St Mirren loan signing Ryan Hardie says that being called up to the Scotland Under-21 squad was a huge honour. Speaking to stmirren.com after the 1-1 draw with Falkirk on Saturday, Hardie also admitted that he was surprised to be included in Scot Gemmill's first squad as U21 manager as they get set to take on Lithuania and FYR Macedonia in European U21 Championship Qualifiers.

The striker, who has scored three goals for the Saints this season, said: "It came as complete surprise to me getting called up to the U21s. Every time you're away with your country it's a big honour, so to get called up is amazing.

"I'm looking forward to it," he continued. "The squad was named and there are a couple of new faces as well that I have played with before so it's not like I'm going into a new environment. Obviously I'll meet new people but I just have to go in and just do what I can do." 

Something Hardie wasn't surprised at was teammate Tom Walsh's superb equaliser against Falkirk on Saturday. The two players are on loan from Rangers and Hardie knows it's something that Walsh is capable of. He said: "I've grown up with Walshy for four or five years now. Watching him week in, week out, you know he can do that. He's got that ability to score goals from anywhere so it was no surprise to me that it went in the corner [of the net]." 

Hardie believes it was frustrating not to get all three points against Falkirk as the Buddies search for their first league win of the season. He said: "We stuck to the task at hand and obviously got the late goal that got us back into the game. After that, for the last 10-15 minutes or whatever it was after the goal, we dominated and had several chances to score, so it's frustrating that we've not got the first win. But we're definitely improving and now we're looking forward to the next game.

"It took a lot to dig in until we got the goal but once we got it the momentum changed and we were on the front foot."

With the club still looking to appoint a new manager, the striker said that it isn't affecting the players at the moment as they are busy concentrating on matters on the park. "I don't think it bothers the players so much. We just try to concentrate on what we do on the park and what we do on the training park. It'll be good to get a manager appointed but at the minute we are enjoying it and we're getting better. It's a tight group of boys and it's just all about hard work and the team ethic." 

Tom Walsh heaped praise on St Mirren supporters following Saturday's 1-1 draw against Falkirk at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Speaking to stmirren.com, the midfielder admitted it was the best atmosphere he's experienced whilst on loan at the Saints and hopes that it will continue as the team look to get the first league win of the season on the board.

He said: "That's the loudest I've heard the crowd and it's a real atmosphere when they get going. It's our job to get them that way but if we can get an atmosphere like that at the end of the game then we can be a real force.

"Like I said, the noise at the end was the loudest I've heard it and it's great to play in that. If the supporters can keep that going that would be great and obviously it's our job to make them enjoy it."

Walsh admitted he was happy to be on the scoresheet and for the team to gain a point against a difficult Falkirk side. The midfielder's 87th minute strike was his fourth goal for the Saints and he said he is pleased to be scoring goals, though ultimately realises that the most important thing is that the team is getting results.

"I'm delighted," He said. "It's always nice to get on the scoresheet. It would've been great to get the win but we'll take the draw. They're a good team, so we'll take the draw and hopefully the wins will come. 

"I was at Dumbarton last season and I only scored one, so to have four at this stage is massive for me. It's something I knew I had to improve on and I need to keep doing that but to have four just now is good. It's more important that the team get results, the old cliché, but it is. Hopefully we can get wins and get up the league and hopefully I can keep chipping in as well."

The loanee is confident that the hard work the players are putting in will pay off and it won't be long until that first league win comes. He said: "Every game you've got to look to improve and I'll keep looking to score more and assisting and playing well in general play. Everyone wants to improve in every game and I'm sure results will come from that.

"Allan [McManus] has taken over and basically said to us to go and play with no fear. We were unfortunate at Dunfermline, but knew if we kept working hard this week that we'd get a result and we did. We would have liked to get three points but I'm sure that will come."

Walsh said he is looking forward to seeing who the new manager will be with the club hopeful of appointing someone this week. The midfielder said: "Obviously a new manager will come in and it'll be interesting to see the new ideas and hopefully the wins can come. There's always a lift when a manager comes in so it'll be interesting to see who it is and their methods." 

