Video of interview with St Mirren manager Jack Ross after today’s 2-0 loss away to Hibernian.

Ben Gordon made his first start for St Mirren this afternoon in the match away to Hibernian. An outing of mixed emotions for the defender.

“I was obviously happy to play but disappointed with the result at the end, but I’m happy to get my first start and hopefully take it from there.”

It has been a strange couple of months for Ben having been out on loan to Alloa who were managed at the time by Jack Ross and now being brought back to Saints, again under manager Jack Ross.

“It was a strange one. I’ve played the game for quite a while and I would say I’m an experienced player and you try and learn to not be surprised in football but it was one of those where you play it by ear and sees what happens. There were obviously lots of rumours and as I say it was a strange one, but you get your head around it and get on with things.

“It [coming back to St Mirren from being on loan] was one that kind of happened naturally, I didn’t try to force things, I just wanted to see what was going on. I obviously went to Alloa to get games and I did that while I was there under the gaffer. It was just something that happened naturally and I’m happy to be playing football.

“With him bringing me to Alloa it showed me that he had seen me play and that he was happy with how I played football so that gives me confidence but once you come back it is like playing for another gaffer and you hope to pay him back for putting you in the team.”

With Andy Webster and Gary MacKenzie out due to injury today, Ben had the opportunity to stake a place in the centre of St Mirren’s defence.

“Hopefully as that’s how football works, you hope to go in when you get a chance and look to hold your place and keep the jersey but we’ll see how things go and develop. But, yes that is what you hope to do when you get a chance.”

After Morton on Tuesday, Saints will face one of Ben’s former clubs, Dumbarton, next Saturday but he admits that playing against former clubs is something that doesn’t bother him too much.

“It’s been a while since I played for Dumbarton but I play against former clubs just about every season now so it’s not a huge deal for me now. But it is a big game and we need to get points on the board as soon as possible.”

Despite the poor run of form for Saints Ben believes that the atmosphere at the club under the new gaffer is a positive influence.

“When a new manager comes in you get a bit of a lift and you hope that training will pick up and sharpen, and training has been good and people have enjoyed it so hopefully we can take that into the games, high tempo and pressing, and get points on the board.”

St Mirren were unable to replicate their IRN-BRU cup victory against Hibernian as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Easter Road in the Ladbrokes Championship.

Saints started the match well with some early pressure down the left wing from Lewis Morgan. The young midfielder won the visitors a free kick within the first minute of play when John McGinn brought him down five yards outside the box. Stevie Mallan stood over the set piece however, the Saints number 10 could not find the target.

Only a minute later, Morgan was through again. The quick midfielder cut inside the Hibs defence and unleashed a powerful shot which was agonisingly wide.

It was then Hibs turn to pile on the pressure as they too saw a shot go just wide as Andrew Shinnie’s rebound was off target.

With seven minutes on the clock, Hibs opened the scoring through Martin Boyle. Shinnie played the ball over the top of the St Mirren defence and Boyle latched on to it as he broke forward. Langfield advanced in hope of blocking the shot but Boyle nicked it over the keeper and into the net to make it 1-0.

St Mirren tried to respond to conceding and came within inches of scoring once more. Saints’ corner was headed towards goal by Lawrence Shankland but it was headed away by the Hibs defence, only as far as Clarkson who blasted just wide of the target.

Hibs doubled their lead just after the half hour mark, Grant Holt the scorer this time. The original attack was from Boyle who was crowded out by the St Mirren defence but the ball came to Holt on the edge of the box who managed to find a pocket of space to stroke the ball home to make it 2-0.

Half-Time: Hibernian 2-0 St Mirren

The Buddies made a half time change in the hope of turning the match around which saw Kyle Magennis come on to make his debut taking the place of Ryan Hardie.

Saints had some early pressure in the second half but were unable to make it count. Lewis Morgan got the better of David Gray on the left wing and played the ball into the box. Jason Naismith was waiting but his header was not powerful enough to trouble Ofir Marciano in the Hibs goal.

Boyle remained the danger man for Hibs as he found himself through on goal again after Gary Irvine misjudged the bounce of the ball. However, the defender was joined by Jack Baird in putting pressure on Boyle and in the end the forward skewed his shot wide. 

