Saints recorded their first league win of 2023 thanks to Curtis Main's first half goal against Motherwell. 

The Steelmen are the only visiting side to have won in Paisley in the league this season and hadn't lost at Greenhill Road since May 2015. Back then, a late Stevie Mallan screamer proved the difference and while Main's close range effort wasn't as spectacular, it was just as effective as it proved enough for all three points despite a late scare.

Saints boss Stephen Robinson rang the changes against his old side with Greg Kiltie taking over from the suspended Keanu Baccus and Ethan Erhahon returning to midfield as Alex Gogic dropped back into defence at the expense of Declan Gallagher, while Alex Greive replaced Jonah Ayunga upfront. Former Buddie Paul McGinn started in defence for the visitors.

Scott Tanser threatened early on for Saints after Gogic's long ball caused problems in the visiting defence, the Cypriot international then needed at the other end to block Stuart McKinstry's shot  following some some neat passing play. It was an even better ass that led to the opener, a throw in finding Ryan Strain in space and Curtis Main forced his way in front of his man to poke the low cross past Liam Kelly.

Curtis Main scores the only goal of the game (Image: Allan Picken)

There were worries the lead wouldn't last for long after some wrestling between Charles Dunne and Ricki Lamie at a Motherwell corner was followed by a VAR check but for once the normally inevitable penalty wasn't awarded. A foul on Erhahon just outside the box gave Saints a chance to double their lead but Strain's free-kick was straight at 'Well keeper Liam Kelly. The only other chance of note in a drab opening 45 minutes came when Marcus Fraser skipped down the right and delivered a decent cross but Tanser couldn't find the target.

Motherwell looked to make a quick start to the second half, Lamie not far away with a header from a corner. There was plenty of endeavour from both sides but action in the final third,  Fraser doing well  to snuff out the threat of Ollie Crankshaw as the visitors tried to break from a Saints free-kick. Saints goalie Trevor Carson was finally called into action with a good save to deny Max Johnston's low drive, then getting up quickly to smother the loose ball before the lurking Kevin van Veen could force it home, the keeper receiving a dunt for his efforts that required some treatment before he could continue.

The same, unfortunately, could not be said for Jonah Ayunga. The forward had replaced Greive but was unable to continue after coming off worse in a challenge with Shane Blaney, paving the way for youngster Kieran Offord to make his first appearance following his return from Alloa. Chances remained at a premium, Main dragging a shot wide, before some drama in stoppage time.

The injuries and substitutions led to six minutes of injury time and midway through them Motherwell almost drew level. A cross from the Motherwell left caused Saints problems and McKinstry looked set to equalise only to be denied by a tremendous save from Carson, Saints players then flinging themselves in the way to keep out Callum Slattery's follow up and ensure the points stayed in Paisley.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Motherwell

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, Strain (Gallagher 87), Kiltie (Flynn 87), Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tanser, Greive (Ayunga 60, Offord 79), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, R.Taylor, Kenny, F,Taylor, Jamieson

Motherwell: Kelly, Johnston, Blaney, Lamie, McGinn, Spittal (Crankshaw 56), Slattery, Goss (Cornelius 89), Shields (Tierney 56), Van Veen, McKinstry 
Subs Not Used: Oxborough, O'Donnell, Johansen, Dunachie, Ross

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: David Doig
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
VAR: Grant Irvine
Assistant VAR: Alan Mulvanny

St Mirren secured their place in the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup after a penalty shoot-out win over Dundee. 

It wasn't a pretty spectacle with the two sides playing out a stalemate 120 minutes that had to be decided from 12 yards. Trevor Carson was the hero for Saints - saving all three of Dundee's spot-kicks to send us into the hat for the next round. 

Marcus Fraser returned from suspension and Mark O'Hara was back in the starting eleven after recovering from the injury he suffered at Tynecastle last Friday. They came in for Joe Shaughnessy and Ethan Erhahon. 

The game suffered a significant early delay when Dundee's Tyler French had to be stretchered off after a collision with Alex Gogic. The Dark Blues defender received treatment on the park for over five minutes before being replaced by Max Anderson. 

There was little in the game during the opening 25 minutes with the best of it for Saints being Ryan Strain and Mark O'Hara having efforts from distance held by Dundee goalkeeper Adam Legzdins. Strain had another opportunity when he whipped a free-kick just over on 27 minutes on the left-side around 20 yards out after Jonah Ayunga had been felled. 

