St Mirren picked up a point to move back into the top six after a goalless draw against Hibernian at The SMiSA Stadium.

The Buddies had the better of the match, but couldn't find a breakthrough against one of the form teams in the league as Hibernian stretched their unbeaten run to 12. 

Stephen Robinson elected to name the same starting eleven from Monday night's Scottish Cup tie against Hearts with Scott Tanser unable to make it after an epidural during the week. 

A bright start saw Caolan Boyd-Munce have a shot blocked on 10 minutes with Killian Phillips' follow-up held by Hibernian goalkeeper Jordan Smith. But despite Saints having the better of the game, it was Hibernian who had best chance of the opening 45 when Warren O'Hora got a free header on a Nicky Cadden corner, but he sent the effort wide of target. 

Saints came out of the traps after the break. Mikael Mandron forced a save from Smith with a long-range strike that the Hibernian goalkeeper got two hands behind to hold on 51 minutes. The Hibernian stopper then made a brilliant double save two minutes later. Mandron's slide rule pass found Toyosi Olusanya who burst clear of Rocky Bushiri and fired low from the angle. Smith blocked before getting a strong hand on Mark O'Hara's rebound that looked prime to put Saints ahead. 

With 15 minutes remaining, referee Ross Hardie awarded Hibernian a penalty kick as he wrongly believe O'Hora's header came off Killian Phillips' hand. A VAR check followed and the referee overturned the decision after it was shown that the ball struck Phillips' head. 

The visitors were reduced to 10 men when debutant Alasana Manneh was shown a second yellow card for a foul after clattering into the back of Phillips in the middle of the park. But despite the man advantage, Saints were unable to find a way of turning one point into three. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Hibernian

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Alebiosu (Bwomono 46), Phillips, Boyd-Munce (Smyth 83), O'Hara (c) (Kiltie 73), John, Mandron (Oseni 90), Olusanya (Ayunga 73)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Adeniran, Scott

Hibernian: Smith, O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale (Obita 70), C.Cadden (Miller 88), Triantis, Campbell, Kwon (Manneh 70), N.Cadden (Moriah-Welsh 88), Boyle, Gayle (Bowie 56)
Subs Not Used: Bursik, Hoilett, Molotnikov, Kukharevych

Referee: Ross Hardie
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Calum Scott
VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 7,468

St Mirren exited the Scottish Cup in cruel fashion after losing to Hearts in a penalty shoot-out at The SMiSA Stadium.

Mikael Mandron had Saints ahead and his first-half goal looked like being enough to send the Buddies through to the last eight. But Calem Nieuwenhof equalised with six minutes of normal time remaining to send the game to extra-time. An extra 30 minutes couldn't separate the sides and that meant penalty kicks. Oisin Smyth and James Scott saw their spot-kicks saved by Craig Gordon and despite Zach Hemming saving from Gerard Taylor, the away side prevailed 4-2. 

Ryan Alebiosu came in for his debut after signing for Saints on deadline day, while Declan John also started. They came in for Elvis Bwomono and Scott Tanser with Tanser missing out with an injury. 

The Buddies started the game brightly with Toyosi Olusanya having a big chance to open the scoring on just four minutes. Hemming's ball over the top found the forward, but he lifted over the bar.  The striker had another big opportunity 15 minutes later, but he couldn't get a proper connection on the ball which allowed Gordon to gather. In between, Hemming pulled off a big save when he was down low to push away a powerful strike from Elton Kabangu. 

Saints hit the front on 23 minutes when Mandron opened the scoring from close-range. Mark O'Hara's effort was pushed away by Gordon, but only into the path of Mandron who tucked into the net.

Olusanya had a chance to double the Buddies advantage two minutes after the restart when he was sent in the clear by O'Hara. Coming in off the left, the forward made his way into the box before firing wide from an angle. Hearts had a big opportunity three minutes later when Blair Spittal curled just over the bar from 20 yards. 

John was agonisingly close to securing our place in the last eight with a powerful low drive that Gordon was down brilliantly to touch wide. There were huge shouts for a St Mirren penalty from the resulting corner when Beni Baningime handled inside the box, but the VAR check said no. 

How Saints would be left to rue that decision with Hearts drawing level almost immediately after. The Buddies defence couldn't clear their lines and that allow substitute Nieuwenhof to equalise. The away side almost won in at the death when Wilson managed to send Kabangu clear on goal. The Hearts forward rounded Hemming and looked to tuck his shot into the net only for Caolan Boyd-Munce to slide in to stop it crossing the line. 

