St Mirren are on the road tomorrow as they make the short trip across the Erskine Bridge to face Dumbarton. 

It's a return to Ladbrokes Championship action for Saints after the disappointment of last Saturday's IRN-BRU Cup exit. 

The Buddies took the lead in last weekend's cup tie against Raith Rovers with Gavin Reilly scoring his ninth goal of the season on 63 minutes. But the Kirkcaldy side responded instantly with Lewis Vaughan levelling with a neat strike from the edge of the box a minute later. Late goals from Greig Spence and Bobby Barr saw Raith win 3-1 and progress to the quarter final. 

Ironically, it's tomorrow's opponents Dumbarton who will meet Rovers in the last eight. They secured their place with a 2-1 win over League One side Stranraer last Friday night with goals from Craig Barr and Mark Stewart putting them into a comfortable lead before Stephen Okoh grabbed a late consolation for the visitors. That win kept up Sons' decent run of form with Stevie Aitken's side victorious in four of their last six matches in all competitions. It was also their fourth win at home on the bounce with victories over Gap Connah's Quay, Brechin City and Inverness preceding the win over Stranraer. 

The wins over Brechin and Inverness were Dumbarton's first and second wins of the season and see them currently sit seventh in the Ladbrokes Championship on nine points. They've only lost one of their four home league matches this season - a 4-0 loss to Dunfermline in August. 

That indicates that Saints are likely be in for a tough challenge tomorrow despite sitting atop of the Championship. The Buddies 2-1 win over bottom side Brechin two weeks ago saw them return to the top of the league - a point ahead of Dundee United. Six wins from the first eight league games have Saints in a healthy position, despite disappointing losses away to Morton and Dunfermline. St Mirren's solitary league win on their travels this season came at the Tony Macaroni Arena where Jack Ross' side won 3-1 despite being reduced to ten men. 

Dumbarton have almost been a bogey side for Saints since relegation to the Championship in 2015. St Mirren have only beaten Dumbarton once in the last eight matches between the two - a 1-0 win at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on February 2016.

However, while Dumbarton defeated St Mirren once last season, the Buddies were unbeaten in the two clashes at the Your Radio 103FM Stadium. The first meeting of the two was one of those as Saints travelled across the Erskine Bridge last September. Andy Stirling gave Dumbarton an early lead before a Ryan Hardie header before half time saw Saints pick up a point.

Jack Ross was just getting his feet in the door when Dumbarton came to Paisley for the first time last season. It was a chance for St Mirren to make up ground at the bottom of the Championship, but it was the Sons who left the Paisley 2021 Stadium with all three points when Garry Fleming capitalised on a defensive error to score the game's only goal on 63 minutes.

The next meeting saw a much changed St Mirren side travel over the Clyde to face Stevie Aitken's side. There were debuts for Harry Davis, Adam Eckersley and Stelios Demetriou while Stephen McGinn made his first start since returning to the club. But even a new look Saints team couldn't take three points at the Rock. The Buddies took the lead ten minutes before the break when David Clarkson got on the end of a Cammy Smith cross. Dumbarton levelled a little over ten minutes into the second half through Christian Nade. St Mirren looked likely to pick up all three points when debutant Harry Davis rose above the Dumbarton defence to head home only for the stubborn Sons to grab an equaliser on 80 minutes to pick up a point. 

The final clash last season took place in April at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. Saints, aiming to take a step closer to securing their Championship status, took the lead when Kyle Magennis scored early on. However, Lewis Vaughan equalised less than ten minutes before the interval to draw Dumbarton level. Saints passed up a glorious chance to re-take the lead before half time when Rory Loy had a penalty saved by Alan Martin and the game ended 1-1. 

St Mirren will come up against a number of familiar faces tomorrow with no less than five ex-Saints in the Dumbarton squad. Scott Gallacher, Kyle Hutton, Stuart Carswell, Tom Walsh and Calum Gallagher have all worn the black and white of St Mirren at some point over the last two years, but now all ply their trade with the Sons, while Dumbarton winger Dimitris Froxylias is close friends with Stelios Demtriou. Gregor Buchanan will also be familiar with a number of Sons players having played their for two seasons.