Dundee's best chance came on 35 minutes when Jordan McGhee headed just wide from a corner after Scott Tanser had make a good challenge to deny Max Anderson. The visitors were forced into another change just before half-time with Cammy Kerr going down injured and having to be replaced by Lyall Cameron. 

The Dark Blues would come closest to a first-half goal with substitute Cameron denied by a brilliant Carson save. The Saints goalkeeper was down well to turn away Cameron's half volley from inside the box. 

Stephen Robinson responded to the first-half by making two changes at the interval with Ethan Erhahon and Alex Greive introduced in place of Declan Gallagher and Jonah Ayunga. Greg Kiltie also entered the fray for Keanu Baccus on 58 minutes. The changes looked to have given Saints a bit more life and Greive had the ball in the net just before the hour mark but was denied by the linesman's offside flag. 

But in truth the second-half was playing out much like the first with very little quality in front of goal. Ex-Saint Alex Jakubiak fired over after doing well to turn the St Mirren defence, while Cameron probably should have given the visitors the lead on 72 minutes when he got on the end of a Josh Mulligan cut-back. The Dundee substitute turned and shot, but it came off a Saints defender which took the sting out of it for Carson to gather. 

After finishing goalless after 90 another 30 minutes of extra-time was required to find a winner with replays scrapped in this season's Scottish Cup.

Saints almost took the lead immediately after the extra-time restart. Legzdins couldn't hold Gogic's first effort and the Cypriot tried to prod over the line but couldn't thanks to some last-ditch defending from Ashcroft. It came back out to O'Hara whose strike was blocked. 

Carson made a big save to keep it level 10 minutes into extra-time with the goalkeeper down well to push away Kwame Thomas' header. 

30 minutes of extra-time couldn't separate the sides and we headed to penalties. 

Eamonn Brophy stepped up first for St Mirren but had his attempt saved by Legzdins. Thankfully, Carson saved from Zak Rudden which allowed O'Hara to put us ahead with his spot-kick. Carson saved again from Thomas and Greive put us 2-0 in front. Cameron was the third Dundee player to have his penalty saved by Carson which allowed Kiltie to score the winning penalty. 

Greg Kiltie scores the winning penalty (Image: Allan Picken)

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Dundee (St Mirren win 3-0 on penalties)

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher (Erhahon 46), Dunne, Strain (Shaughnessy 106), Baccus (Kiltie 58), O'Hara (c), Gogic, Tanser (Flynn 98), Ayunga (Greive 46), Main (Brophy 82)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, R.Taylor, Offord

Dundee: Legzdins, Kerr (Cameron 42), Ashcroft, Sweeney (c), Marshall, McGhee (Robertson 95), French (Anderson 12), Mulligan, McCowan (Rudden 90), McMullan (Sheridan 65), Jakubiak (Thomas 65)
Subs Not Used: Sharp

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Assistant Referee: David Doig

Attendance: 4,254

St Mirren were beaten 4-0 by league leaders Celtic at Celtic Park. 

Liel Abada and Kyogo Furuhashi goals had the hosts 2-0 up at the interval with Kyogo adding a third in the second-half before a late David Turnbull strike rounded off the match. 

Manager Stephen Robinson made four changes to the side that lost narrowly at Tynecastle on Friday. Charles Dunne and Ethan Erhahon returned from suspension, while Ryan Strain and Jonah Ayunga also came into the starting 11. Richard Taylor, Mark O'Hara, Ryan Flynn and Alex Greive dropped out.

It was Saints who had the ball in the net first when Curtis Main found his way on to an Alex Gogic header to flick beyond Joe Hart, but the linesman's flag was raised. A VAR check confirmed the forward was marginally offside.  

Celtic took the lead on 15 minutes when Abada opened the scoring. A corner from the right was met by the head of Carl Starfelt whose header was beaten away by Saints goalkeeper Trevor Carson. It landed at Yuki Kobayashi's feet and he then cracked the post before it was eventually smashed home by Abada. 

The Buddies reacted well to going behind and almost drew level just two minutes later but for a wonderful save from ex-England international Joe Hart. Jonah Ayunga - making his first start of 2023 - drove inside from the right and fired towards the far corner only for the Celtic goalkeeper to get a hand on it to push behind. Ayunga was then gifted the ball by Starfelt a few minutes later but had his effort from 20 yards blocked by Kobayashi. 

