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

A last-minute equaliser gave St Johnstone a share of the spoils at the SMiSA Stadium. 

A Mark O'Hara wonder-strike on 81 minutes looked to have secured the points for Saints, but in the seventh minute of added on time Nicky Clark scored for the visitors to see them take a point with them.

St Johnstone took the lead through ex-Buddie Graham Carey who scored from the penalty spot on 33 minutes. But Greg Kiltie's sweet volley drew us level just nine minutes later. The Perth side were reduced to 10 men after VAR intervention saw Alex Mitchell given his marching orders in the second-half. And with just under 10 minutes remaining, stand-in skipper O'Hara scored a goal of the season contender as he rattled into the top corner from 25 yards only for Clark to score at the death for the visitors. 

The manager elected to make three changes from the side that lost narrowly at Ross County on Saturday. Keanu Baccus missed out with injury, while Alex Gogic and Jonah Ayunga dropped to the bench. In came Scott Tanser, Kiltie and Alex Greive.  

The first real chance of the match fell for the home side after good persistence from Kiltie saw the midfielder pick up the ball inside the box before laying off to Curtis Main who struck from 20 yards, but St Johnstone goalkeeper Remi Matthews got a strong hand on it to push away. Main went close against eight minutes later from similar range with a fierce strike that flew just inches over the bar.

St Johnstone were awarded a penalty kick just after the half hour mark following a lengthy VAR check. It took around three minutes for referee Euan Anderson to consult the pitch side monitor before subsequently awarding the spot kick after Drey Wright's attempted cross came off the arm of Scott Tanser. Trevor Carson went the right way but couldn't keep Carey's effort out.

St Mirren levelled with three minutes of the half remaining. Ryan Strain did well to get to the byline before flinging a cross into the box. Main tussled with the St Johnstone defence and the ball was headed out to Kiltie who caught it flush on the volley to smash it beyond Matthews to make it 1-1.

Greg Kiltie's sweet volley drew us level towards the end of the first half (Image: Allan Picken)

Conditions were making it difficult with a swirling wind and rain hanging over the SMiSA Stadium with neither side creating much in the opening 15 minutes of the second 45. 

VAR was called upon for a second time in the evening just after the hour mark after Alex Mitchell's foul on Kiltie. The referee had initially booked the St Johnstone defender, only to be called over to the monitor to check. A quick look saw the yellow card wiped and a straight red card given in its place.

Saints were having all of the ball but struggling to make the man advantage count. Stephen Robinson went to his bench to bring Eamonn Brophy and Jonah Ayunga on in place of Declan Gallagher and Alex Greive as the game headed into its final 15 minutes. And with nine minutes remaining O'Hara stepped up to score a screamer. The midfielder couldn't have hit it any better as his strike from 25 yards flew into the top corner. 

That felt like it would be the goal that gave St Mirren the points only for a sting in the tail. With the five additional minutes already played Clark rescued a point for the Perth Saints with a cool finish from inside the box in what was the last kick of the game.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 St Johnstone

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher (Brophy 76), Dunne, Strain, Kiltie (Gogic 84), Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tanser, Main (Shaughnessy 84), Greive (Ayunga 76)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Flynn, Taylor, Henderson, Olusanya

St Johnstone: Matthews, Brown, Considine, Mitchell (Gordon 64), McGowan, Wright (Bair 83), Hallberg, Carey (Wotherspoon 84), McLennan, Murphy (Crawford 66), Clark
Subs Not Used: Parish, Gallacher, Montgomery, Kuchieriavyi, Phillips

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
VAR: Mike Roncone
Assistant VAR: Alan Mulvanny

Attendance: 5,387

St Mirren were defeated on the road as Ross County came out on top by the odd goal in five at the Global Energy Stadium.

The Highland side took an early lead, but Saints went into half-time ahead thanks to goals from Ryan Strain and Mark O'Hara. Two goals in four second-half minutes saw County take the points though on a frustrating afternoon for the Buddies. 

Stephen Robinson made one change from the side that lost to Hibernian last week with Declan Gallagher returning from a back injury in place of Richard Tait who missed out after an issue with his groin. 

The home side started brightly and struck first on 10 minutes when a deep cross from Victor Loturi was met by Jordan White who swept home from close range to give County the lead. 

But St Mirren bounced back just three minutes later when Strain made it 1-1 in stunning fashion. A foul by Ross County captain Jack Baldwin saw Saints awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Up stepped the Australian full-back who curled brilliantly into the top corner to draw the Buddies level. 