St Mirren continued to look for a way back into the match as David Clarkson made way for John Sutton. 

Kyle Magennis had a chance to make his mark as the ball fell to him perfectly on the edge of the box but the young substitute’s shot was blocked and cleared from danger.

Things looked to get worse for St Mirren when Hibs were awarded a penalty with 15 minutes left to play. Gary Irvine was cautioned after he was judged to have fouled Grant Holt. It was Holt who stepped up to take the spot kick but was unable to convert it as Jamie Langfield got down to pull off a great save.

St Mirren made their last change as Kyle Hutton was replaced by Calum Gallagher but the changes weren’t enough to see St Mirren score and after a goalless second half, the match finished in Hibernian’s favour.

Full-Time: Hibernian 2-0 St Mirren

Hibernian: Marciano, Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine, McGinn (Bartley 76), Fyvie, Holt (Graham 83), Stevenson, Boyle (Harris 90), Shinnie, McGregor.
Subs Not Used: Forster, Cummings, Martin, Laidlaw (GK).

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, Baird, Gordon, Irvine, Hutton (Gallagher 77), Mallan, Morgan, Hardie (Magennis 46), Clarkson (Sutton 64), Shankland.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, McLear, Whyte, Gallacher (GK).

Referee: Don Robertson.
Assistant Referee: Alasdair Ross.
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane.

Attendance: 14,485.

Match report pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography.

Match Gallery Pictures © John Millar.

Jack Ross says St Mirren won't be going to Easter Road tomorrow to make up the numbers. The Saints travel through to the capital to face league leaders Hibernian and the manager wants his side to be positive and show belief in their ability to take something from the game. The last visit to Edinburgh for the Buddies was a mere three weeks ago with goals from Stevie Mallan and David Clarkson giving the visitors a 2-1 win to progress to the quarter-finals of the IRN-BRU Cup. 

Speaking to stmirren.com ahead of the match, Ross admitted it will be a tough match but one in which the side should be capable of going and giving a good account of themselves.

He said: "When you go away from home to the team that is top of the league then it's stating the obvious that it's going to be a challenge. I think, though, we go there with belief - not just the fact we have won there recently, but the fact we have players that have proven themselves at that level and beyond in the past. That's something we need to tap into to bring them back to that level of self-belief in their own abilities. 

We'll go there to play on the front foot," he continued. "The message this week is not to go there and sit in and hope for the best. I believe that we are a club and a team that should be looking to go and win these games. It's easy to say it, but it's another thing going and doing it."

With no game for St Mirren last weekend, it gave the manager an opportunity to go and see tomorrow's opponents in the flesh along with Morton, who the Saints will play at Cappielow on Tuesday 1st November.

He said: "I went to Hampden and watched the first hour of Morton and then went to East End Park to see Hibs. That was good from a personal point of view because it allowed me to see them with my own eye which I think is always helpful. We'll be prepared thoroughly for the two games but naturally it's easier to prepare for the Hibs game as you've got longer."

The next game is always the most important one and the biggest one so everything we've been doing this week has been working towards Saturday. Once that game is finished the focus turns to the next one."

Ben Gordon returned to St Mirren this week following an emergency loan spell at Alloa. Saints will be without the services of centre-halves Andy Webster and Gary MacKenzie for the trip to Hibs but Ross was insistent that Gordon would have come back regardless.

I wanted to come here and assess the players and squad that I had," he said. "There's also been circumstances with injuries. But regardless, I would have still looked to have brought Ben back. I know his capabilites as a player, I know his character, his attitude and I know how - even while he was with Alloa - keen and determined he was to be successful here. He is a good defender and he will get an opportunity now."

Jack's full interview will be available on St Mirren Radio tomorrow as we bring live commentary from the game at Easter Road. 

Britain’s leading pay-as-you-go energy provider, UTILITA ENERGY, has today been confirmed as the Official Energy Partner of St.Mirren Football Club for the 2016/17 season.

The partnership will see Utilita Energy direct additional funding into the club’s Youth Academy programme to help find and coach the club’s future stars.