Celtic doubled their lead on 35 minutes when Kyogo broke the offside trap to meet a pass from Reo Hatate and the Japanese forward lifted the ball over Carson to make it 2-0. It was subject to a quick VAR check to determine whether the striker had been offside but the goal stood. The hosts could have added a third moments later when a ball from the right was almost turned home at the back post by Jota, but he somehow knocked wide from just a few yards out with Saints two behind going into half-time.

The hosts added a third eight minutes after the restart when Kyogo got in between the Saints defence to meet a low cross from Matt O'Riley and knocked beyond Carson. It was initially flagged as offside but a VAR check saw the goal given. 

Stephen Robinson made a triple substitution just after the hour mark with Richard Taylor, Greg Kiltie and Alex Greive replacing Charles Dunne, Keanu Baccus and Jonah Ayunga.

Declan Gallagher wasn't far away from pulling a goal back on 65 minutes when he rose highest to meet a Strain cross but his header came off the cross bar and went over with Hart at full-stretch. 

Celtic thought they had made it 4-0 with a little over 15 minutes remaining when Kyogo charged forward and laid it on a plate for substitute James Forrest to knock home from just a few yards. The offside flag was raised and VAR confirmed it was indeed offside. 

The hosts would add a fourth with substitute David Turnbull firing home from 25 yards in the final few minutes to round off the game for Celtic. Saints did almost grab a consolation a minute later, but Gogic's volley was well clawed away by Hart. 

Attention now turns to the Scottish Cup with Saints hosting Dundee at the SMiSA Stadium on Saturday. 

Full-Time: Celtic 4-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne (R.Taylor 61), Strain (Flynn 84), Baccus (Kiltie 61), Erhahon, Gogic, Tanser, Ayunga (Greive 61), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, F.Taylor, Olusanya, Brophy

Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Kobayashi, Starfelt, Juranovic, O'Riley (Turnbull 70), McGregor (c), Hatate (Mooy 70), Abada (Forrest 70), Jota (Haksabanovic 79), Kyogo (Maeda 79)
Subs Not Used: Bain, Welsh, Ralston, Iwata

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie 
Fourth Official: Iain Snedden
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Assistant VAR: Sean Carr

St Mirren's six-match unbeaten run came to an end at Tynecastle as the Buddies were narrowly beaten by Hearts. 

Stephen Robinson will be scratching his head as to how his side didn't take at least a point after a strong performance in the capital. 

The manager had to contend with suspensions to Marcus Fraser, Charles Dunne and Ethan Erhahon while Ryan Strain couldn't recover in time after his injury against Hearts on Saturday. There was a first start for January signing Richard Taylor with Declan Gallagher returning from a back spasm that ruled him out of last weekend's draw. Ryan Flynn also came into the side.

Saints had the first real chance of the game on 12 minutes when Curtis Main shot into the arms of Zander Clark. A Saints corner was only cleared to the edge of the box where Mark O'Hara headed back in. Two Hearts players collided as they looked to clear and it fell to an unmarked Main who turned and curled towards the far corner with Clark managing to gather.  A minute later Keanu Baccus fired wide 20 yards from goal after spinning away from the Hearts defence. 

Hearts had their first opportunity on 16 minutes with their captain Lawrence Shankland seeing a header saved by Trevor Carson. Shankland was fouled on the edge of the area by Declan Gallagher and it was the Hearts skipper who got his head on the end of Robert Snodgrass' ball in, but Carson was equal to the effort. 

Baccus was first to go into the book when referee David Munro said the Australian had caught Snodgrass on the halfway line. It was a harsh booking for the Saints midfield man as it looked like he didn't touch the former Scotland international. 

The home side took the lead just before the half-hour mark with Barrie McKay opening the scoring for Robbie Neilson's men. The Jambos winger started the move with a nice one-two before Andy Halliday received the pass from McKay and laid it back to the winger who fired into the corner of the net.

Saints were immediately dealt another blow as O'Hara picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Greg Kiltie. The substitute had a chance to restore parity on 36 minutes when he received the ball 20 yards from goal, but under pressure from the Hearts defence he fired wide. 

Taylor - on his first start for the Buddies - made a terrific challenge to deny Hearts a second a few minutes before the interval when Shankland had looked to get his shot away after finding space in the box. 

Hearts started the second-half well as they looked for a quick second to put the game beyond Saints. Andy Halliday will have felt he should have done better on 56 minutes when scooped over from 15 yards. Two minutes later, Taylor made another brilliant block from Josh Ginnelly. 

Snodgrass then went into the book for Hearts after catching Baccus late in the middle of the park. VAR checked for a potential red card but it remained a yellow. 