Ryan Strain pulled Saints level with a stunning free-kick (Image: Ken MacPherson)

County were having the better of the play as the half wore on, forcing a couple of corners which came to nothing while White fired over from the edge of the area on 34 minutes. Alex Gogic then made a good block after a driving run from George Harmon saw the County man try to get his shot away from 20 yards. 

The game looked to be going into the break level, but into stoppage time at the end of the half Saints took the lead. O'Hara rose the highest to meet a corner kick and it looped over the goalkeeper and off the post before creeping over the line. Jonah Ayunga was on hand to ensure there was no doubting it hit the net, but it had already crossed the line. 

County levelled the game 11 minutes into the second-half. A cross from Loturi on the right was headed only as far as Jordan Tillson whose strike from 18 yards found the net via the post to make it 2-2. County made it 3-2 four minutes later when Harmon glanced home Owura Edwards-Owura's cross from the right. 

The manager made several changes as Saints tried to find a way back into the match. Scott Tanser, Alex Greive, Eamonn Brophy and Greg Kiltie were all introduced and with five minutes remaining Saints had a big chance for an equaliser when a loose ball broke through to substitute Greive who burst into the box, but his effort was saved by the feet of Ross Laidlaw.

Saints had all of the ball in the closing minutes as they looked to fashion an opportunity that would give them a chance take a point, but that chance didn't come and the Buddies made the journey back to Paisley empty-handed.

Full-Time: Ross County 3-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Gogic (Greive 62), Dunne, Strain, Baccus, Erhahon (Tanser 62), O'Hara (c), Fraser (Kiltie 78), Ayunga, Main (Brophy 73)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Kenny, Flynn, Henderson

Ross County: Laidlaw, Baldwin (Watson 26) (c), Iacovitti, Edwards-Owura (Samuel 81), Dhanda, Johnson, Loturi (Cancola 73), Harmon, Hiwula (Akio 81), Tillson, White
Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Olaigbe, Munro, Smith

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Stewart Luke
VAR: William Collum
Assistant VAR: Graeme Stewart

Attendance: 3,589 (467 St Mirren supporters)

St Mirren were beaten by Hibernian in the cinch Premiership as the Buddies fell to a 3-0 defeat at Easter Road. 

VAR drama saw Hibernian denied an early goal and awarded a penalty kick in what was a well-contested first 45. Martin Boyle tucked the penalty away in the dying seconds of the first-half before a quickfire double from the hosts in the second-half saw Lee Johnson's side pick up the points. 

Stephen Robinson elected to name the same starting eleven that defeated Dundee United at the SMiSA Stadium last weekend with Scott Tanser and Declan Gallagher still unavailable. 

It was a game that didn't take long to get going. Hibernian thought they'd taken an early lead when Mykola Kuharevich slid in to knock home a low cross from the left by Marijan Cabraja. However, after a quick VAR check, referee Don Robertson disallowed the goal as Cabraja had strayed into an offside before his cross. The hosts didn't seem fazed by the decision though and really should have taken the lead just 60 seconds later when Ryan Porteous knocked inches by the post from close range. 

After struggling to get a grip of the game in then opening 15 minutes, Saints were denied an opener on 16 minutes after a brilliant save from Hibees' goalkeeper David Marshall to push Jonah Ayunga's strike wide. Marshall's counterpart Trevor Carson made a save that was every bit as good a few minutes later when he blocked Martin Boyle's effort at the back post. 

It was real end-to-end stuff with Marshall pulling off another big stop to deny Curtis Main with the big forward then nodding over from the resultant corner. Hibs immediately hit Saints on the counter and Ewan Henderson would have been disappointed he didn't hit the target when he skewed his effort wide. 

There was VAR drama right before the end of the first-half and this time the decision went against Saints with the hosts awarded a penalty. A ball into the box came off the hand of Richard Tait and after a check at the monitor on the side of the pitch, referee Don Robertson awarded the spot-kick. Boyle sent Carson the wrong way to put Hibernian ahead on the stroke of half-time. 

The referee awarded a penalty after checking the pitchside monitor (Image: Andy Barr)

St Mirren struggled to get going after the break and Hibs scored two in four minutes just after the hour mark to put the game beyond Saints. Kuharevich outmuscled Alex Gogic in the Buddies' box on 63 minutes before firing beyond Carson to make it 2-0. Henderson added a third on 67 minutes with a really good finish into the top corner from 20 yards. 

