Tickets for the Ladbrokes Championship match away to Dundee United on Christmas Eve are now on sale from the St Mirren Ticket Office and the Online Ticket Shop.

There is also a special deal for Season Ticket holders where an adult ticket will be discounted by £2 for this match. To take up this special offer you can order online/over the phone/in person but if ordering online you can only order one adult discounted ticket against each account. This offer is valid until Thursday 22nd December.

To give Season Ticket holders a chance to cash in on the discount the St Mirren Ticket Office will be open till 6:00pm this coming Thursday (22nd December).

The match and ticket details are as follows:

Dundee United v St Mirren
Ladbrokes Championship
Venue: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Date: Saturday 24th December 2016
Kick-off: 12:30pm

Ticket Prices

* Students must show valid ID as proof of status.

** Phone St Mirren Ticket Office to purchase wheelchair user & carer ticket.

 Tickets are also on sale for St Mirren's upcoming home Ladbrokes Championship matches against Morton (31st Dec), Queen of the South (7th Jan) and Falkirk (28th Jan).

Ticket Information

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

20/12/2016 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
21/12/2016 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
22/12/2016 - 10:00am to 6:00pm
23/12/2016 - CLOSED
24/12/2016 - CLOSED

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

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

David Clarkson says the players are looking to take the positives into Saturday's trip to Tannadice as the Buddies face Dundee United in their last away trip of 2016. 

Saints came from behind to draw 1-1 with Ayr United at the Paisley 2021 Stadium at the weekend after Clarkson's cross was turned in by John Sutton to earn the home side a point.

The draw meant St Mirren have taken seven points from a possible nine over the last three matches and the forward admits that the players are optimistic heading into the weekend's match.

Speaking to stmirren.com after the 1-1 draw about going up to Tannadice on Christmas Eve to face second place Dundee United, Clarkson said: "We've got to look at the positives all the time. Whether it be first half performances or second half performances you take that and try to put that into the next game. 

We take all of these things on board, we analyse them and make sure going into the next game away to Dundee United that we are at it and we're looking positively at it and hopefully get three points. 

"That's what you're looking for - momentum. When you start winning games you want to keep going and even drawing games keeps it going. An important point keeps our momentum going and it keeps the boys going as well because when you get in that wee run you want to keep it going and keep winning games. 

"We take the positives going into next week - another hard game for us - but we are going there in confidence knowing we can go and win."

Clarkson says he's happy that the team are turning performances into results and believes that Saturday's draw against Ayr may have ended in defeat just a few weeks back. 

It shows the fight that we have in us at the moment considering that a few weeks ago we'd have maybe lost that game 1-0. It shows that the confidence is back a bit, the fight is back to go to 1-1 and we potentially could've won it after a few opportunities.

"We're disappointed not to win but to comeback to 1-1 shows the character the boys have and the drive we have to not lose the game. 

"We've worked hard since the gaffer came in," he continued. "At the start the results didn't go for us but you're now seeing that the performances are there, the results are there so it's good that it's paying off.

"The gaffer has worked hard with the things he wants to put in place and the boys have really taken to it. It's good we are now getting rewards from it. Hopefully the fans can see it as well and it's good we are getting the results we are deserving."

Jack Ross gives his thoughts as Saints draw 1-1 with Ayr United at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. 

Saints made it three games unbeaten in a row after drawing with Ayr United this afternoon, but it arguably should have been a third successive victory.

With the game goalless, the Buddies were awarded a second-half penalty when Jason Naismith charged into the box before being fouled by Paul Cairney. It seemed the perfect way to open the scoring, only for Lawrence Shankland to send his spot-kick wide.

A few minutes later, the gaping wound had salt rubbed into it when Jamie Adams slotted a pass through the middle of the defence and Cairney shot past Scott Gallacher. Adams' afternoon was then brought to a premature end when he was shown a straight red card for sending Kyle McAllister flying as he charged forward.

Saints threw everything at the Honest Men in a bid to find an equaliser and it arrived with 10 minutes left, David Clarkson crossing for fellow sub John Sutton to mark a century of Buddies appearances by heading his side level. It was another of the subs who went closest to grabbing a crucial winner for the hosts, Ryan Hardie's spectacular effort from distance hitting the bar.

Sutton was benched to make way for Stevie Mallan, who was returning from illness, with Andy Webster taking over in defence from the injured Ben Gordon. Ayr stuck with the side that narrowly lost to Dundee United last week, former Buddie Gary Harkins starting in midfield.

