St Mirren had to settle for a point following this afternoon's 0-0 draw with Hearts at the Simple Digital Arena.

Both side had chances throughout the 90 minutes in an end-to-end contest that saw Tony Andreu have a first-half goal chopped off for offside.

Substitute Jon Obika almost won the game at the death for Saints, but a point was probably a fair result in the end.

Hearts came into the match on the back of a good week having beaten Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby last weekend, before qualifying for the Betfred Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night.

And the Jambos started the brighter of the two sides. Veteran striker Steven MacLean turned one just past the post on six minutes, before Michael Smith's piledriver from 35 yards drifted wide just a minute later. 

Saints began to grow into the game and a good driving run from Kyle Magennis on 12 minutes saw Joel Pereira get a strong hand on the low ball across to deny the midfielder. 

Just a minute later, Tony Andreu sent across a terrific ball from the right that just missed Ilkay Durmus who attempted to scissor-kick from 16 yards out. 

Junior Morias could have gone one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but failed to beat the Hearts defender in his way. The striker did manage to feed the ball wide for Durmus whose ball into the box was knocked agonisingly wide by Magennis. 

The Buddies thought they were in front on 26 minutes when Tony Andreu had the ball in the back of the net. The French forward picked up on a deflected effort inside the box and slotted home from close range. It was a late flag from linesman Douglas Ross, however, it appeared to be the right call.

Vaclav Hladky made a terrific block to deny Hearts substitute Christophe Berra as half-time approached. The experienced defender got on the end of a Jambos corner but the powerful effort was well denied by the Czech goalkeeper. Berra went close again just a few minutes later but his header was easy enough for Hladky. 

Aaron Hickey tested Hladky two minutes after the restart, but the long-range strike was well held by the goalkeeper. 

Both sides had opportunities throughout the 90 minutes, Tony Andreu fired over on 55 minutes before Hearts broke up the field and had a Callumn Morrison shot blocked by Calum Waters. 

Good work from Sam Foley fashioned a promising opportunity as he slipped the ball into the box to find Durmus, but the winger sent  his shot wide. 

Hearts should have scored with 15 minutes remaining when Uche Ikpeazu's terrific dinked ball caught out the Saints defence and found MacLean. Hladky was out quickly to close down the striker whose slight touch went over the bar. 

Both sides would have a further chance each to win the game in the final moments. Ikpeazu struck wide from close range after getting on the end of a low ball from Jake Mulraney.

Jon Obika had the final chance of the match deep into stoppage time. The English striker was sent racing through by Danny Mullen and did ever so well to hold off three Hearts players to get a shot away that curled agonisingly wide of the far post.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Hearts

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Broadfoot, McLoughlin, Waters, Flynn, Foley, Magennis, Andreu (Mullen 62), Durmus (McAllister 70), Morias (Obika 62)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, MacKenzie, S.McGinn, Djorkaeff

Hearts: Pereira, Smith, Halkett (Berra 25), Hickey, Whelan, Damour (Irving 39), Mulraney, Morrison, Meshino (White 77), Ikpeazu, MacLean
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Bozanic, Clare, Keena

Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam
Fourth Official: Greg Aitken

#SMFCMOM - Ryan Flynn

Attendance: 5,901

Saints were held to a disappointing draw against a stubborn Hamilton Academical side who finished up with 10 men.

Junior Morias wasted an early chance for the Buddies which proved to be a sign of what was to come as they struggled to convert their first half dominance into meaningful chances.

The dismissal of Accies' George Oakley early in the second half could have provided fresh impetus but that failed to appear and when Sam Foley's late goalbound effort hit team-mate Jon Obika it pretty much summed up a frustrating afternoon for the hosts.

Morias started up front on his own as Tony Andreu replaced Obika, who was relegated to the bench. So to was Kyle McAllister with Ilkay Durmas restored to the team, while Kirk Broadfoot was handed his first start since his return to the club as he replaced Gary MacKenzie. The Hamilton defence included Sam Stubbs, son of former Saints boss Alan, with Oakley and Marios Ogkmpoe leading the attack.

Large sections of the home support thought their side had taken an early lead when Kyle Magennis spun and let rip with his left foot, however his effort from the edge of the box found the wrong side of the net. Another nice passing move allowed Paul McGinn to tee up Morias but unfortunately his shot posed more of a threat to the corner flag than the Accies goal. Morias turned provider when he fired in a cross for Magennis but he was unable to react quickly enough and the ball bounced off his head and away.

