes his experience of relegation battles with the Railwaymen will stand him in good stead in his time at the Saints.

I've been in this situation with Crewe so I know what it's all about down at the bottom," he said. "I want to try and help out. I'm out of contract in the summer so I've not just come here to get games. I've come here to help out and do my best for the football club. 

"The aim is to play as many games as I can and do well. I want to be a success here and I just can't wait to get going. 

"I've always known St Mirren to be a big club so hopefully we can get ourselves out of this situation that we're in."

When asked what Saints fans can expect to see from him, Harry said: "My strongest point is my reading of the game. I've played a lot of games so hopefully I should have a good bit of experience. You'll just have to find out when you see me play."