He indirectly played a part in Ayr's first chance, his deflected shot winning his side a corner that led to a scramble with Alan Forrest's shot being blocked on the line. Saints quickly broke and won a corner of their own, Gary MacKenzie denied a first Buddies goal when his thumping header was cleared. Lewis Morgan and Kyle Magennis both failed to find the target with efforts from the edge of the box as Saints looked for an early goal.

It almost came in bizarre circumstances. Mallan's long range effort looked to be going well off target but it had taken a deflection, giving the ball some crazy spin that almost saw it drop into the bottom corner. Instead, it went the wrong side of the post, Shankland's shot from the resultant corner posing no problems for keeper Greg Fleming.

It was open stuff with both teams looking dangerous on the counter attack and Ayr should have taken the lead when Robbie Crawford's free-kick was knocked on to the onrushing Scott McKenna, however he somehow managed to rattle the bar rather than burst the net. Webster flicked a Saints corner across goal and beyond the far post and Nicky Devlin had a header saved by Scott Gallacher before Saints came as close as they'd come to scoring. Shankland got the better of his defender and sent a low shot beyond Fleming but also the far post.

Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 Ayr United

The second half was a slow burner but came to life just before the hour mark. First of all, Ayr were unlucky not to take the lead as they picked their way through the Saints back-line before Gallacher reacted brilliantly to deny Harkins. Then, as the Buddies attacked, some tremendous passing play got Naismith in behind the defence but just as he was about to shoot he was clipped by Paul Cairney. Ref Greg Aitken had no hesitation in pointing to the spot before booking Cairney and the responsibility fell on Shankland to convert the spot-kick. Unfortunately he couldn't, slotting his penalty the wrong side of the post to the horror of the home fans.

And things were soon to get a whole lot worse for the Buddies. Jamie Adams' pass sliced straight through the middle of the Saints defence and found Cairney, who completed his redemption by side-footing past Gallacher to put the visitors in front. Not for the first time at home in the last few months, Saints suddenly found themselves chasing an equaliser having looked the more likely side to opener.

Mallan burst forward to the edge of the box only to waste a glorious chance by shooting wide, then McAllister drew a tremendous save from Fleming, the keeper tipping the youngster's long range shot round the post. Next time he had the ball McAllister charged forward like a man possessed until his run was cynically and brutally brought to an abrupt end by Adams. Once again Mr Aitken didn't waste any time and instantly sent the Ayr man off, much to the ire of his team-mates although his manager Ian McCall later admitted it was probably the correct decision.

Saints could sense blood and, with John Sutton and David Clarkson already on, threw Ryan Hardie into the mix. The change in system had the desired effect almost immediately as Clarkson swung in a cross from the right and Sutton stooped down to head the ball past Fleming. It was the striker's 100th appearance for Saints and it seemed appropriate he mark it with the sort of goal he's scored numerous times before.

Having got level, the Buddies went in search of a winner, Hardie clipping the bar with a long ranger that took a touch off an Ayr man on its way. However, with Saints pushing they left themselves exposed at the back and as the defence screamed for offside, sub Kevin Nisbet tried to take advantage to drag his shot wide of the far post. Saints' best chances were falling to Mallan and it looked like he'd repeated his trick from Queen of the South game, except this time his long range shot was just the wrong side of the post. Deep in stoppage time the Buddies won a corner but Sutton's header was easily dealt with by Fleming as the two sides had to settle for a draw that did neither side much good.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-1 Ayr United

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Webster (Hardie, 79), MacKenzie, Irvine, Quinn (Sutton, 60), Magennis, Mallan, Morgan, McAllister, Shankland (Clarkson, 69)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Baird, Gallagher, McLear

Ayr United: Fleming, Devlin, Crawford, Forrest (Nesbit, 72), Harkins (Rose, 79), Cairney, Adams, Meggatt (Boyle, 70) Balatoni, Docherty, McKenna
Subs Not Used: Hart, McGuffie, Gilmour, O'Connell

Referee: Greg Aitken
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Willie Ferguson

Attendance: 3,124

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

Stephen Mallan returns to the starting eleven to face Ayr United after a sickness bug caused him to miss last week's win over Raith Rovers. 

The midfielder comes in for John Sutton, while Andy Webster starts his first game since September in place of the injured Ben Gordon. 

Kick off is at 3pm as St Mirren look to make it three league wins in a row for the first time since December 2008.