Saints were having a decent spell after the hour mark with Kiltie lashing inches over the bar on 65 minutes. Flynn's low cross was cleared only as far as Kiltie and the midfielder steadied himself before firing over from the edge of the area. 

Stephen Robinson made two changes on 67 minutes when he replaced Baccus and Alex Greive with Dylan Reid and Jonah Ayunga. The latter almost got the Buddies level just four minutes after coming on. The forward went on a brilliant driving run and had a go from 20 yards with Clark touching onto the post and behind for a corner. Main headed just over from the resulting corner. 

Jonah Ayunga almost made an instant impact after coming on as a sub with his effort coming off the post (Image: Craig Brown)

Saints should have drawn level with eight minutes of normal time remaining but for two great saves from Clark in the Hearts goal. The ex-St Johnstone man first denied Kiltie before he was quickly up to push away Main's strike. Hearts couldn't clear the danger with Ayunga then blasting into the side net. 

The Buddies had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when Kye Rowles looked to have handled Scott Tanser's cross. VAR had a look but controversially said no penalty. 

Hearts almost grabbed a second on the counter as we headed into added time. Substitute Garang Kuol sent Stephen Humphrys one-on-one with Carson but the Jambos man somehow knocked wide. 

Saints kept pushing for an equaliser and were inches away from earning a point in the final seconds when Main dragged agonisingly wide on 95 minutes.

Full-Time: Hearts 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Shaughnessy (c), R.Taylor (Brophy 85), Flynn, Baccus (Reid 67), O'Hara (Kiltie 33), Gogic, Tanser, Greive (Ayunga 67), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Campbell, Kenny, F.Taylor, Olusanya

Hearts: Clark, Hill, Sibbick, Rowles, Smith, Halliday (Forrest 87), Snodgrass, Cochrane (Devlin 60), McKay (Kuol 77), Ginnelly (Humphrys 77), Shankland (c)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Grant, Kio, Atkinson, Oda

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Andy Milne
Fourth Official: Graham Beaton

St Mirren and Hearts played out an entertaining draw in Paisley that featured some late VAR drama as Saints extended their unbeaten home run to 10 matches.

Saints were well on top in the first half but only had one goal to show for their efforts, Ryan Strain's deflected free-kick giving them the lead inside five minutes. A goal early in the second half drew the visitors level, Robert Snodgrass' cross-come-shot deceiving everyone as it sailed into the net. That moment seemed to transform the sluggish Jambos who enjoyed the better of the second half.

It looked like the points would be shared but Saints sensed one last change when they were awarded a stoppage time free-kick. However, VAR intervened and eventually deemed that not only had Marcus Fraser committed the foul, but he had done so seriously enough to merit a red card. His team-mates were untroubled in what little time remained as the spoils were shared.

It was a much changed Saints team to the one that drew with Kilmarnock on Monday. Mark O'Hara swapped places on the naughty step with Ethan Erhahon, while Joe Shaughnessy replaced Declan Gallagher at the back. There were also starts for Alex Gogic and Alex Greive, Greg Kiltie and Eamonn Brophy having to make do with the bench. Lawrence Shankland, who spent two spells on loan in Paisley what feels like a lifetime ago, led the Jambos attack.

There was a minute's applause ahead of kick-off in honour of Saints legend Frank McGarvey, who sadly passed away on New Year's Day, before his old club took the lead after just a few minutes. When Keanu Baccus' charge forward was abruptly brought to a halt, it give Saints a free-kick in a dangerous position. Strain stepped up to take it and his effort deflected off Tony Sibbick in the the wall, sending it spinning past Zander Clark into the bottom corner.

Ryan Strain curls home a free-kick from 25 yards (Image: Allan Picken)

Unfortunately, Strain's afternoon wouldn't continue much longer. The wingback was clearly in a lot of pain when he went down with no one near him and he had to be replaced with Ryan Flynn. Just before that, we'd had the first VAR check of the afternoon to see if a Shankland shot had been blocked by an arm, with ref Chris Graham eventually told he could get on with things.

Despite the loss of Strain, Saints looked the more likely to score next. Some neat passing play gave Curtis Main a sight of goal and his dragged shot almost turned into a great pass to Greive, the Kiwi just unable to get on the end of it. A long throw from Shaughnessy then caused problems for the Hearts defence, who could only head it back out to the lurking Flynn. His fierce shot looked goalbound but it hit off Greive, who hadn't been able to get out the way, and went wide.