Saints are still without long-term absentees Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie, while Gary Irvine is out after picking up a knock against Raith last week. Ladbrokes Championship Player of the Month, Lewis Morgan returns to the side after international duty as does Liam Smith.

Tomorrow's match signals the end of the first quarter and the Buddies know a win will see them close out the first set of fixtures on top of the league. Meanwhile, Dumbarton will be eager to keep up their good form against St Mirren and further extend their winning run at home. 

St Mirren welcome bottom side Brechin City to the Paisley 2021 Stadium tomorrow aiming to make it eight home wins in a row. 

The Buddies' record breaking winning run at the Paisley 2021 Stadium continued with last weekend's 3-1 triumph over Queen of the South. 

That win saw St Mirren move back up to second place, a point behind league leaders Dunfermline and a point above third placed Dundee United. 

It's been a tough start to the season for newly promoted Brechin who came up via the promotion play-offs. After seeing off Raith Rovers on penalties in the play-off semi-final last season, they defeated Jim Goodwin's Alloa in the final - also on penalties - to join the first division for the first time since 2006. 

Darren Dods' side began the season with an opening day loss away to Queen of the South. However, a week later, they gained a creditable point against Livingston as they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2. Ex-St Mirren U20s player Kalvin Orsi, a summer signing for City, was on the scoresheet before Finn Graham levelled. 

Since then they have only picked up a point over their next five league matches - a 1-1 home draw with Falkirk. Again they came from behind with Graham's second half goal cancelling out Alex Harris' opener. Despite only one point from those five games they did run promotion candidates Dundee United close at Tannadice in August, with the Tangerines needing an 80th minute strike from Scott McDonald to secure three points. 

St Mirren have a strong record against Brechin with 25 wins in 33 games and six wins from the last six. Brechin's only win against Saints in competitive football came at Glebe Park in January 2004 as they won 2-0. 

Saints last match against Brechin in any competition came in the Scottish Cup in December 2012. The Buddies overcame the Angus side at the Paisley 2021 Stadium with goals from Kenny McLean and a stunning volley from Jon Robertson giving St Mirren a 2-0 win. 

The last time the two squared off in league action was in 2006 with Saints well on their way to securing promotion to the then Premier League. John Sutton was the hat-trick hero as the Buddies ran out 3-0 winners at Glebe Park to extend their lead at the top of the table by 11 points.  

Saints are still without Adam Eckersley who serves the final game of his two-match ban, while Josh Todd is out after dislocating his shoulder in last weekend's match against Queen of the South. Long term absentees Kyle Magennis, Harry Davis and Gary MacKenzie remain out.

Tomorrow's match gives St Mirren the chance to further extend the winning run at home and results elsewhere could see Saints return to the summit of the Ladbrokes Championship. Meanwhile, Brechin will be desperate to take a major scalp and pick up their first league win of the campaign in a bid to climb off the bottom spot. 

St Mirren manager Jack Ross looks ahead to Sunday's match as the Buddies welcome Queen of the South to the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

He looks back on last weekend's loss to Dunfermline, the start to the season, discusses good home form at the Paisley 2021 Stadium and current injury concerns.

Jack also explains why the club has signed Jamie McCart on an emergency loan and allowed Darren Whyte to join Forfar on loan. 

St Mirren look to get back to winning ways on Sunday as the Buddies host Queen of the South at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. 

Saints had won seven of their previous eight matches before losing 3-0 to Dunfermline at East End Park last weekend. 

The Buddies went into Saturday's top of the table clash full of confidence, but were undone by the Pars with goals from Declan McManus, David Hopkirk and Callum Morris knocking St Mirren off top spot.

By comparison, Sunday's visitors will be looking to put their 2-1 defeat at home to Morton last Saturday behind them. Ross Forbes and Jai Quitongo had the Renfrewshire side ahead before veteran Derek Lyle pulled a goal back for the Doonhamers. It wasn't enough though as Queens' second league defeat of the season saw them drop out of the play-off positions after a bright start to the season. 