Over the upcoming October Week school holiday the Street Stuff team will be running sessions from Monday 17th October to Friday 21st October.

The sessions provide young people aged between 10 and 18 with a range of FREE activities including Street Football with coaches from St Mirren Football Club, dance lessons and access to the youth bus.

A healthy meal or sandwiches will also be provided free of charge to all participants at the sessions.

These sessions are a great way for young people to get out and have fun in a safe, healthy and positive environment with access to high quality facilities and top class coaching from St Mirren Football Club.

Street Stuff is a diversionary project providing young people with an opportunity to have fun, get fit and active and meet other people their age.

Street Stuff is run in partnership with Renfrewshire Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Engage Renfrewshire and St Mirren Football Club.

The Street Stuff timetable for the October Week school holiday is as follows:

Monday 17th October

Venue: Paisley 2021 Stadium
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal

Venue: Bargarran Primary School, Erskine
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal

Tuesday 18th October

Venue: Gallowhill MUGA
Events: Football, Youth Bus
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Cold sandwich or wrap with juice etc.

Venue: Glenburn Community Centre
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal

Venue: Our Lady of Peace MUGA, Linwood
Events: Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Cold sandwich or wrap with juice etc.

Wednesday 19th October

Venue: Paisley 2021 Stadium
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal

Venue: Bargarran Primary School, Erskine
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal 

Thursday 20th October

Venue: Gallowhill MUGA
Events: Football, Youth Bus
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Cold sandwich or wrap with juice etc.

Venue: Glenburn Community Centre
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal

Venue: Our Lady of Peace MUGA, Linwood
Events: Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Cold sandwich or wrap with juice etc.

Friday 21st October

Venue: Paisley 2021 Stadium
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal

Venue: Bargarran Primary School, Erskine
Events: Dance, Youth Bus, Football
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Food: Healthy meal

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

For more information on Street Stuff Dance please contact Street Stuff Dance Co-ordinator, Rachel Elliott on Tel: (0141) 840-6125, Mob: 07702 865 4925, E-mail: rachel.elliott@stmirren.com.

To learn more about Street Stuff please visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/streetstuff.

Tickets for this coming Saturday's IRN-Bru Cup, 4th Round tie away to Hibernian are now on sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and the Online Ticket Shop.

The match and ticket details are as follows:

Hibernian v St Mirren
IRN-BRU Cup, 4th Round
Venue: Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh
Date: Saturday 8th October 2016
Kick-off: 3:00pm

Ticket Prices

Fans needing a wheelchair ticket for Saturday’s game at Easter Road please note that you will need to collect it from the St Mirren Ticket Office.

Tickets are also on sale for St Mirren's home matches against Dundee United (15th Oct), Dumbarton (5th Nov) and Dunfermline Athletic (19th Nov)

Ticket Information

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

03/10/2016 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
04/10/2016 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
05/10/2016 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
06/10/2016 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
07/10/2016 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
08/10/2016 - CLOSED

The St Mirren Under-20 side are back in action tomorrow evening when they head down to Ayrshire to face their counterparts from Kilmarnock.

The SPFL Development League encounter between the young Buddies and Killie on Tuesday 4th October will take place at Rugby Park and it will kick-off at 7:00pm.

The referee for this fixture will be Calum Scott.

For directions to Rugby Park click here.

A late goal from Tom Walsh earned St Mirren a share of the points with Falkirk in Saturday's Ladbrokes Championship match at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.

The Bairns took a first half lead thanks to a wicked deflection from Craig Sibbald's free-kick which sent the ball spinning past Saints' keeper Jamie Langfield.

Saints battled back in the second half and got a deserved equaliser with three minutes remaining as Tom Walsh surged forward before rifling his shot into the bottom corner to earn Saints a much needed point.