Saints were dealt a further blow with 10 minutes remaining when Charles Dunne went down injured and had to be replaced by Jay Henderson. It was a disappointing end to a frustrating afternoon for the Buddies.

Full-Time: Hibernian 3-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne (Henderson 81), Strain (Flynn 73), Baccus (Kiltie 73), Erhahon, O'Hara (c), Tait (Shaughnessy 46), Ayunga (Greive 70), Main 
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Reid, Brophy

Hibernian: Marshall (c), Porteous (Fish 78), Rocky, Hanlon, Cadden, Kenneh, Newell, Henderson (Campbell 68), Cabraja (Stevenson 78), Boyle (Melkerson 54), Kuharevich (Youan 78)
Subs Not Used: Schofield, Jair, McGregor, Aiken

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Ross McLeod
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Grant Irvine
VAR: Greg Aitken
Assistant VAR: David Roome

Attendance: 15,256

Images courtesy of Andy Barr

Super sub Alex Greive did it again as Saints completed a league double over Dundee United.

The Kiwi had come off the bench to bag a late winner against Livingston earlier this month and repeated the trick again with a wonderful glancing header from a tremendous Ethan Erhahon cross with less than 10 minute left.

That capped off a dramatic afternoon in Paisley which had seen Saints take the lead just before the break when Curtis Main's header found the net via a combination of the post and United goalie Carljohan Eriksson.

United drew level in the second half after Tony Watt set-up sub Steven Fletcher but it looked as if the Buddies had restored their advantage when Jonah Ayunga finished off a well worked move. A week ago it would have counted, but since then VAR has arrived and it was duly ruled out after Keanu Baccus was deemed to have fouled Aziz Behich in the build-up.

No matter, that just paved the way for Greive to come off the bench to grab a late goal against United - just as he'd done at Tannadice back in August – as Saints moved up to joint third in the Premiership table.

There were two changes to the Saints side that had drawn a blank with Kilmarnock, Alex Gogic and Richard Tait coming in for absent duo of Declan Gallagher and Scott Tanser. Former Buddies Jamie McGrath and Liam Smith started for the visitors, who handed a start to recent arrival Arnaud Djoum.

Tait was close to giving United an early lead when he diverted McGrath's free-kick towards his own goal, Trevor Carson reacting brilliantly to spare his team-mate's blushes. Jonah Ayunga then had an effort deflected behind for a corner, Ethan Erhahon's delivery finding Charles Dunne who crashed a header off the bar. Ryan Strain had the ball in the net after a quarter of an hour following good work from Mark O'Hara, however the whistle had already gone for shenanigans in the box – although it looked more like Ayunga and Curtis Main had got in each other's way rather than a United player having been fouled.

Main was presented with a chance when United goalie Carljohan Eriksson mis-hit a clearance straight to him, however it was still going to take something special for him to find the net from 30 yards and he dragged his shot off-target. Ayunga hit the side netting after being slid in by Keanu Baccus before the game died a death for the best part of 20 minutes. Perhaps that's what motivated Carson to try to spice things up as he charged miles from his goal and found himself in no-man's land, Tony Watt lifting the ball over the stranded keeper but thankfully also past the post.

That moment seemed to spark the game back into life as a minute or so later Saints took in the lead. Erahon's crossfield pass found Tait on the left and he switched the ball onto his right foot before delivering a cross for Main. The big striker headed it towards goal, the ball hitting the post then the back of Eriksson before nestling in the bottom corner.

Curtis Main headed St Mirren ahead five minutes before the interval (Image: Allan Picken)

After a quick VAR check to ensure the goal could stand, Main nearly added a second in spectacular style – recovering the ball after his pass to Mark O'Hara had been cut out before thundering a shot off the bar from 25 yards that thumped off the bar. It came back out for Ayunga but he could only chest it wide, although he may have been offside anyway. It wasn't all Saints with Craig Sibbald having two chances for United before the break, both easily dealt with by Carson.

The woodwork foiled Saints again early in the second half, Ayunga getting the better of his man before firing a shot across goal that hit the far post. Having survived that scare, United promptly equalised. A cross from the left was nodded down by Watt to Steven Fletcher, who used his first touch since coming on to control the ball and his second to roll it past Carson. The visitors piled on the pressure as they looked to go in front but that left spaces for Saints to exploit - which they duly did. Baccus won the ball in midfield and fed Strain, who opted to pass out wide to Ayunga rather than have a go himself. It turned out to be the right move, the forward cutting onto his left foot before sending the ball arrowing into the bottom corner to put Saints back in front....