The Hearts fans had had little to get excited about but a Robert Snodgrass free-kick gave them some hope, however Kye Rowles couldn't connect properly and headed wide. Saints were appealing for a penalty when Baccus collected Main's tremendous cross before going down under a challenge from a Hearts defender, however Mr Graham decided the Aussie midfielder had gone down too easily and booked him for simulation instead. Main curled one over the bar a few minutes later before Greive had two great chances to extend the lead in stoppage time, first volleying over Flynn's cross then failing to connect with a great ball across goal from Main.

Kiltie replaced the booked Baccus at the break before some silky play from Main saw him sting the palms of Clark. The next ball into the Hearts box caused chaos – but not as much as a cross at the other end. The home defence dealt with the initial Jambos corner but the ball was worked back to Snodgross, whose delivery was missed by everyone (despite Shankland trying to claim it) and bounced into the net.

Mark O'Hara curled a free-kick wide after Kiltie was fouled by Rowles as Saints tried to restore their lead before Hearts almost went in front, Barrie McKay being given far too much time to find Alan Forrest who shot into the side netting. Hearts were enjoying plenty of space on the Saints left, Michael Smith delivering a tempting cross for Shankland but he headed straight at Trevor Carson. His next header went over the bar, at which point the expected VAR check for a possible handball by Gogic failed to materialise.

Saints had struggled since the equaliser but began to come into things, Main forcing his way through the Hearts defence before he stabbed a shot at Clark. The goalie denied Main again when he turned his shot away at the end of a slick counter attack before Kiltie shot wide from the edge of the box. Another counter saw Olutoyosi Olusanya – who had replaced Greive – sent away but he shot wildly over when he should perhaps have passed.

VAR had had a relatively quiet day, but that changed deep into stoppage time when Saints were awarded a free-kick. After a long wait, Mr Graham was eventually told to have a look at the monitor, which he duly did for a good few minutes before deciding his clear and obvious error had been not sending Marcus Fraser off.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Hearts

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Strain (Flynn 18), Baccus (Kiltie 46), Gogic, O'Hara, Tanser, Greive (Olusanya 78, R.Taylor 90), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Campbell, Reid, F.Taylor, Brophy

Hearts: Clark, M.Smith, Rowles, Sibbick, Cochrane, Devlin (Grant 81), Forrest (Humphrys 69), McKay Ginnelly, Snodgrass, Shankland
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Kio, Atkinson, Neilson, Henderson, C.Smith

Referee: Chris Graham
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Mike Roncone
VAR: Colin Steven
Assistant VAR: Daniel McFarlane

Attendance: 7,249

St Mirren began 2023 with a hard-earned point away to Kilmarnock with Saints having to play over 85 minutes with 10 men following Ethan Erhahon early red card.

Stephen Robinson's men battled throughout the 90 minutes and were well worthy of at least a point that in front of a travelling support of almost 1500 Buddies.

The manager was forced into two changes from the side that started in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Livingston. Mark O'Hara missed out through suspension, while Jonah Ayunga was ruled out due to a knock. That meant Greg Kiltie and Eamonn Brophy came into the starting eleven. 

Saints were up against it early on with Erhahon shown a straight red card on seven minutes after catching Rory McKenzie on the face with his arm. The manager made a change in response to going down to 10 men with Alex Gogic coming on in place of Brophy. 

Despite playing with a man less the Buddies were coping well and had the first real opportunity of the match with Curtis Main firing wide on 21 minutes after a neat passage of play. 

Trevor Carson was called into action for the first time just before the half hour mark when he made a terrific save to turn Blair Alston's effort round the post. A minute later Saints weren't too far away with Keanu Baccus flashing a volley wide from 20 yards. 

Saints fought away well in the opening 10 minutes of the second 45 with Kilmarnock goalkeeper Sam Walker blocking well with his feet to turn away Ryan Strain's low ball in from the right. A minute later Baccus passed up a big opportunity after being found by Main in the middle of the Killie box, but he got the shot wrong and sclaffed wide. 

The game was very much in the balance and Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes responded by bringing on ex-Saint Jordan Jones in place of Blair Alston on 63 minutes.

The home side were seeing more of the ball as they looked to capitalise on the man advantage but Carson was relatively untested heading into the final 15 minutes. Stephen Robinson brought Ryan Flynn on for Kiltie on 78 minutes. 