Paisley Panda had a busy day on Saturday with the half-time competition 'Bung a Baw' selling out for the first time. The Panda said: "It was really busy on Saturday as we sold out so to avoid disappointment at the next home game against Dundee United get in early and buy your ball to take part in 'Bung a Baw'."

Official Website photographer, Allan Picken was at The Paisley 2021 Stadium to capture all the action.

© Allan Picken Photography.

A late Tom Walsh goal grabbed Saints a share of the points against Falkirk this evening and caretaker manager, Allan McManus was more than pleased by what he saw from his side. He said:

“Delighted to get a point on the board, to be fair I think we deserved a point. I don’t think we played as fluently as we did last week, to be fair Falkirk are a very well organised team. The goal that we lose is typical of what has been happening all season, it’s a horrible deflection and we’re one down. But all credit to the boys in the first half as they have done what I have asked them to do, to be patient with the ball and pass it and they got into some decent areas.

“In the second half I thought we huffed and puffed a wee bit more and I thought the players started to doubt themselves a wee bit for periods. But I said to them at half-time that if it takes till the 89th or 90th minute we have got to keep going, as long as you work your backside off we’ll get back into the game. And all credit to Walshy, he has been absolutely magnificent in training this week and it was a real dilemma to not start him today. He has been very professional about it and I knew that when he got on the pitch that he would make an impact on the game, and he certainly done that.”

Saints once again lost a goal of a freak nature as a wild deflection spun the ball past Jamie Langfield, but Allan reckons the breaks will go in Saints favour before too long. He said:

“It happened last week, it’s happened this week, it’s happened all season. You can see the reaction in the stadium, the fans are thinking ‘here we go again’, there is nothing you can do about it. You just have to get on with it because as the season goes on it will turn for us and we’ll get those wee breaks but again I can’t fault the work rate, their effort and how they played. As I said, we weren’t just as fluid as last week moving the ball but they still tried to pass it. It gives us something for the new management team to build on.

“There has been a lot of criticism thrown at them [the players], everybody is entitled to their opinion but sometimes it has been unjust I think to them, and all credit to them they have absolutely worked their backside off since I’ve been fortunate enough to work with them. I had no doubts they would continue to work and they deserved that point.”

The late goal seemed to revitalise Saints and they looked the more likely side to win the match after the equaliser. Allan said:

“I think that’s what the guys needed just to get a wee bit of positivity and it was the same last week when they got a goal in front and then back level, it gives teams the confidence. You know, where we are in the league just now players won’t be as confident as they usually are but all credit to them, they pushed on and didn’t just sit in and looked to go and get that win. It wasn’t to be but it gives us a point to build on.”

As we await the appointment of a new manager, Allan reflects on his time as caretaker boss. He said:

“We’ll be back in on Monday and start preparing for next week’s game. Whenever a new manager comes in he will take over the reigns but until I’m told otherwise I’ll do my best to prepare the boys for next week’s game against Hibs.

“I’ve absolutely loved it. I keep saying that it is not about me but I’ve absolutely enjoyed my time, I have learned a lot about myself. Something that I thought that I might not be interested in doing but to be fair it has gave me a wee taster. Maybe the next five, ten years, who knows? But I’ve got a lot to learn still and I am more than happy doing what I’m doing at the Academy just now which is a fantastic job.”

I want to thank each and every one of the near 2,000 St Mirren supporters who came along to this evening's match against Falkirk.

With the game on TV and a kick off time of 5:15pm, it was great to see a crowd of 2,000 plus at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

I thought the backing from the Saints fans was absolutely wonderful with some of the players mentioning how good the support was in driving them on to get a draw.

I had asked supporters to come along in my statement on stmirren.com yesterday and I genuinely can't thank all of you who did enough for the support you gave the team until the very end.

Of course we wanted to get a win but you can see how Tom Walsh's late goal spurred on both the supporters and the players and hopefully we can replicate that in the coming weeks and months.