Well, he would have done if VAR hadn't been introduced into Scottish football this weekend. Ref Grant Irvine was soon hearing a voice in his ear-piece and, after looking at the pitch side monitor, ruled it out for a Baccus foul on Aziz Behich in the build-up. The Saints fans and players were furious and tried to use the perceived injustice to fire them up, Baccus sending a shot whistling past the top corner from the edge of the box before Watt headed wide at the other end in what would prove his last meaningful involvement before going off injured.

VAR's debut saw Jonah Ayunga's second-half strike disallowed (Image: Allan Picken)

Strain tried to catch Eriksson out with a free-kick from wide that the United keeper had to palm over the bar but it was the visitors who were cranking up the pressure, Liam Smith sending a shot just wide from almost the exact spot he scored from against Queen of the South while on loan at Saints back in 2018. With less than 10 minutes to go the Buddies found the net again – and this time it counted. United could only clear a corner back to Erhahon and he delivered a wonderful cross that Alex Greive – who had only just replaced Ayunga – sent into the bottom corner with a delicious beautiful glancing header.

As four minutes of stoppage time began Saints tried to seal things with a third. Greive won the ball and sent O'Hara on his way before charging forward to receive the return pass. He cut it back for Main, but he couldn't get a clean connection and Eriksson saved the shot. After Ryan Flynn had replaced Erhahon, United almost managed a lucky equaliser when Scott McMann's cross missed everyone and hit the post before going behind – the visitors last hope of salvaging something gone.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Dundee United

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, Strain, Baccus, Erhahon (Flynn 90), O'Hara (c), Tait, Ayunga (Greive 79), Main 
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Shaughnessy, Taylor, Henderson, Kiltie, Brophy

Dundee United: Eriksson, Smith, Edwards (c), McMann, Behich, Niskanen (Fletcher 54), Djoum (Harkes 68), Sibbald, Middleton, McGrath, Watt (Sadat 70)
Subs Not Used: Birighitti, Graham, Pawlett, Meekison, Freeman, Thomson

Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Fourth Official: Barry Cook
VAR: Alan Muir
Assistant VAR: John McCrossan

Attendance: 6,273

Saints and Killie drew a blank in a goalless, if entertaining, draw in Paisley.

Saints had the better of the chances in the first half with Jonah Ayunga and Ryan Strain going close before Curtis Main was inches away from putting the Buddies in front with a header just before the interval.

After the break it was Trevor Carson who was the busier of the two goalies, saving from Kyle Lafferty before a brilliant double save denied first Rory McKenzie then former Buddie Jordan Jones.

Ayunga returned to the Saints side after completing his suspension with Strain also back in the team, Alex Gogic and Alex Greive the pair dropping to the bench. Former Saint Alex Power captained the visitors, who brought in Joe Wright and Ryan Alebiosu at the expense of Lewis Mayo and Ben Chrisene.

The visitors started on the front foot, forcing a series of corners that ended when Ash Taylor headed well over. It was the Killie goalie who was called into action first though, Zach Hemming using his legs to block Ayunga's shot at his near post. The forward then unwittingly turned defender as he got in the way of Keanu Baccus' low drive and deflected it wide.

Ayunga is denied early in the game by the Kilmarnock goalkeeper (Image: Allan Picken)

Alebiosu was beginning to get some joy on the Killie right, striding forward before switching the ball to his left foot and curling a shot narrowly beyond the far post. Some silky footwork from Curtis Main allowed him to get some space for a slightly ambitious shot that was deflected wide, Strain's teasing corner that followed just beyond the reach of anyone in black and white.

Carson was called into action for the first time when he easily caught Blair Alston’s shot. Hemming was tested rather more moments later when a cross was headed back out to Strain, whose drive from the edge of the box was tipped over by the Killie goalie. Just before the break Saints could have been in front when Main got down to meet a Scott Tanser cross but he headed it inches past the post.

Saints nearly presented Kilmarnock with the opener at the start of the second half as the ball was blocked and fell to Kyle Lafferty and be gratefully raced towards goal only to be denied by the outstretched leg of Carson. Main then set up Tanser for a shot but his effort was always going over before Danny Armstrong curled a decent effort just past the Saints goal.

Power went into the book when he brought down Ayunga just outside the box, Tanser curling the resultant free-kick well over the bar.