Gary Naysmith's side started the campaign with a 4-1 win at home to Brechin City, before losing to Dundee United the following weekend. However, they went on a good run of form after that defeat at Tannadice, winning their next four matches before a 2-2 draw with Livingston and last weekend's loss against Morton.

The Buddies and the Doonhamers shared two wins each in the four meetings between the two last season. Funnily enough though, neither side was able to win at home as Saints lost both of their meetings against Queens at the Paisley 2021 Stadium last season. The first match saw the Dumfries side overcome St Mirren by 3-1 in September with Stephen Dobbie scoring after a Derek Lyle brace.

St Mirren's first league win of last season came on a midweek trip to Palmerston in December. Dobbie opened the scoring for the home side, but Saints pegged them back just three minutes later when Kyle Magennis scored his first ever St Mirren goal. Dobbie scored again just before half time to put Queens ahead at the interval. The Buddies pulled level near the hour mark when Ben Gordon's effort was deflected beyond Lee Robinson. With the game in its dying embers, Stevie Mallan curled home from the edge of the box to send the travelling Saints support wild as St Mirren finally picked up a league win. 

Queen of the South would gain a measure of revenge the next time they faced St Mirren around a month later. Naysmith's side were clinical as Dobbie scored once again to put them ahead before the break with a late goal from loanee Joe Thomson followed up by a Gary MacKenzie own goal sealing an emphatic 3-0 win for the Doonhamers. 

The last meeting of the two came in March with Saints fighting for their lives in the Ladbrokes Championship. The Buddies put on a big performance under pressure with Stevie Mallan and Rory Loy giving Saints a deserved 2-0 win at Palmerston. 

Saints will be without Gregor Buchanan and Adam Eckersley for Sunday's match after the pair saw red against Dunfermline last weekend. Emergency loan signing Jamie McCart is available and goes into the squad, while long term absentees Harry Davis, Gary MacKenzie and Kyle Magennis remain sidelined. 

If results go St Mirren's way on Saturday then a win could put the Buddies back to the top of the pile come full time on Sunday. Queens know that if they come out on top on Sunday that they will go back into the play-off spots.

It’s first versus second in the Ladbrokes Championship tomorrow as top of the table St Mirren travel to East End Park to face Dunfermline.

The Buddies leapfrogged Allan Johnston’s side last week after defeating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4-2 at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. That win was Saints’ fifth in a row and fourth win out of five in the Ladbrokes Championship.

The Pars had sat at the top of the league before Saturday with three wins and a draw from their first four matches. They looked on course to maintain in pole position after taking a 2-0 lead over Morton at Cappielow last weekend. But the Ton struck three times in the second half to take all three points.

Dunfermline had been in red-hot form before that loss, having scored 13 goals in their previous four league games and being the only team in the league to have been unbeaten. Joe Cardle and Kallum Higginbotham had them cruising at half time against our Renfrewshire rivals last Saturday, before three second half goals saw them consign the Pars to a first league defeat of the season and see Allan Johnston’s side fall to second.

Saints failed to beat Dunfermline in four matches last season. The Buddies looked set to pick up a valuable point at East End Park early in the season only for a mistake in the Saints' backline allowing Farid El Alagui to secure a 4-3 win for the home side in the first meeting of the two.

The Pars made their first trip to Paisley of the 2016/17 season in November and once again it was the Fifers who edged it with Nicky Clark scoring the only goal of the game on 26 minutes.

Saints improved in the final two meetings gaining a respectable 1-1 draw at Dunfermline in January with Gary MacKenzie scoring early in the second half to cancel out Kallum Higginbotham’s first half penalty. In March, the Buddies earned a vital point in their bid for Championship survival after the two sides battled out a 0-0 draw at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

The Buddies last win over Dunfermline came in the Challenge Cup back in 2015. Saints had been struggling for form though they easily overcame the high flying Pars by 4-0 at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

With 29 goals between the two sides in the league already this season, goals seem a certainty tomorrow. St Mirren will need to be aware of the attacking threat that the hosts possess with the Pars having an abundance of riches in forward areas with the likes of Declan McManus, Kallum Higginbotham, Joe Cardle, Nicky Clark, Dean Shiels and Andy Ryan all options. But Jack Ross’ side will feel confident in their own abilities with Gavin Reilly, Cammy Smith, Lewis Morgan and Ian McShane all in top form at the moment.