Both sides had a chance each in extra-time. In the first period, Marcus Fraser saw a strike from the edge of the area take a deflection and go just wide while Penrice saw a free-kick brilliantly tipped over the bar by Hemming. 

Hearts won the toss and went first in the shoot-out. James Wilson scored his emphatically, while Gordon saved Smyth's effort to give Hearts an early advantage. They doubled that advantage when Kenneth Vargas squeezed one by Hemming before Scott had his attempt saved. Jorge Grant made it 3-0 despite Hemming coming close to saving. Evan Mooney got Saints on the scoresheet with a brilliant effort to keep the Buddies in it. Gerald Taylor had a chance to win it for the visitors but Hemming saved. Marcus Fraser then sent Gordon the wrong way to reduce the deficit. But Penrice fired home his attempt to send Hearts into the last eight. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Hearts (Hearts win 4-2 on penalties)

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor, Alebiosu (Bwomono 70), Phillips (Kenny 111), Boyd-Munce (Smyth 90), O'Hara (c) (Kiltie 90), John, Olusanya (Mooney 90+2), Mandron (Scott 110)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Oseni

Hearts: Gordon, Penrice, McCart, Neilson (Steinwender 52), Forrester (G.Taylor 83), Baningime, Devlin (Wilson 63), Spittal (Nieuwenhof 83), Shankland (Grant 105), Forrest (Kartum 63), Kabangu (Vargas 105)
Subs Not Used: Clark

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Fourth Official: Lloyd Wilson
VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 4,611

St Mirren were beaten at The SMiSA Stadium with Bozo Mikulić's goal the difference on a disappointing afternoon in Paisley.

After a brilliant win away to Aberdeen last weekend, manager Stephen Robinson made just one change to the side with Elvis Bwomono coming in for Callum Penman. 

The Buddies started brightly with Mikael Mandron racing clear on goal with just five minutes on the clock. However, the forward's tame effort was saved by Ross Sinclair with the offside flag raised. 

Caolan Boyd-Munce sent a free-kick off the wall from 20 yards just before the half-hour mark, while Mandron shot into the arms of Sinclair from just inside the area. 

VAR checked for a St Mirren penalty on 34 minutes when Bwomono went down under a challenge in the box. But nothing was given to the dismay of the Saints full-back who looked to have been clipped by Drey Wright. Mark O'Hara was next to have a go for the Buddies but his strike from 20 yards was gathered by Sinclair as the game headed into half-time goalless.

Zach Hemming was first called into action on the hour when he got two strong hands behind a Graham Carey strike with the Saints stopper up quickly to then deny Makenzie Kirk on the follow up. 

St Mirren thought they'd finally made the breakthrough on 68 minutes when substitute Greg Kiltie finished from close-range. But referee Dan McFarlane disallowed the effort for a Toyosi Olusanya foul in the build-up. 

How frustrating costly that moment would prove to be when the visitors took the lead three minutes later. Saints couldn't deal with the loose ball after a corner and that allowed Mikulić to knock home from close range to score the only goal of the game.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 St Johnstone

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Bwomono (Oseni 82), Phillips, Boyd-Munce (Smyth 82), O'Hara (c) (Kiltie 63), Tanser, Olusanya (Mooney 82), Mandron (Scott 63)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, John, Penman

St Johnstone: Sinclair, Sprangler (c), Mikulić, Douglas, Curtis, Holt, Watt, Wright, Carey (Steven 74), Griffith, Kirk (Sidibeh 74)
Subs Not Used: Rae, Hepburn, Smith, Franczak, Kucheriayvi, McPake, Clark

Referee: Dan McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Alastair Mather
Fourth Official: Euan Anderson
VAR: Alan Muir

Attendance: 6,298

St Mirren U18s secured their place in the last four of the Scottish Youth Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory over Queen's Park at Lochinch Sports Pavilion. 

Grant Tamosevicius saved two from the spot, while Lyle Hunter, Owen Carey and Struan Thompson all scored to ensure a 3-2 victory on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time. 

Queen's had the better of the early chances with Tamosevicius making a good block at his near post on 20 minutes.