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, MacKenzie, Webster, Irvine, Quinn, Magennis, McAllister, Mallan, Morgan, Shankland
St Mirren Subs: Langfield, Baird, McLear, Hardie, Gallagher, Clarkson, Sutton

Jack Ross is expecting a close fought encounter tomorrow afternoon when his St Mirren side welcome Ayr United to the Paisley 2021 Stadium for the third time this season. 

But the manager wants his team to keep up the momentum and feed into supporters optimism following the two league wins over Queen of the South and Raith Rovers last week.

The Buddies are looking to make it three league wins in a row for the first time since 2008 when the Honest Men travel to Paisley and Jack believes that the three matches between the two sides already this season show how little there has been between the two on the park.

All the games this season have been tight between the teams," he said. "Obviously there were two games in league and cup prior to me taking the job and then the recent IRN-BRU Cup tie as well. We know there's been little in the matches so I expect that again tomorrow. But we probably go into it with the players in as good a frame of mind as they have been all season."

While acknowledging that win over Ayr in the IRN-BRU Cup last month, Jack feels that the players confidence ahead of tomorrow's match is likely to come from the two recent league wins.

I'm always one who never reads too much into previous results," Jack explained. "I always prepare the same way for a game. Our analysis side differs slightly because we've played them recently and we can so them some stuff from that recent match. I expect a similarly difficult game tomorrow and I don't think the previous game has much bearing on it." 

With Saints looking to win three league games in a row for the first time since a four game winning run in December 2008, Jack admits that the both he and the players understand what it would mean to add to recent victories.

I understand the importance of us putting points on the board, that's something that you can't ignore. It's put us in a better position, one that is still by no means acceptable for us as a club or a team, but we're getting there and we're taking forward steps.

"The players are getting their rewards for it in recent weeks and that is important. It's okay me telling them to believe in themselves, they need to feel that themselves and I think they are getting there with it.

"I'm really pleased for them that they are getting the rewards from it and the supporters as they've been terrific for us recently as well. You could sense that renewed optimism and we need to keep feeding into that. 

"It's clichéd but we got the monkey off our back in terms of our first league win and then first league win at home and first clean sheet in the league. We should have done them a long time ago and now we want to go on a run of games so we can go 'what's our unbeaten run?' and 'how many games have we won?'

"You have to have small targets throughout your season and that's what we want to do. There's always got to be goals set, there's always ambitions for that group to try and reach and that's what we're striving to get into that group, that mentality. 

"I always have that optimism and belief when we go into games and that's not going to change. The players understand the significance of it and they're in a much better place. If we can keep that togetherness that the club has shown as a whole in recent times then we'll keep progressing."

St Mirren were dealt a blow in the match with Raith Rovers when defender Ben Gordon limped out with an injury early in the first half and Jack says the player is facing a length lay-off.

He's got a fairly serious injury," he said. "He done some damage to his knee so we got him scanned a couple of nights ago and he's waiting to see a specialist.

"He'll probably be out for two or three months which is a blow for him, first of all. Being injured is not easy and he had worked hard to get himself involved with us at this level, and it's a blow for me in terms of my squad, but first of all for him. But he'll get looked after properly.

"It's about him try to stay upbeat and it's mine and James' [Fowler] job to make sure he remains that way and feels a part of it."

St Mirren welcome Ayr United to the Paisley 2021 Stadium for the third time this season when the two face off tomorrow afternoon in the Ladbrokes Championship.  

It will be the first league meeting of the two in Paisley this season after matches in the Betfred and IRN-BRU Cups respectively. 

Saints came out on top on both occasions, with Jack Baird scoring in added time in the first meeting to give the Buddies a 1-0 win on a hot July night. John Sutton was then at the double when the two sides mets in the IRN-BRU Cup last month when his two late goals in as many minutes sealed a 2-1 win St Mirren after Andy O'Connell had given the visitors the lead.

The only league meeting between the two in the 2016/17 campaign so far came back in August when St Mirren travelled to Somerset Park to face Ian McCall's newly promoted side. Ayr took an early lead when Jamie Adams headed home with less than 15 minutes played. It was another late show from the Buddies - a common theme in these fixtures this season - when loanee Tom Walsh nodded in an equaliser with just a few minutes remaining to rescue a point for Saints. 