Saturday’s match is sure to attract the biggest crowd in the Championship this weekend with Saints likely to take over 1000 fans to East End Park. A St Mirren win would keep the Buddies top of the pile, while Dunfermline will be hoping that they can return to the summit after slipping up last weekend.

St Mirren’s run of three home matches in a row comes to an end tomorrow as the Buddies welcome Inverness Caledonian Thistle to the Paisley 2021 Stadium. It’s back to league football for Jack Ross’ side after their exploits in the IRN-BRU Cup last week.

The Buddies bested Hearts Colts 3-1 in the Challenge Cup last Saturday to qualify for the third round of the cup where they will meet League One side Raith Rovers next month. Gavin Reilly, whose performance earned him IRN-BRU’s Golden Balls player of the round, scored twice either side of half-time to put Saints in control before John Sutton grabbed Saints’ third late on after Rory Currie pulled one back for the young Jambos. That win over Hearts Colts saw St Mirren win a fifth home match on the bounce – a new record at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Indeed, The Buddies have had a fine start to the season with three wins from four in the Ladbrokes Championship seeing them sit joint second alongside Queen of the South and Dundee United. An opening day win over Falkirk was followed by a disappointing loss against Morton at Cappielow. But since that derby defeat Saints have won all four games they've played, with league wins away to Livingston (3-1) and at home to Dundee United (3-0). 

Meanwhile, it's been a tough start to the season for tomorrow's visitors. The Highland club lost their first two league matches, losing 1-0 at home to Dundee United on the opening day, before a 5-1 drubbing away to Dunfermline. They have, however, followed that up with a 1-1 draw at home to Morton and an impressive 4-0 triumph away to newly promoted Brechin City.

They come into tomorrow’s match on the back of a 4-2 win against Aberdeen Colts in the IRN-BRU Cup last weekend. Riccardo Calder gave Inverness an early lead with Liam Polworth and David Raven adding to it to put Caley 3-0 up at half-time. Sebastian Ross pulled a goal back for the Colts five minutes after the break before Carl Tremarco restored the three goal lead with less than 10 minutes to go. Francis Ross of Aberdeen and Charlie Trafford of Inverness saw red towards the end of the match with the young Dons scoring a consolation goal on 89 minutes through Bruce Anderson.

It was a summer of transition for Inverness following their relegation from the Ladbrokes Premiership. The Highland Club parted ways with manager Richie Foran after the drop, replacing him with former manager John Robertson. They also had to contend with losing a number of key players such as Ross Draper, Henri Anier, Alex Fisher, Josh Meekings, Greg Tansey and more. Robertson went about reshaping the squad by bringing in the likes of John Baird from Falkirk, ex-Saints Alex Cooper & Mark Ridgers, Joe Chalmers and Coll Donaldson while a number of players were signed from England and abroad.

Gary Irvine returns from suspension for the Buddies though Harry Davis and Kyle Magennis remain sidelined. Inverness are likely to be without long-terms absentees Aaron Doran and Zak Elbouzedi. 

It’s the first meeting of the two since February 2015 where Inverness edged out St Mirren 2-1 at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. Of course, both squads are radically different since that last clash and Saints will likely head into tomorrow’s match as slight favourites despite not having beaten Inverness since January 2013.

It's sure to be an intriguing contest with the Buddies able to go top if results go our way, while tomorrow's opponents will be looking to build on their win over Brechin and start climbing up the table as they aim to make an instant return to the Premiership. 

It's new territory for Saints once again in the IRN-BRU Cup as the Buddies face off against Hearts Colts for a place in the third round. 

After defeating East Kilbride in the first ever meeting of the two last time around, St Mirren face Hearts Colts in the second round tomorrow. It's the first time Saints have come up against a Colt side since their inclusion as participants in the IRN-BRU Cup began last season. 