But it was young Saints who would hit the front when Evan Mooney opened the scoring from the penalty spot. The forward, who had gone close just a few minutes before with a strike that was pushed away by the Queen's Park goalkeeper, was fouled in the box. The referee showed no hesitation in awarded the penalty and Mooney tucked it away to put the Buddies ahead on 34 minutes.

Queen's Park drew level three minutes before the interval when their number two scored from close range. 

Saints stepped up the pace heading into the final portion of the match. A good ball across the face from Mooney found Theo McCormick, but the forward was under pressure from an opposing defender and he didn't get enough purchase on the effort which allowed the Queen's Park goalkeeper to gather comfortably. 

Mooney almost turned provider on the 87 minute when another similar ball across from the right found Thompson who had nipped in at the near post. He got a touch on it that looked like it would be enough to score the goal that sent Saints through, only for the Queen's Park stopper to turn behind. Carrick McEvoy came agonisingly close to an injury-time winner when he cracked a powerful effort off the bar. 

Penalties would be required with Tamosevicius saving Queen's Park's first spot-kick. McEvoy also saw his penalty saved by the Spiders' goalkeeper. Lyle Hunter would level it at 1-1 after Queen's Park went ahead in the shoot-out.

Tamosevicius saved again which allowed Owen Carey to put Saints 2-1 ahead after three penalties each. Queen's Park netted their fourth penalty with Thompson firing home with aplomb to keep Saints' advantage. That would turn out to be the winning spot-kick after Queen's Park fifth and final penalty rattled off the bar.

Full-Time: Queen's Park U18s 1-1 St Mirren U18s (St Mirren win 3-2 on penalties)

St Mirren U18s celebrate penalty shoot-out win (Image: Allan Picken)

St Mirren: Tamosevicius, Hutchison, McEvoy, Carey (c), Penman, Hunter, Turner (Stoddart 55), Falconer, Mooney, McCormick, Farquhar (Thompson 46)

St Mirren returned to winning ways in the William Hill Premiership in emphatic fashion with a brilliant win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie. 

Toyosi Olusanya opened the scoring early before Mikael Mandron's brace saw Saints win 3-0 in the Granite City.

Stephen Robinson's men hit the front with just seven minutes of the clock when Olusanya capitalised on a Dons defensive error. Slobodan Rubezic attempted to deal with Richard Taylor's ball over the top, but he nodded beyond goalkeeper Ross Doohan had raced off his line. That allowed Olusanya to run on to the loose ball and knock into the empty net.

Zach Hemming had to be called upon five minutes later to deny Aberdeen a quick response. The Saints stopper was down well to push away a low driving strike from Jeppe Okkels before blocking Pape Gueye on the follow up.

Saints added a second 10 minutes before the interval. Olusanya showed brilliant pace and strength as he outmuscled and drove away from Rubezic. His pick out was perfect for Mandron who slotted low into the bottom corner to double our advantage. 

Goalscorers Mikael Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya celebrate (Image: John Millar)

Both sides made a change at the break with Greg Kiltie replacing captain Mark O'Hara, while Ante Palaversa was introduced by the hosts in place of Sivert Heltne Nilsen. Palaversa came close to pulling one back for the hosts inside a minute of the restart. Alexander Jensen's cross was headed out by Richard Taylor, but fell to Palaversa who drilled just over the bar from around 16 yards out. 

Pape Gueye headed just wide on 52 minutes as Aberdeen continued to pressure as they searched for route back. The forward rose the highest to meet Okkels' cross from the left, but sent the effort by the right-hand post. 

Aberdeen made their third change of the game on 55 minutes when they brought Kevin Nisbet on in place of Leighton Clarkson. He was inches away from reducing the Dons' deficit five minutes after his introduction when his free-kick from 25 yards clipped the bar. 

Olusanya could have had his second of the afternoon a few minutes later when Kiltie's header found the goalscorer in space. He attempted the spectacular with an overhead kick but couldn't connect. 

With 20 minutes remaining, Hemming was called into action again with the Saints stopper making a wonderful reaction save to turn away Nisbet's close-range effort.

Despite pressure from Aberdeen, it was Saints who would add a third. It was a stunning hit from Mandron as he made his way on to a long ball over the top from Alex Gogic. The forward took it first time and lashed beyond Doohan from 20 yards in what will definitely be a goal of the season contender to put the seal on a memorable win on the road. 