Your support of the football club is vital and never taken for granted and thank you all once again for coming out in your numbers to cheer the team on.

Gordon

Saints picked up their first home point since the opening day of the season thanks to some late drama at the Paisley 2021 Stadium this evening.

It looked as if visitors Falkirk would leave with the victory thanks to Craig Sibbald's early free-kick, which took a huge deflection that gave Jamie Langfield no hope of keeping it out of the net.

However, with just a few minutes remaining sub Tom Walsh strode up and sent a tremendous shot into the bottom corner to salvage a draw for the Buddies. It meant the fans left in a far cheerier mood than had looked likely, however with Saints still two points adrift of Dumbarton whoever the new manager is has their work cut out for them.

Langfield was back in the team at the expense of Scott Gallacher, who dropped to the bench. Andy Webster had been set to take over from Jack Baird in defence but picked up an injury in the warm-up meaning the young defender started after all. Namesake and former Buddie John led the Falkirk attack.

Some Saints corners in the glorious sunshine provided some early hope for the home fans that was quickly extinguished as a few spots of rain began to fall. After Lewis Kidd dragged an early shot wide, Craig Sibbald was fouled at the edge of the box. The midfielder took the free-kick that followed and it took a huge deflection off the wall before spinning beyond the reach of Langfield into the bottom corner.

Saints weren't playing badly but they weren't creating a great deal either, Stephen Mallan turning and shooting well wide from 25 yards all they had to show for their efforts in the opening quarter. They had managed to restrict the Bairns relatively well until some nice passing play created an opening for John Baird, however he shot wide from the edge of the box.

There was concern 10 minutes before the break when John Rankin's thundering shot hit Gary Irvine directly in the face. The stand-in Buddies captain was in a spot of bother, struggling to get to his feet before a doctor was called to make sure he was okay. Fortunately he was and the leftback continued. Saints hadn't created much of note but could have been level just before the break, a deep free-kick only being cleared as far as Hardie who smashed the ball over from 12 yards out when he should have hit the target at least. In stoppage time Falkirk almost extended their advantage, Langfield's legs blocking a Falkirk shot, creating a bit of a stramash before he smothered the ball.

Half-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Falkirk

There was a lucky escape for Saints early in the second half as Falkirk thought they'd doubled their lead. John Baird's shot deflected kindly for Bob McHugh and the striker slotted the ball home, however the celebrations were cut short by the offside flag. McHugh was beginning to cause problems, getting the better of MacKenzie before losing his balance, meaning his shot was no trouble for Langfield.

That was something Rocco Quinn could empathise with just after the hour mark. Hardie's ball into the box was knocked on by Sutton but as the midfielder stretched to shoot he stumbled. He was replaced by Tom Walsh soon after before McHugh had another shot saved, this time his attempt taking a deflection before being grabbed by Langfield. Soon after he was replaced by Lee Miller, James Craigen replacing Tom Taiwo at the same time.

Saints finally registered an attempt on target 15 minutes from the end, Hardie miscontrolling the ball before recomposing himself enough to turn and shoot, however his effort was straight at keeper Rogers. Falkirk made their final change as Sibbald was replaced by Hippolyte, whose first involvement was to curl a free-kick straight into Langfield's arms. Kyle Hutton picked up a cheap booking a few minutes later for complaining about a free-kick given against Irvine for his challenge on Craigen.

The Bairns were looking the more likely of the two to grab a goal, Langfield blocking Craigen's header with his legs after a great Baird cross. David Clarkson was introduced five minutes from the end at the expense of Hutton and just two minutes later Saints snatched a point. Walsh collected the ball midway inside the Falkirk half and ran forward before unleashing a tremendous shot that left Rogers grasping at air as it flew into the bottom corner.