The Buddies almost came a cropper at the first hurdle of this competition when East Kilbride scored with 10 minutes remaining to take a shock lead in Paisley. St Mirren had squandered chance after chance before Dominic McLaren headed the Lowland League side ahead. Saints seemed to be heading for the exit, only for Ross Stewart to score his first goal in Paisley on 87 minutes to level the scores. Lewis Morgan netted in the 92nd minute to ensure the game wouldn't go to extra-time and sent Saints through. 

Hearts Colts also did things the hard way in the last round as they battled from 2-0 down to knock out Fortmartine United. Archie MacPhee and Max Berton had the Highland League side in control going into half time. Dario Zanatta pulled a goal back soon after the interval before grabbing a dramatic equaliser deep in stoppage time to take the game to extra time. Just when it looked to be heading to penalties, Harrison Paton popped up to send the young Jambos into the second round. 

The second round is as far as Hearts Colts would reach last season in their first year of the IRN-BRU Cup. After overcoming Stirling Albion 3-2, the Jambos were knocked out after a 2-0 loss away to Elgin City. 

By comparison, Saints have reached the final twice in their last three showings in this cup with a semi-final finish in the other. The Buddies defeated Albion Rovers, Hibernian, Ayr United and The New Saints on the way to meeting Dundee United in the final. It wasn't to be though as United edged the match by 2-1 to lift the trophy for the first time.  

St Mirren are expected to go with a strong line up as they look to keep up the momentum that has been building over the last few weeks. Indeed a win at home tomorrow would see Saints win five matches in a row at the Paisley 2021 Stadium for the first time since moving in in 2009. 

Saints are without Lewis Morgan who is on international duty, while Liam Smith picked up a slight knock in last week's 3-0 win over Dundee United. Gary MacKenzie, Harry Davis and Kyle Magennis remain sidelined, but Dale Hilson and Josh Todd have put themselves into contention after featuring for the U20s during the week. 

The Hearts U20s sit atop of the SPFL Development League at present with a 1-1 draw with Dundee and a 4-1 win over Hibernian seeing them on top by virtue of goal difference. However, they were bolstered by the presence of over age players who won't be available to them tomorrow.

St Mirren will go into the match as favourites, while it will be sure to prove a valuable learning experience for the young Hearts side as they aim to cause a shock against a senior side. 

St Mirren host top of the table Dundee United tomorrow in the first of three home matches on the spin for the Buddies.

Saints come into the match on the back of a 3-1 win over Livingston last week at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Derby disappointment aside, it's been a decent start to the season for St Mirren with four wins from their last five matches. 

United have got off to the perfect start in the league as the only side to pick up three wins from the first three league matches. They defeated Inverness Caley Thistle 1-0 on the opening day before back-to-back home wins over Queen of the South (2-1) and Brechin City (1-0). 

Matches between the Buddies and the Arabs have been far from dull in recent times with the sides sharing 18 goals between them in their five meetings last season. 

United's strike trio last campaign consisted of Tony Andreu, Thomas Mikkelsen and Simon Murray and they accounted for eight of the side's 11 goals against Saints last season. 

While they have all moved on to pastures new, the Terrors have strengthened up top with the likes of James Keatings and the experienced Scott McDonald. United boss Ray MacKinnon has also bolstered his squad with fine additions such as Paul Quinn, Fraser Fyvie, Paul McMullan, Sam Stanton and Billy King all joining the Tannadice club this summer. 

Jack Ross' first match as St Mirren manager came against United at the Paisley 2021 Stadium last season. It wasn't to be a winning start for the gaffer though as goals from Scott Fraser and Andreu saw the visitors run out 2-0 winners. It was a much closer affair on Christmas Eve when St Mirren travelled to Tannadice. John Sutton had give the Buddies a first half lead, only for United to peg Saints back almost immediately when Fraser scored a minute later. Murray grabbed the winner on the stroke of half time as he headed home Fraser's cross.

The two would meet again in Paisley - 10 days before they were set to contest the IRN-BRU Cup at Fir Park. Saints came out on top with their first win over United since 2013. Harry Davis gave the Buddies the lead inside 90 seconds. Andreu struck for United not long after the half-hour mark, only for Stevie Mallan to put St Mirren back in front four minutes later. Lewis Morgan grabbed a vital third on the hour mark rendering Andreu's second goal 10 minutes later meaningless. 