St Mirren come into this game buoyed on the back of two successive league win which have moved them to within four points of safety. The first league of the season was secured with a 3-2 win over Queen of the South at Palmerston last week before being added to by a 1-0 victory at home to Raith Rovers. Added to that, Saints have won four out of their last six matches in all competitions which includes the IRN-BRU Cup triumph over tomorrow's visitors in November.

Saints will be boosted by the return of Stephen Mallan who missed the win over Raith Rovers with a sickness bug, but will be without defender Ben Gordon who limped off in the early stages of that match and is expected to be out for up to two or three months.

A win for St Mirren will move the Buddies to within three points of Ayr United and, dependant on results elsewhere, could move them to within one point of ninth placed Dumbarton as Saints look to haul themselves off the foot of the table. For the Honest Men, they'll be eager to try to make up for the two losses in their previous trips to Paisley this season and maintain their points gap as they hope to make their stay in the Championship last longer than one season. With very little between the two sides this season we could be in for another close encounter at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Our match day programme, published in partnership with Curtis Sport, will be available from the Club Shop ahead of Saturday’s game.

This issue, for the Ladbrokes Championship match against Ayr United, is a 48 pager with a £3 cover price.

The latest edition includes the following:

Front Cover – Jack Baird.
The Gaffer - St Mirren manager Jack Ross with his pre match message for the fans.
Matchday Gallery – A gallery of pictures from the post-match presentations in the corporate suite after the recent home game against Raith Rovers.
Buddies News Update – News of the latest happenings in and around the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
Last Time Out – A look back at the recent midweek trip to Dumfries to face Queen of the South.
Football, Bloody Hell – Alan Gallacher with his annual Festive Quiz looking back on 2016.
The Opposition – Brian Corry gives the lowdown on Saturday’s visitors – Ian McCall's Ayr United side.
Hall of Fame – David Cochran highlights the St Mirren career of Jim Clunie.
Player Interview – Stuart Gillespie interviews goalkeeper Scott Gallacher.
Action Shot (Centre Pages) – Defender Jack Baird.
St Mirren Supporters Trust – John White brings us up to date with the latest happenings at SMiSA.
Fans Corner – Ticket prices, travel clubs update, match info and dates for fans to keep in their diary.
Championship Round-Up – Kyle Gunn’s run down on weeks 15 and 16 of the Ladbrokes Championship season.
Saints in the Community – A catch-up with the latest happenings at St Mirren in the Community.
The Academy – A look at the under-20 side’s recent outings in the SPFL Development League.
Kit Sponsors 2016/17.
Marketing Matters – Commercial Manager, Campbell Kennedy brings us up to date with all the commercial activities within the Club.
St Mirren Fixtures & Results 2016/17 – A handy reference page of all the fixtures for this season.
Team Lines – The two squads and match officials for Saturday’s match.

To buy this issue or to place your programme subscription for the 2016/17 season click HERE.

If you live outside the UK & Ireland, St Mirren TV is your way to watch Paisley’s top football side live in action each and every home match day.

This service, which is delivered by media students from the University of the West of Scotland, will cover all of St Mirren’s home games.

As usual the St Mirren TV team will be presenting all the action from the Paisley 2021 Stadium when Ayr United are the visitors on Saturday afternoon.

If you want to tune in here is the info you will need:

St Mirren v Ayr United
Ladbrokes Championship
Venue: Paisley 2021 Stadium, Paisley
Date: Saturday 17th December 2016
Kick-off: 3:00pm GMT

To access this match day service:

1 Day Pass – €6.99 EUR
Season Pass – €69.99 EUR

To view Terms & Conditions and get started with St Mirren TV please click HERE.

For technical support with St Mirren TV please e-mail tvsupport@stmirren.com

We are giving fans the opportunity to vote for the man of the match and also put two lucky fans in with the chance of winning a £10 voucher for the Club Shop.

Every home game we’ll throw open the voting on the 60 minute mark for 20 minutes where votes can be cast on Facebook and Twitter. All you have to do is use the hashtag #SMFCMOM followed by the name of the player you are voting for, eg ‘#SMFCMOM MALLAN’.

With 10 minutes of the game remaining all the votes will be counted then Stadium Announcer Phil Clark will confirm the winning player over the tannoy system.

From all the fans who nominate the winning player one will be picked at random from the Facebook account and another from the Twitter account and they will each be awarded a £10 voucher for the Club Shop. The winners will be notified through the account they posted from.

So get yourself ready on the hour mark of Saturday’s game against Ayr United and get voting with #SMFCMOM.