Carson was called into action with less than 10 minutes remaining with the Northern Ireland international making a brilliant two-handed save to push Christian Doidge's header over the bar from point blank range. 

Trevor Carson made a point-blank save to deny Christian Doidge (Image: David Henderson)

Another two changes were made with Joe Shaughnessy and Alex Greive entering the fray for Saints on 84 minutes and heading into the final moments it was the latter who could have won it for the Buddies. Scott Tanser's corner was cleared but Marcus Fraser got the ball back into the area where it found substitute Alex Greive, but the New Zealand forward blazed inches over the bar. 

Full-Time: Kilmarnock 0-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser (c), Gallagher, Dunne, Strain (Shaughnessy 84), Baccus, Kiltie (Flynn 78), Erhahon, Tanser, Brophy (Gogic 15), Main (Greive 84)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, R.Taylor, Reid, F.Taylor, Olusanya

Kilmarnock: Walker, Mayo, A.Taylor (c), Wright (Murray 75), Chrisene, Armstrong, Alston (Jones 63), Polworth, McKenzie, Robinson (Shaw 90), Doidge
Subs Not Used: Hemming, Stokes, Waters, McInroy, Lyons, Wales

Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Andy Milne
Fourth Official: Stewart Luke
VAR: Gavin Duncan
Assistant VAR: Gary Hilland

Attendance: 7,008 (1,476 St Mirren supporters)

St Mirren ended the year with a point following a 1-1 draw with Livingston at The Tony Macaroni Arena. 

Both sides had a player sent off with Curtis Main scoring an equaliser to give Saints the share of the spoils and end 2022 unbeaten in their last four. 

Saints boss Stephen Robinson went with the same starting eleven that defeated Aberdeen 3-1 on Christmas Eve.  

The opening 20 minutes were a fairly uneventful spectacle save for Mark O'Hara going into the book for a foul on Andrew Shinnie with just six minutes played. 

Livingston were reduced to 10 men on 24 minutes when Scott Pittman was given his marching orders following VAR intervention. The Livi midfielder caught Keanu Baccus with his studs and was initially shown a yellow card. But referee Steven McLean was advised to check the pitchside monitor and upgraded to red much to the displeasure of the home support. 

Despite the man advantage it would take Saints until the final minute of normal time at the end of the half to create their first real opportunity. Marcus Fraser collected the ball around 20 yards from goal and had a strike that was well pushed away by Livingston goalkeeper Ivan Konovalov. 

A fairly listless first-half prompted Robinson to make a change at the break with Eamonn Brophy on to replace Jonah Ayunga.

Saints' man advantage didn't last too long into the second-half when O'Hara was shown a second yellow card for persistent fouling. And within just a minute of the red card Livingston took the lead through Cristian Montano. The Lions winger was first on to a free-kick into the box. His initial effort came off the post, but he was quickest to react to the rebound to put the home side in front. 

The game burst into life after the opener and Livingston could have doubled their lead on the hour mark when Bruce Anderson was sent clear by Sean Kelly. The striker managed to shake off Charles Dunne to get the shot away but his effort was well saved by the foot of Trevor Carson. Saints broke up the park and almost equalised when Brophy got his head on the end of a ball in from the left. The Buddies would have been level but for a quite frankly ridiculous save from Konovalov who brilliantly clawed away. 

Ironically, Saints were much livelier when they went down to 10 men and found an equaliser on 64 minutes when Main knocked home Brophy's ball in from the left to make it 1-1. 

Curtis Main gets Saints level (Image: Craig Brown)

Livingston felt they should have been awarded a penalty with a little over 15 minutes remaining when Ayo Obileye went down in the box, but nothing was given after a quick VAR check. 

St Mirren had a big chance to win it going into the final minute of normal time when Brophy raced clear down the right side. He had Main to his left but elected to go alone and fired over the bar. That would be that as Saints end 2022 in fifth place in the cinch Premiership.

Full-Time: Livingston 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain (Kiltie 80), Baccus, Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tanser, Ayunga (Brophy 46), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Gogic, Flynn, Reid, Henderson, Olusanya

Livingston: Konovalov, Devlin (c), Obileye, Boyes, Kelly, Shinnie (Holt 72), Pittman, Bahamboula (Omeonga 82), Kelly, Montano (Penrice 72), Anderson
Subs Not Used: Hamilton, George, Cancar, Longridge, Goncalves

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: Duncan Williams
VAR: Nick Walsh
Assistant VAR: Dougie Potter

St Mirren gave supporters the perfect early Christmas present after picking up all three points against Aberdeen. 