But United would gain a measure of revenge as they saw off Saints to win the IRN-BRU Cup. Again it was Andreu who proved to be the scourge of St Mirren as he unleashed a brilliant volley put United ahead. However, Rory Loy equalised for the Buddies almost immediately to put the tie back in the balance. But with just 15 minutes to go, Danish striker Thomas Mikkelsen got above the St Mirren defence to bullet home the winner. 

There would be one final meeting with St Mirren still fighting for Ladbrokes Championship survival when they visited Dundee in late April. Like most of the matches between the two it would prove to be another goal fest. 

United took the lead in controversial circumstances after Mikkelsen appeared to foul Gary MacKenzie on his way to scoring. It was MacKenzie who got Saints on terms seven minutes before the break when he headed beyond Cammy Bell. But once again, Frenchman Andreu popped up to score his fifth goal against St Mirren when he drilled home from an indirect free-kick. Saints looked to have grabbed an all important point when substitute Josh Todd scored his first St Mirren goal with less than five minutes to go only for late heartbreak as Blair Spittal sealed all three points for the home side in injury time. 

St Mirren are still without Kyle Magennis, Harry Davis, Dale Hilson, Josh Todd and Gary MacKenzie, while Gary Irvine misses out after his red card against Livingston. Jack Baird comes back in after serving his one match suspension. 

Both sides will have aspirations of promotion this season and this match should be a good yardstick to see how each is fairing. 

St Mirren are back on league duty tomorrow as they travel to West Lothian to face Livingston in the Ladbrokes Championship after their IRN-BRU Cup exploits earlier in the week.

The Buddies bested a stubborn East Kilbride in the Challenge Cup on Tuesday night, scoring two goals in the last few minutes to win 2-1. The Lowland League side had somehow managed to keep Saints at bay, with Jack Ross' side registering 33 shots in the match, before scoring with less than 10 minutes remaining to take a shock lead.

With St Mirren heading for the exit door at the first hurdle, Ross Stewart did well to get in front of the opposition defender to reach Stelios' ball into the box and lifted it over Kilby goalkeeper Jacob Kean to level the scores on 87 minutes. The game was poised for extra-time only for the ball to end up at the feet of Lewis Morgan in the 92nd minute after a scramble in the box. The young winger composed himself before crashing a low shot in off the post in the 92nd minute to give Saints the win. 

Meanwhile, tomorrow's opponents Livingston's IRN-BRU Cup campaign also got off to a winning start with David Hopkin guiding his side to a 2-0 win over Morton at Cappielow. Nikolay Todorov fired the Lions into the lead after just five minutes before a second half goal from Danny Mullen secured their passage into the second round. It was a result that maintains the newly promoted side's unbeaten start to domestic football this season. 

St Mirren have already taken on the Lions this campaign when Hopkin brought his men to the Paisley 2021 Stadium in the Betfred Cup in July. Dale Carrick's second minute strike was enough for the visitors to take home the three points in Betfred Cup Group H with a 1-0 win. 

However, Saints can take heart from the fact that they have won in their last five trips to the Tony Macaroni Arena - a run stretching back to November 1999. In those five matches the Buddies have won by a scoreline of 2-1 twice, 3-2 on two occasions along with a 1-0 victory. The last St Mirren defeat away to Livingston came in the second round of the Challenge Cup back in 1995 when the Lions ran out 2-0 winners.

Both sides are likely to come in to tomorrow's match looking to make up for league results last week. 10 man Saints were defeated 4-1 by rivals Morton, while Livingston saw a two goal lead against Brechin slip to allow the Angus side a share of the spoils. Despite their unbeaten start to the season, Livingston's two draws in the league see them sit one place below the Buddies who are in fifth thanks to their opening day win over Falkirk. 

The Buddies will be without Jack Baird who is suspended following his red card in the derby last week while Dale Hilson, Kyle Magennis and Josh Todd remain sidelined. 

Ahead of the match, manager Jack Ross said: "We are as we were squad wise with the exception of Jack [Baird].

"I think it's been a peculiar season so far as we've been a bit up and down. The one thing we have lacked is consistency.

"But we go into the game in a good frame of mind and the players have a belief that they can go and win it.