When the Saints defence failed to deal with a cross it gave Rory McKenzie a great opening but Carson pulled off a great save before getting up to brilliantly deny Jordan Jones from the rebound and finally pounce on the loose ball to end the danger.

Alex Gogic, who had replaced Ethan Erhahon, was soon booked after bringing down McKenzie when he tried to regain control of the ball. It gave Killie a free-kick in a decent position but Armstrong put it miles over. Saints were given a free-kick of their own a bit further out but that didn't deter Mark O'Hara, however the Saints skipper's effort was easily dealt with by Hemming.

Declan Gallagher's header from a corner skimmed the side netting before Killie sub Christian Doidge headed wide as injury time began. There was to be no repeat of the late drama last time Saints were at home, the two sides having to settle for a point. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne, Strain, Baccus (Kiltie 86), Erhahon (Gogic 69), O'Hara (c), Tanser, (Tait 86) Ayunga (Greive 69), Main (Brophy 79)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Flynn, Henderson

Kilmarnock: Hemming, Taylor (Mayo 78), Wright, Stokes, Alebiosu (Chrisene 62), Alston (Lyons 62), Power, Jones, Armstrong, McKenzie (Cameron 78), Lafferty (Doidge 70)
Subs Not Used: Walker, Dorsett, Polworth, Warnock

Referee: Chris Graham
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Alastair Mather
Fourth Official: Willie Collum

Attendance: 6,785

St Mirren's hopes of a first league win at Ibrox since 1991 were ended after a double from Antonio Colak either side of a James Tavernier penalty as well as a late Fashion Sakala goal gave Rangers a 4-0 win. 

Saints created a number of good opportunities through the game but couldn't take any of them and were punished by clinical Rangers.

Stephen Robinson made two changes from the side that started last weekend's dramatic win over Livingston. Alex Greive - who scored the last-gasp winner against the Lions - came in from the start alongside Curtis Main who returned from injury. They replaced Greg Kiltie and the suspended Jonah Ayunga. 

The home side took an early lead as they went in front with only four minutes on the clock. Colak was first to react as he forced home from close-range after Borna Barisic's strike from 20 yards smacked off the post. 

It was the start Saints wanted to avoid but the reaction was good with the Buddies going close to a leveller on 10 minutes. Alex Greive managed to get a shot away from inside the box but denied by a good save from Allan McGregor. 

However, it was Trevor Carson who would be the busier goalkeeper over the next 10 minutes or so with the Saints stopper making a brilliant save to deny Ryan Jack on 11 minutes before twice saving curling efforts from James Tavernier. 

Rangers scored a second just after the half hour mark after being awarded a penalty kick by referee Nick Walsh. The referee had deemed that Declan Gallagher fouled Colak and Rangers captain Tavernier netted from 12 yards. 

Saints passed up a great chance to pull a goal back five minutes later. Scott Tanser flung a brilliant ball deep into the Rangers box where Marcus Fraser was in acres of space but the defender could only head into the arms of McGregor. 

It was quiet start to the second 45 with the first real opportunity in the second period coming when Rabbi Matondo hit the post from 25 yards on 57 minutes. 

The Buddies had a huge chance to reduce the deficit with just over 20 minutes of the game. A ball from Keanu Baccus on the right found its way to O'Hara who was all alone in the Rangers box, but the midfielder's effort was blocked by Rangers goalkeeper McGregor. 

Mark O'Hara is denied by Allan McGregor (Image: Allan Picken)

And four minutes later Rangers would put the game beyond doubt when Colak got his second of the afternoon. The forward was slipped through by Sakala and he cut inside before knocking home neatly with the outside of the foot. 

Saints would have a couple of late chances as they looked for a consolation. Main's strike from 20 yards had McGregor beaten, but came off the bar. Less than 60 seconds later Baccus forced the veteran goalkeeper into a smart stop. But it was Rangers who would add another with Sakala scoring in injury time to round off the afternoon. 

Full-Time: Rangers 4-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Gogic, Dunne, Fraser, Baccus, Erhahon (Reid 90), O'Hara (c), Tanser (Tait 74), Greive (Kiltie 65), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Shaughnessy, Kenny, Flynn, Taylor, Henderson

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies (King 63), Barisic (Yilmaz 78), Lundstram, Jack (Kamara 83), Arfield, Matondo (Kent 63), Sakala, Colak (Morelos 78)
Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Sands, Wright, Tillman

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Chris Fordyce

Attendance: 49,274