Full-Time: Aberdeen 0-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Penman (Bwomono 26), Phillips, Boyd-Munce (Smyth 72), O'Hara (c) (Kiltie 46), Tanser, Olusanya (Mooney 80), Mandron (Oseni 80)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, John, Scott

Aberdeen: Doohan, Devlin, Tobers, Rubezic (Dorrington 40), Jensen, Heltne Nilsen (Palaversa 46), Shinnie, Keskinen, Clarkson (Nisbet 55), Okkels (Morris 70), Gueye (Duk 70)
Subs Not Used: Ritchie, MacKenzie, Boyd, Ambrose

Referee: Chris Graham
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Assistant Referee: Colin Drummond
Fourth Official: Iain Snedden
VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 15,829

St Mirren are into the hat for the Fifth Round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup after a professional performance at Palmerston Park.

A first-half double from Toyosi Olusanya saw Saints in control at the interval. The Buddies had chances to further extend their lead before Brennan Diceknson pulled a goal back for the hosts following a smart finish into the bottom corner. But an injury-time strike from Caolan Boyd-Munce secured a 3-1 win and Saints' place in the last 16 with a stoppage time goal. 

17-year-old St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Callum Penman made his first start for St Mirren as he came in for Elvis Bwomono. There were three other changes for Saints with Oisin Smyth, Alex Gogic and Olusanya replacing in for Richard Taylor, Greg Kiltie and Roland Idowu.

Penman almost opened the scoring in fortuitous fashion on just seven minutes when his cross from the right almost found the top left corner of the net. Queen of the South goalkeeper Ross Stewart had to be at full-stretch to tip the ball away from danger.

Callum Penman impressed on his first St Mirren start (Image: Allan Picken)

The Buddies were forced into an early substitution when Alex Iacovitti suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Taylor on nine minutes. 

Saints took the lead just a minute after the change. A long throw from Callum Penman was headed to the back post by a Queen of the South defender who was trying to clear, but it only found Olusanya and he slid in to knock into the net from close-range to score his ninth of the season. 

Olusanya added his 10th of the season, and his second of the afternoon, when he doubled the Buddies lead a little over 10 minutes after his opener, Penman's delivery was brilliant and matched by a terrific header from Olusanya.

Toyosi Olusanya celebrates his second goal (Image: Allan Picken)

Oisin Smyth almost directly from a corner as the game headed towards the half-time break, while Mikey Hewitt had a massive opportunity in the final moments of the first-half to pull one back for the Doonhamers. The defender rose the highest to meet a cross from the left, but he stuck it straight into the arms of Zach Hemming.

Saints could have added a third seven minutes after the interval when a brilliant Smyth ball in from the left found an unmarked Killian Phillips, but the Irishman headed wide of target. 

Mandron had the chance to add his name on the scoresheet just beyond the hour mark when he raced on to a nice through ball from Mark O'Hara. The forward attempted to lift over Stewart though the Queen's goalkeeper made himself big to block.

Queen of the South pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining when Brennan Dickenson rifled home from 18 yards. Kyle Doherty's cross was headed back across goal by Matty Douglas. Taylor met that but headed clear only as far as Dickenson who volleyed it low into the net. 

Saints would ensure there was no cup shock on the cards with Boyd-Munce securing our place in the Fifth Round in stoppage time. A quick counter saw Mark O'Hara send substitute Owen Oseni on the break. He slid a nice ball forward to Boyd-Munce who, first time, fired high into the net to see us into the next round. 

Caolan Boyd-Munce adds a third for Saints (Image: Allan Picken)

Full-Time: Queen of the South 1-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Iacovitti (Taylor 9), Penman (John 82), Phillips (Boyd-Munce 70), Smyth, O'Hara (c), Tanser, Mandron, Olusanya (Oseni 70)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kiltie, Idowu, Mooney

Queen of the South: Stewart, Hewitt, Brydon, Douglas (c), Hannah (Cochrane 68), MacIntyre, Lyon, Luissint (Bryden 80), Doherty, Dickenson, Brooks
Subs Not Used: Bowie, McKechnie, McIntosh, O'Donnell, Walker

Referee: Ryan Lee
Assistant Referee: Ross MacLeod
Assistant Referee: Scott Anderson

Attendance: 2,567

A late Louis Moult goal saw Saints consigned to a narrow defeat against Dundee United at The SMiSA Stadium.