"I don't think there was much between the two teams when they came to our place in the Betfred Cup. For the players to know about their players and some of their strengths and weaknesses it is beneficial that we've played them already.

"I look forward to it though. It's always a good stadium to go to." 

St Mirren are in IRN-BRU Cup action tonight as the Buddies welcome East Kilbride to the Paisley 2021 Stadium tonight for the first ever meeting between the two sides.

Saints' IRN-BRU Cup campaign was almost over as soon as it began with the Buddies going 2-0 down to Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill inside the first 13 minutes with brother Ross and Michael Dunlop putting the home side in control. But goals from Stephen Mallan, Lewis Morgan and John Sutton in an eight minute spell dragged Saints in front. But before they didn't have much time to enjoy their lead with Ross Dunlop scoring his second a little over a minute after the Buddies had gone 3-2 up. That took the game into extra game where a Lawrence Shankland header nudged St Mirren into the fourth round. 

The Buddies could have hardly wished for a tougher draw after being paired with eventual Ladbrokes Championship winners Hibernian at Easter Road. Head of Youth Allan McManus was in his final match as caretaker manager and helped guide Saints to the last eight with a surprising 2-1 win over the home side. Hibs had taken the lead through Alex Harris on 37 minutes, but a Stephen Mallan free-kick on four minutes later restored parity at the break. Just as the game appeared to be heading towards extra-time, David Clarkson popped up to squeeze the ball beyond Ofir Marciano in the Hibernian goal to sent St Mirren through. 

After two away ties, St Mirren were drawn at home in the quarter-finals with Ian McCall's Ayr United the visitors to the Paisley 2021 Stadium. However, just like the previous ties, St Mirren found themselves behind when Andy O'Connell profited from poor Saints defending to score his first goal for the Honest Men. But with just seven minutes left to play John Sutton scored twice in a two minute spell to turn the game around and send St Mirren into the semi-final for a second season running.

Saints were one game away from the final, but standing in their way was a 'Battle of Britain' clash with Welsh Champions The New Saints. The 11 time Welsh league winners took a first half lead after a terrific finish from Ryan Brobbel. Captain Stephen McGinn dragged the Buddies back into the match with a stunning strike on the hour mark to level the score before Mallan scored five minutes later to put the home side ahead. John Sutton missed a penalty with a little over ten minutes to go but made amends on the 80th minute to give St Mirren a two-goal cushion. Rory Loy's 90th minute finish put the seal on a brilliant comeback as the Buddies made it to the final.

Despite a strong first half showing, St Mirren were narrowly beaten by Dundee United in the final. Tony Andreu gave the Tangerines the lead, but Saints' fighting spirit was alive as Rory Loy slotted home an equaliser almost immediately from kick-off. Both sides had chances to win it but in the end Danish striker Thomas Mikkelsen rose above the St Mirren defence to bullet home a header and win the cup for United.

Ahead of this season's Challenge Cup, St Mirren can take heart from a strong record that has seen them earn a semi-final place and two final appearances in their last three campaigns in this cup. 

East Kilbride currently sit atop of the Lowland League with three wins and a draw from their opening four fixtures. They also put in a decent showing in their Betfred Cup group, defeating Stenhousemuir 2-1 away and drawing 0-0 with Ladbrokes Championship side Queen of the South at Palmerston. However, they are set to be without the influential Sean Winter who recently picked a hamstring injury, while first choice goalkeeper Matt McGinley could also miss out. 

Kilby manager Billy Stark is a familiar face in Paisley having made 345 appearances for the Buddies back in the 70s and 80s. The former midfielder, a St Mirren Hall of Fame inductee, was part of the Saints' First Division winning side of 1976/77 and the Anglo Scottish Cup triumph in 1980. Ex-Saints Ross Caldwell and Declan Hughes also feature for the Lowland League side. 

St Mirren will be looking to make amends for Saturday's derby loss, while it will also allow Jack Ross the chance to give some valuable game time to other squad members. Lowland League side Kilby come into tonight's match knowing they are the underdogs but will hope that they can claim a major scalp in their first ever match in the IRN-BRU Cup.