For every St Mirren fan who signs up using exclusive promo code ‘BUDDIES’, Utilita Energy will donate £25 to the club’s youth academy.

Each fan will also receive a free and exclusive limited edition St Mirren smart meter In-Home Display cover - and a tariff guaranteed to be cheaper than the Big 6*

Jem Maidment, Utilita Energy’s Head of Communications said:

We’re naturally delighted to become the Official Energy Partner of St Mirren. We are equally delighted that the initial agreement will see money ring-fenced for the development of the next generation of stars.

Having been last year’s Official Presenting Partner of the League Cup, we are massive fans of Scottish football and we’re looking forward to this year’s partnership with St Mirren.

Campbell Kennedy, Commercial Manager at St Mirren, commented:

Utilita Energy are keen supporters of Scottish football and recognise the connection between a club and its supporters.

With this fantastic offer our fans can also play their part in the recruitment and development of our young players at the club with £25 of each sale being donated to the St Mirren youth academy.

Buddies can sign up NOW – head to http://www.utilita.co.uk/stmirren and type in promo code ‘BUDDIES’ when switching - or call 0345 206 8777 and quote ‘BUDDIES’.

*Based on Ofgem medium consumption (12,500 kWh for gas and 3,100 kWh for electricity) and using the best Dual Fuel standard variable prices available to prepayment customers from the Big Six suppliers

It has been confirmed that the SPFL Development League match away to Ross County on Wednesday 2nd November has now been postponed.

A new date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.

Would parents please note that the St Mirren Community Football class at Rashielea Primary School is cancelled tonight (Friday 28th October).

St Mirren in the Community apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you require any further info about St Mirren in the Community please contact Stephen Gallacher on mobile: 07557 281 581 or by e-mail: stephen.gallacher@stmirren.com.

St Mirren and Hibernian get set to face each other tomorrow afternoon in a Ladbrokes Championship fixture at Easter Road, the third meeting between the sides so far this season.

Tomorrow will be the second Championship encounter between the sides this season with the first one taking place back on 20th August when two goals from Jason Cummings at The Paisley 2021 Stadium turned out to be the difference on the day.

The sides last went head to head three weeks ago at Easter Road where Saints came back from a goal down to win 2-1 and book their place in the last eight of the IRN-BRU Cup.  Alex Harris gave Hibs the lead but Stephen Mallan got Saints back on level terms as he rifled a direct free-kick into the back of the net just ahead of half-time. The game looked to be heading to extra-time but Lawrence Shankland set-up David Clarkson who went through and slipped the ball past Hibees keeper Ofir Marciano to win the tie.

Since then the Hibees have found their feet again after a goalless draw away to Raith Rovers and a 3-1 win last weekend at East End Park against Dunfermline thanks to an own goal from the Pars’ Nat Wedderburn, a penalty-kick from Grant Holt and a 90th minute finish from Brian Graham, all countering Kallum Higginbotham’s first half opener for the home side. The four points from these matches pushing the Leith side back up to the top of the Championship table.

Due to having no fixture last weekend as the match away to Morton was postponed as the Greenock side faced Aberdeen in the BetFred Cup semi-final, Saints last outing was two weeks ago against Dundee United for new manager Jack Ross’ first match in charge. Saints lost 2-0 to United but put on an improved performance which the new manager will be looking to build on.

You have to go back to 19th April 2014 for Saints last win against Hibs in league competition. The Scottish Premiership match at Paisley saw Saints run out 2-0 winners thanks to early strikes from Kenny McLean and Paul McGowan. And even though Jim Goodwin was red carded on the 30 minute mark Saints held on comfortably for the points.

You only have to go back a further three months (18th January 2014) for St Mirren’s last win at Easter Road on league business. An early own goal from Ben Williams along with strikes from Adam Campbell and Steven Thompson had Saints 3-0 up at half-time and looking as if they were cruising. But a second half brace from Jamie Collins had St Mirren sweating it out to hold on for maximum points which they managed to do.

Tomorrow’s match has huge significance for both sides. Hibs will ultimately be looking to consolidate their place on the top of the Championship, but from a St Mirren perspective Saints will go to Easter Road with a fair degree of confidence after their win there earlier this month but also knowing that they have to start accruing points to put pressure on Dumbarton and Dunfermline above them and start moving upwards again in the league table.

Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 is hitting the road on a grand tour of Renfrewshire – thanks to the area’s award-winning Street Stuff youth scheme.

Street Stuff is a council-led partnership which has helped cut youth disorder locally by 75% since 2009 through offering activities including football, dancing and mobile youth clubs for young people in selected areas.

And the Street Stuff fleet has been boosted with the addition of a ‘culture bus’ – designed by the young people themselves after a consultation with more than 250 of them led by the Paisley 2021 team and Street Stuff staff.

The inside is equipped with the latest video-game consoles as well as DJ decks and other musical equipment.

The brightly-coloured graffiti-style artwork on the exterior of the new bus was produced by a group of Street Stuff attendees working with Paisley-based visual artist Duncan Wilson.

Street Stuff is run by a partnership including Renfrewshire Council, St Mirren FC, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue.

And staff involved in managing the project gathered at the Paisley 2021 Stadium, to see the culture bus for the first time before it set off around Renfrewshire.

The stadium was a busy place during the October school holiday, with St Mirren running football coaching in the club’s Airdome and dance classes inside the stadium.

There was also some catwalk action in the form of a fashion show featuring some of the young people who designed their own bespoke tie-dye T-shirts.

Street Stuff holiday camps across the area also provided free meals to all attendees during the week, thanks to the council’s Tackling Poverty Programme, which funded an extension of the scheme.

Renfrewshire’s Street Stuff champion, Councillor Eddie Devine, said:

“Street Stuff has made a huge difference in the areas where it operates over the years – last year saw more than 37,000 attendees and 4,500 healthy meals provided.

“It’s also a great example of what partnerships can achieve – ourselves, St Mirren, the police and fire brigade have all played a role in what has been a nationally-recognised success, and everybody involved is immensely proud of that.

“Street Stuff also links together some of the biggest projects happening across the area at the moment.

“Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 aims to harness the power of creativity to help change people’s lives, and key to that is creating opportunities for young people to engage in whatever form of culture means most to them.

“The new bus was only made possible by the input of the young people who already take part in Street Stuff – they told us what they wanted inside it.

“It also means we can take cultural activity to all areas of Renfrewshire and make it easier for people in all areas to enjoy the benefits.

“And at the same time, Street Stuff is a key part of the council’s innovative programme to tackle poverty – the holiday camps are making sure pupils continue to get a free healthy meal and activity even outwith the school term.”

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 29th October), St Mirren head east along the M8 to face Hibernian in a Ladbrokes Championship fixture at Easter Road. Then on Tuesday 1st November Saints are on the road again as they head to Greenock to face Morton at Cappielow Park.

The info on Travel Clubs heading to Edinburgh and/or Greenock for the games is as follows:

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

29-10-2016 - Hibernian v St Mirren

We will be leaving at 1:00pm for Easter Road.

Bus tickets are now available from the Bankhouse.

01-11-2016 - Morton v St Mirren

The bus for Cappielow will leave at 6:45pm.

Bus tickets are now available from the Bankhouse.

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

29-10-2016 - Hibernian v St Mirren

The Tile Bar bus will leave for the Hibs game at 12:30pm.

Bus seat tickets are on sale in the bar.

01-11-2016 - Morton v St Mirren

The bus for the Morton game will leave at 6:45pm.

Bus tickets are on sale from Saturday 29th October.

North End Travel Club

29-10-2016 - Hibernian v St Mirren

The North End Travel Club bus for the Hibs game will leave the Sneddon at 1:00pm.

Bus tickets on sale in the Brewer's Tap, £6 each.

01-11-2016 - Morton v St Mirren

The bus to Greenock will leave the Sneddon at 6:30pm.

Bus tickets will be on sale on the bus on Saturday and in the Brewers Tap, £5 each.

Chivas Travel Club

29-10-2016 - Hibernian v St Mirren

The bus for Edinburgh will leave the Court Bar at 1:00pm.

Tickets for this bus are on sale from the bar.

01-11-2016 - Morton v St Mirren

The bus will leave the Court Bar at 6:45pm for the match at Cappielow.

Tickets for this bus are on sale from the bar.