Suddenly the Saints players and fans could sniff an unlikely first win of the season and it almost arrived in the dying moments. Mallan had a curling shot deflected behind before Lewis Morgan worked himself some space on the left and drilled a ball that flew across goal with no takers when the slightest touch off anyone would have sent it into the net. Pushing for a winner left the Buddies slightly exposed at the back and in the final minute of injury time Falkirk managed to force a corner that thankfully came to nothing, meaning the points were shared.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, Irvine, Baird, MacKenzie, Quinn (Walsh 62), Sutton, Mallan, Hutton (Clarkson 85), Morgan, Hardie.
Subs Not Used: Webster, Shankland, McDonald, Whyte, Gallacher (GK).

Falkirk: Rogers, Kidd, Leahy, McCracken, Rankin, Taiwo (Craigen 64), Kerr, Baird, Sibbald (Hippolyte 76), Gasparotto, McHugh (Miller 64).
Subs Not Used: Austin, Shepherd, Watson, Deniz (GK).

Referee: John Beaton.
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross.
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence.
4th Official: Gavin Ross.

Attendance: 2,344.

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

St Mirren and Falkirk meet for the first time this season tomorrow in an early evening kick-off at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Falkirk made it to the promotion playoffs final last season and while they eventually lost out to Premiership side Kilmarnock it was expected that Peter Houston’s side would make another strong challenge for promotion again this season. The Bairns early season form looked to be contradicting that prediction but over the last month or so they look to have got themselves back on track.

Over the summer Houston lost the services of the impressive duo Will Vaulks and Blair Alston who both moved on to new pastures but he has done well in plugging in replacements for a squad that hasn’t changed too much since last season. Pick of the bunch is midfielder John Rankin, the former Dundee United, Hibernian and Inverness Caley Thistle player is sure to bring a lot of strength and drive to the Falkirk midfield. The Bairns gaffer also weakened some of his promotion-chasing opponents by snapping up Lewis Kidd from Queen of the South and James Craigen from Raith Rovers. Another nice pick-up was Luca Gasparotto, the former Rangers man impressed in a loan spell with Morton last season where he slotted nicely into the Greenock side’s defence.

Falkirk had a poor start to the season losing to Stirling Albion in the first Betfred Cup outing. They redeemed themselves with a 3-0 win over Elgin City which was followed by a 3-0 loss to Premiership side St Johnstone. The group was rounded off with a 2-0 win over Brechin City but The Bairns didn’t tally-up enough points to advance to the next round.

It was a tough start to the league season with fixtures against Hibernian, Morton and Queen of the South as their opening trio of matches. After going down 2-1 at home against Neil Lennon’s Hibernian side, The Bairns nabbed a point at Cappielow with Luke Leahy’s 90th minute equaliser against Morton. A trip to Dumfries followed but a Stephen Dobbie double kept the points with Queen of the South.

The following week their match against Dumbarton looked to be running out as a no-scoring draw until Lee Miller scored an 86th minute winner, since then Falkirk have forged ahead. After a 6-1 win over Elgin City in the IRN-BRU Cup league wins against Raith Rovers (2-0), Dundee United (3-1) and Ayr United (2-0) have catapulted The Bairns up to third place in the league, four points off top spot.

St Mirren got themselves ahead twice in last Saturday’s match at East End Park but somehow managed to still lose out by the odd goal in seven against Dunfermline. John Sutton gave Saints the lead on the half-hour mark which only lasted ten minutes as Nicky Clark pulled The Pars level again. But that man Sutton was on target again just before the break to send Saints into a half-time lead. A freakish own-goal from Andy Webster saw Dunfermline level again and then Clark put them into the lead for the first time. Saints thought they had grabbed a share of the points when Ryan Hardie’s shot flew into the back of the net but Farid El Alagui took advantage of some slack defending from Saints to nab the points for Dunfermline.

Saints didn’t do well against Falkirk last season losing three of the four league outings, the other match saw them get a share of the points in a goalless draw in Paisley at the beginning of March. You have to go back to 17th October 2009 for St Mirren’s last win against Falkirk when goals from Craig Dargo, Billy Mehmet and Tom Brighton countered Brian McLean’s opener for Falkirk.