It was an afternoon of missed opportunities for Saints who passed up a number of big opportunities before seeing an injury-time penalty from Toyosi Olusanya saved by United goalkeeper Jack Walton. 

There were three changes to the Saints side from last time out with Alex Iacovitti, Roland Idowu and Mikael Mandron coming in for Alex Gogic, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Olusanya.

The Buddies started brightly and came agonisingly close to opening the scoring inside four minutes when Richard Taylor leapt the highest to meet a corner but saw his header nodded off the line by Luca Stephenson. 

Zach Hemming had to be alert to hold a powerful 20-yard strike from Kevin Holt, before Roland Idowu sliced a volley just wide of the far post three minutes later. 

Saints looked the more likely in the opening 45 with Greg Kiltie forcing a save from Walton on 34 minutes. Idowu picked up the scraps, but his follow-up effort was blocked by the United defence. Walton pulled off another save in the final minutes of the first-half when he was at full stretch to push away a Killian Phillips header.

United thought they'd taken the lead two minutes after the restart when Vicko Sevelj tapped home a cross at the far post but the offside flag was raised and the decision was confirmed after a quick VAR check.

Two minutes later Elvis Bwomono had a huge opportunity to put Saints ahead when a brilliant Tanser cross looked primed to be knocked home, but the wing-back slipped and the ball trickled out of play. 

It was then end-to-end stuff as the game approached the hour mark. Mandron was agonisingly close to putting us in front when his effort cannoned off the underside of the bar on 57 minutes. United immediately broke up the park with Marcus Fraser deflecting a Glenn Middleton strike off the Saints woodwork. 

Saints should have taken the lead when Olusanya, a second-half substitute in place of Idowu, was sent scuttling clear by a lovely lifted ball from Mandron. The forward only had the goalkeeper to beat but his shot was saved by the feet of Walton as he looked to find the bottom corner of the net. 

Hemming made a good stop to deny United substitute Jort van der Sande on 87 minutes before another brilliant save from the resulting corner. 

But the Terrors would find a breakthrough when a long throw eventually found its way to Moult whose overhead kick found the net in the final minute of normal time. 

Saints were presented with a glorious chance back into the match when referee David Dickinson awarded a penalty when Olusanya was felled by Holt. The forward stepped up to take but his tame effort was saved by Walton with the United defence reacting quickest to deal with the danger. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Dundee United

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Iacovitti, Taylor, Bwomono (Penman 90), Phillips (Oseni 90), O'Hara (c), Tanser, Idowu (Olusanya 63), Mandron (Mooney 90), Kiltie (Boyd-Munce 73)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Gogic, John, Smyth

Dundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Gallagher, Holt, Strain, Sevelj, Docherty (c), Ferry, Stephenson (van der Sande 86), Middleton (Moult 61), Dalby
Subs Not Used: Richards, Graham, Trapanovski, Fotheringham, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Stirton

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Calum Scott
VAR: Alan Muir

Attendance: 7,440

St Mirren were beaten at Celtic Park as a double from Nicolas Kuhn, either side of an Auston Trusty header, saw the hosts win 3-0 in the William Hill Premiership.

Saints were organised in the opening part of the match, but their resistance was broken a little after the half hour mark when Kuhn opened the scoring with Trusty adding a second before the interval. Kuhn rounded off the scoring in second-half to see the points remain in Glasgow.

Stephen Robinson made five changes from Thursday's loss at Kilmarnock. Zach Hemming started in goals after returning to the club on loan on Friday with Ellery Balcombe recalled by Brentford. Elvis Bwomono, Mark O'Hara, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Greg Kiltie also came in while Alex Iacovitti, Oisin Smyth, Roland Idowu and Jonah Ayunga dropped to the bench.

Celtic, who lost their first league match of the season on Thursday when they were beaten 3-0 by Rangers, started quickly and looked to hit Saints on the break in the opening minute of the game. Kuhn tried to race away from the Buddies defence, but he was closely marshalled by Alex Gogic and Richard Taylor who denied the German a shooting opportunity. The hosts would win a corner from it though from which Adam Idah came close to an early goal when he headed Arne Engels' delivery just wide of the right-hand post.

Saints were well structured and looked fairly comfortable as they kept Celtic at bay. The closest the hosts came to opening the scoring in the opening 30 minutes was when Engels almost netted directly from a corner, with Hemming at full stretch to push over. 