Despite falling behind to a terrific Matty Kennedy strike Saints rallied to pick up a well-deserved victory in a match that saw Stephen Robinson's men awarded three penalties. 

In the first match back after a six week break, Saints started brightly - forcing a corner in the first minute. Ethan Erhahon swung the free-kick deep into the box where it met the head of Curtis Main at the far end of the area. The striker's header forced it back into a dangerous area with Marcus Fraser nodding goalward, but it was deflected over.  

But it was Aberdeen who took an early lead with Kennedy opening the scoring on 10 minutes. The Dons winger has come close 30 seconds earlier when he rattled the post, but there was no denying his second attempt as he found the top corner with a brilliant effort from 25 yards. 

The Buddies steadily grew back into the game after a quiet spell following Aberdeen's goal. A neat passage of play ended with Saints' World Cup hero Keanu Baccus having an effort blocked by the Dons defence before Erhahon volleyed wide from just inside the box.

Baccus was involved again on 35 minutes when he robbed the ball deep in the Aberdeen half and slipped in Jonah Ayunga. The Saints striker took a couple of touches to fashion a bit of space before firing his shot over.

Immediately after that chance there was drama as Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart was shown a red card for the visitors for bringing down Ayunga. VAR checked the incident - which began outside, but ended inside - and awarded Saints a penalty. Captain Mark O'Hara stepped up and, although his effort hit the post, it came back off Roos and found the back of the net to draw us level heading into half-time. 

Saints were awarded a second penalty into six minutes into the second-half when Roos brought down Curtis Main. The striker did brilliantly to break on to the loose ball and he was taken out by the Dons goalkeeper. O'Hara made sure it was his this time as he smashed into the net to put us in front. 

Mark O'Hara nets from 12 yards to give us the lead (Image: Allan Picken)

Astonishingly, the Buddies were awarded a third penalty kick of the match when Ayunga was sandwiched between Ross McCrorie and Liam Scales. The striker stepped up to take this one rather than O'Hara but had it saved by Roos. 

With just over 15 minute of normal time remaining Saints missed another big chance for a third when Declan Gallagher rose the highest to meet a corner at the far post but headed over. Two minutes later Aberdeen gave the Buddies a warning that this match was far from over when Ylber Ramadani cracked the bar from inside the box. 

Aberdeen were causing the pressure heading into the final 10 minutes as they desperately searched for an equaliser. It looked like they were about to find one when substitute Ryan Duncan was a whisker away from heading Kennedy's cross into the net from just a few yards out. 

But St Mirren would add a third to put the seal on the points. With Aberdeen goalkeeper Roos up for a corner, Saints managed to get clear and break forward with Kiltie slotting into the empty net from distance to make it a very Merry Christmas for the Buddies. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 3-1 Aberdeen

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain, Baccus, Erhahon (Kiltie 46), O'Hara (c), Tanser, Main (Brophy 83), Ayunga (Gogic 90)
Subs Not Used: Urminksy, Shaughnessy, Flynn, Reid, Henderson, Olusanya

Aberdeen: Roos, McCrorie, Scales, Stewart (c), Coulson (Ramirez 66), Barron, Ramadani, Clarkson (Duncan 46), Kennedy, Miovski, Duk (MacKenzie 46)
Subs Not Used: Lewis, Morris, Watkins, Polvara, Richardson, Milne

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: Barry Cook
VAR: Steven Kirkland
Assistant VAR: David Roome

Attendance: 7,394 

It was a happy homecoming for St Mirren Women as they defeated Westdyke in emphatic fashion in their first match at the SMiSA Stadium in over three years. 

Over 250 fans were in attendance as Kate Cooper's side put on a show - winning 3-0 against second place Westdyke in Scottish Women's League One. 

Naomi Clark-Granger and Kelly Ross netted in the first-half to put Saints in control at the break, before substitute Francesca Blair rounded off the scoring early in the second 45. 

The game was tight early on with plenty of chances for both sides. Bethany Cochrane's dangerous corner was almost converted by the visitors but for a good clearance by the Buddies backline. 

A collision between Saints' Helen McLeod and Westdyke's Christie MacKenzie saw the game stopped for a number of minutes with MacKenzie receiving treatment on the park for what looked like a burst nose.  

St Mirren took the lead almost immediately after play resumed. A corner kick from the left was swung into the onrushing Clark who nodded into the net after Westdyke goalkeeper Megan Girardi had failed to collect. 