The home side found a breakthrough on 33 minutes when Kuhn opened the scoring. Daizen Maeda just beat the offside trap to race down the left channel before rolling the ball along the face of goal to Kuhn who slotted the ball under Hemming to make it 1-0. 

The Buddies kept probing and had a decent opportunity to level when Toyosi Olusanya did well down the right-hand channel. He had Kiltie in a good area for the cut-back, but took the ball a step too far before sending into the box where Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel claimed. 

Celtic doubled their advantage 10 minutes after their opener when Engels' corner met the head of Auston Trusty who nodded home.

Hemming made a good save with his feet early in the second-half to turn away an Engels effort that was deflected goalward by Idah.

Stephen Robinson made a triple change just after the hour mark with the introduction of Smyth, Ayunga and Owen Oseni in place of O'Hara, Kiltie and Olusanya. The Buddies best opportunity to reduce the deficit came just a few minutes later when a Smyth corner met Taylor, but his deflected header was pushed over by Schmeichel. 

Celtic almost immediately went 3-0 ahead when they broke from the resulting Saints corner. Luke McCowan sent Kuhn scuttling away from Marcus Fraser, but Hemming did well to block the attempt. However, just seconds later, Callum McGregor's cross into the box found Engels. His backheel caused a mix up in the Saints defence in which Hemming couldn't gather as he collided with Fraser who looked to clear the ball. That allowed Kuhn to slot home his second and Celtic's third from close range.

Idah thought he'd added a fourth for Celtic five minutes later when, on 73 minutes, he tucked home after his initial effort struck the the bar, but he was flagged offside. 

Saints substitute Ayunga had a big opportunity to add a consolation in the final minute when he outmuscled Cameron Carters-Vickers, but his effort was blocked by Schmeichel. 

Full-Time: Celtic 3-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Bwomono, O'Hara (c) (Smyth 62), Boyd-Munce (Idowu 83), Phillips, Tanser (John 84), Kiltie (Oseni 62), Olusanya (Ayunga 62)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Iacovitti, Mandron, Mooney

Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor, McGregor (c), Engels, McCowan (Hatate 70), Kuhn (Yang 70), Idah (Furuhashi 83), Maeda (Palma 83)
Subs Not Used: Sinisalo, Scales, Valle, Bernardo, Ralston

Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: Graham Grainger
VAR: Andrew Dallas

St Mirren were beaten on the first game of 2025 as Bruce Anderson's double gave Kilmarnock all three point at Rugby Park.

The forward scored in each half as Kilmarnock won 2-0 to move to within three points of Saints in the William Hill Premiership.

There were three changes to the side that lost to Dundee on Sunday. Scott Tanser returned from suspension in place of Declan John, while Richard Taylor and Jonah Ayunga came in for Elvis Bwomono and Greg Kiltie. New signing Owen Oseni was on the bench after completing his deal on Wednesday and captain Mark O'Hara joined him on the bench after returning from injury.

Kilmarnock took an early lead after they were awarded a penalty kick just seven minutes in. Alex Gogic's clearance was charged down by Killie forward Bruce Anderson. The ball spun in the air and the striker raced on to it before going down after a nudge from the Cypriot defender. Referee Colin Steven showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Anderson stepped up to take. His effort was saved by Ellery Balcombe, but Anderson was quickest to react to the rebound to put the hosts ahead. 

Saints looked to respond quickly with Toyosi Olusanya seeing a shot blocked just a minute later before went down in the box under a challenge a few minutes later but referee Colin Steven was unmoved. The referee was similarly unmoved when Olusanya went down again on 20 minutes after appearing to have his heels clipped. 

A flat first-half performance saw the manager react by bringing O'Hara on for Oisin Smyth at the break before introducing Mikael Mandron for Roland Idowu on 54 minutes. Saints came close to a leveller seconds after the substitution when a free-kick was met by Taylor who headed just wide with Killian Phillips also just inches away from getting his toe on it. 

Richard Taylor heads an effort just wide (Image: David Henderson)

Kilmarnock were awarded their second penalty of the game, and again it looked soft, as Kyle Magennis went down under the challenge from Gogic. Anderson made no mistake as he sent Balcombe the wrong way to double the hosts' lead.

Oseni was brought on for his debut after the goal when he was replaced Ayunga, while Bwomono came on for Gogic. But Saints never really looked like finding a way back into the match as they game fizzled out in disappointing fashion.