Saints made it two just five minutes before the interval. A free-kick deep in the Westdyke half found its way to McLeod who cushioned a header into the path of Kelly Ross to sweep home from close-range. 

Cooper made two changes at the break with Layla Philip and Blair coming on in place of Gemma Dickson and Clark-Granger. 

Kelly Ross almost scored her second and St Mirren's third six minutes into the second-half knocking agonisingly by the post under pressure from Girardi. The third goal would come though on 56 minutes when substitute Blair was the quickest to react after a stramash in the penalty area following captain Karen McCabe's corner. 

Saints were comfortable in possession and happy to sit in as Westdyke looked for a consolation, but in truth Jo Casey in the St Mirren goal wasn't overly troubled by anything from the Aberdeenshire outfit. 

It was an afternoon the Cooper and her players can look back on with immense pride as they put on a show for those in attendance and claimed a big three points against title chasing Westdyke. 

Full-Time: St Mirren Women 3-0 Westdyke

St Mirren Women: Casey, McLeod, McCabe, Kirsty Ross (Missaghian 75), Dickson (Philip 46), Kelly Ross (Fury 51), Macintyre, Clark-Granger (Blair 46), Palmer, Beka (Nichol 61), Caldwell
Subs Not Used: Patrick, Morrison

The Story of the Match

Kate Cooper Reaction

St Mirren head into the World Cup break after picking up a point against Rangers in the cinch Premiership.

The Buddies were good value for their one goal lead after Jonah Ayunga had put us in front early in the second-half. But a VAR awarded penalty in the final 10 minutes saw James Tavernier rescue a point for the Ibrox side. 

There was one change from the team that drew with St Johnstone on Wednesday night with Jonah Ayunga returning to the starting eleven in place of Alex Greive. Keanu Baccus came on to the bench after missing Wednesday's match with a dead leg.  

It was end-to-end stuff in the opening 10 minutes with Rangers coming closest on seven minutes. Malik Tillman moved away from the challenge of two Saints players but fired his effort wide of the left-hand post. 

Rangers started to take a grip on possession but their best opportunity was saved brilliantly by Trevor Carson as he denied Scott Wright's header at the far post with his feet. Wright had another big chance after he drove through the Saints midfield but he dragged his shot wide from 20 yards. 

The Buddies grew more in confidence with Greg Kiltie getting to the byline and putting a brilliant low ball across the face of the Rangers goal. It was begging to be touched home but there were no takers for Saints. 10 minutes later it was Strain's turn to put a great cross into the box which Tavernier had to turn behind for Rangers. From the resulting corner Declan Gallagher headed just wide.

Saints ended up the first-half strongly with a succession of corners as well as a wicked Strain delivery almost turned into his own net by Leon King. 

That strong end to the first 45 was carried on into the start of the second-half with Ayunga putting us in front less than two minutes after the restart. Gallagher's long throw was headed on by Curtis Main with Ayunga first on to the knock down. His initial effort was brilliantly saved by Allan McGregor, but the striker was able to nip in front of Leon King to knock home. 

Jonah Ayunga celebrates after scoring the opener against Rangers (Image: Allan Picken)

Saints were well-organised and the visitors didn't look like breaking the Buddies defence down. Indeed, it was Saints who went close to doubling their advantage with less than 15 minutes remaining with Ayunga inches away from grabbing his and St Mirren's second. 

As always seems to be the case with St Mirren at the moment VAR wouldn't be far from the action and it played its part in the final 10 minutes as Rangers were awarded a penalty. Kent had initially been booked for simulation after going down under the challenge from Marcus Fraser. But the referee was asked to check the pitchside monitor and gave the spot kick. Tavernier's powerful effort from 12 yards flew into the net despite Carson going the right way.

Rangers could have won it at the death with Ryan Jack missing a gilt-edged chance when, unmarked, he headed straight at Carson. It would have been cruel on St Mirren who thoroughly deserved at least a point from the match. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Rangers

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain (Gogic 90), Kiltie (Baccus 78), Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tanser, Ayunga (Greive 78), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Flynn, Reid, Henderson, Brophy

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Sands, King (Jack 59), Barisic (Ure 90), Lundstram, Kamara (Arfield 46), Tillman, Wright, Kent, Morelos
Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Davis, Matondo, McCann, Devine, Yfeko

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Fourth Official: Ross Hardie
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Assistant VAR: Gary Hilland

Attendance: 6,358 

Images by Allan Picken and Vagelis Georgariou