Owen Oseni makes his debut (Image: David Henderson)

Full-Time: Kilmarnock 2-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe, Gogic (Bwomono 66), Iacovitti, Taylor, Fraser (c), Smyth (O'Hara 46), Phillips, Tanser, Idowu (Mandron 54), Olusanya (Kiltie 74), Ayunga (Oseni 66)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, John, Boyd-Munce, Mooney

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Wright, Mayo, Deas, Murray, Lyons, Polworth (Donnelly 74), Ndaba, Anderson (Watson 84), Wales (Cameron 74), Vassell (Magennis 44)
Subs Not Used: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Bainbridge

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: John Beaton

Saints ended 2024 in frustrating fashion as their good run of form was brought to a halt by Dundee.

The first half was a tale of two crosses – Josh Mulligan's delivery being headed in by Simon Murray to put Dundee in front before Elvis Bwomono produced an even better cross for Toyosi Olusanya to head in the equaliser.

After the break, the visitors restored their lead from another cross. This time a free-kick found Ryan Astley and he delivered for Murray to again head home with the help of the woodwork. Saints have proven adept at conjuring up late goals in recent weeks but there was to be no late drama this time around as Dundee saw out the remainder of the game relatively comfortably.

There was one change to the Saints side which recorded a famous Boxing Day win over Rangers, Alex Iacovitti replacing Richard Taylor in defence. Simon Murray led the attack for the visitors, with former Saint Trevor Carson in goals and Curtis Main and Sean Kelly on the bench.

Roland Idowu tested Carson at his near post early on, with a fierce cause from the on-loan winger also causing problems. The visitors then had a far bigger problem to deal with as they lost Jordan McGhee and Billy Koumetio to injury at the same time, Sean Kelly and Ethan Ingram replacing them. Dundee were briefly down to nine men as they worked out how to deal with their injuries, during which time Oisin Smyth dragged a shot wide. He had another chance once the visitors were back up to their full quota of players but it was easily dealt with by Carson.

Until this stage, Ellery Balcombe in the opposite goal had had a quiet afternoon but that all changed when he failed to deal with a cross. He then rushed from his goal and blocked a shot but was miles out of position as the ball fell to Murray, who looked odds on to score only for a well-placed Alex Gogic to head his effort off the line. Balcombe then redeemed himself with a double save from Adewumi but could do nothing moments later as Josh Mulligan produced a delightful cross to the back post for the unchallenged Murray to head home.

Despite the double injury blow, Dundee looked the stronger side and pushed for a second, having a soft penalty shout for a challenge on Murray waved away. From that, Saints immediately countered and Bwomono beat his man before sending in a delicious cross for Olusanya to head past Carson for his 13th and final goal of an impressive 2024. Having drawn themselves level, the Buddies finished the half strongly, Declan John shooting at Carson with his weaker foot.

Toyosi Olusanya drew Saints level with a terrific header (Image: Allan Picken)

Olusanya nearly completed the turnaround early in the second-half, nice work from Idowu sending him in behind the Dundee defence but he shot into the side netting. Sebastian Palmer-Houlden then stung Balcombe's palms with a fierce drive before Idowu had another go at beating Carson at his hear post which again the Dundee goalie was equal to.

The Buddies appeared to be in the ascendancy, so it was something of a surprise when Dundee took the lead. A free-kick found Ryan Astley and he delivered another great cross for Murray, his header hitting the bar before making its way into the net.

Saints rang the changes in a bid to find another equaliser and Evan Mooney almost produced the goods when the youngster pulled down a cross at the edge of the box before firing just over. It was a rare bright spot in a disappointing second-half for the Buddies as 2024 draws to a close. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Dundee

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c), Gogic, Iacovitti, Bwomono (Penman 82), Phillips, Smyth (Boyd-Munce 75), John, Idowu (Ayunga 63), Olusanya (Mandron 63), Kiltie (Mooney 75)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Adeniran, Scott

Dundee: Carson (c), Mulligan, Astley, Koumetio (Ingram 22), McGhee (Kelly 22), Robertson, Sylla, Cameron, Palmer-Houlden, Murray, Adewumi (Tiffoney 90)
Subs Not Used: McCracken, Sharp, Main, Braybrooke, Vetro

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Brian Christie
Fourth Official: Ryan Lee
VAR: Alan Muir

Attendance: 6,798