The visitors hadn't threatened at all in the opening quarter but nearly took the lead with their first effort on goal. Ogkmpoe had plenty of time and space on the right to pick out Oakley and Vaclav Hladky got the slightest of touches to the striker's shot as it went inches wide of the post. Accies were able to force a series of corners without making them count and it proved to be just a blip as Saints were soon back on the attack, Andreu heading Magennis' dinked delivery straight at Hamilton goalie Owain Fon Williams.

Things got a bit scrappy after that, both teams enjoying possession but not able to do a great deal with it. Magennis shot wide from a well worked corner before the Saints fans were screaming for a penalty. Foley sent Morias bursting through on goal and he went down under a challenge from Brian Easton, however ref David Munro was unmoved. A Blair Alston header from a corner gave Accies a rare chance just before the break, Oakley's header flying just wide.

Saints started the second-half brightly but hadn't created anything of note before the visitors were reduced to 10 men. Oakley had already been booked in the first half for flattening Ryan Flynn and when he caught Sean McLoughlin with his elbow Mr Munro felt he had no option but to show the striker a second yellow card. McLoughlin nearly rubbed salt into the wound a few minutes later as he fizzed a shot over from 25 yards.

The Buddies quickly looked to take advantage of their extra man, Paul McGinn sending in a teasing cross that Stubbs did well to clear with Morias lurking. However, they were finding it difficult to break down the well organised Accies defence so it was little surprise to see McAllister replace Durmas after an hour. His arrival forced the visitors even further back but chances, let alone goals, were rare, Magennis flashing a shot from the edge of the box just wide of the far post.

Both keepers had made few meaningful saves but Hladky did well on the rare occasions he was called into action, palming away a stinging Alston drive. Saints just couldn't create anything and McAllister wasted a free-kick when he curled it tamely into the arms of Fon Williams. The winner should have arrived a minute later. Andreu's replacement Danny Mullen saw his header from a corner deflected back to Foley and his effort was going in – only to be blocked by Jon Obika. Despite five minutes of added time it proved to be Saints' final chance of note and a fitting end to frustrating afternoon.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Hamilton Academical

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, McLoughlin, Broadfoot, Waters, Flynn, Foley, Magennis (c), Andreu (Mullen 69), Durmus (McAllister 62), Morias (Obika 76)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, S.McGinn, Breadner, Djorkaeff

Hamilton: Fon Williams, McGowan, McMann, Stubbs, Easton, Collar (Hughes 62), Alston, Gogic, Smith (Beck 78), Ogkmpoe (Moyo 74), Oakley
Subs Not Used: Southwood, Fjortoft, Davies, Want

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: William Collum

Attendance: 4,807

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren were looking to leapfrog Hamilton in the table, as the two sides faced off on a surprisingly warm Saturday in September. The home side were hoping to give their fans their first win since beating Aberdeen 1-0 back in August at the Simple Digital Arena. Whilst Hamilton, in similar form, also hadn’t won since beating Kilmarnock at home on the 10th of August.

St Mirren started the more energetic of the two sides as Paul McGinn and Kyle Magennis tried putting early pressure on the left flank of Hamilton. But as the early proceedings passed Accies started to come into life. Only minutes later Magennis gets a chance to give the Saints the lead. Andreu played a wide ball through Morias, whose cross finds the head of the captain, but he just fails to guide the shot on target.

For large parts of the first-half, St Mirren were left frustrated as Hamilton’s defence stayed strong against most of their advances. Accies had some flurries forward, with Ogkmpoe and Oakley driving forward all of their counter attacks. But on his home debut Kirk Broadfoot helped to keep control on a lot of the visitor’s attacks.

Midway through the half Andreu came close, with Magennis chipping a ball over the Accies defence and Andreu ran through to push the ball goal-wards, but a lack of power made an easy stop for Owain Fon Williams in net.

As half-time approached Morias and St Mirren had a penalty claimed turned down as the striker went through on goal. Smith made contact with the attacker and Morias went down in the box, but referee David Munro turned down the claims from Jim Goodwin’s men.

Smith came close at the other end for Accies, he met Alston’s corner at the near post, only for his header to fly just wide of Hladky’s near post. A warning to St Mirren, who were getting caught on the counterattack.

St Mirren should be frustrated at the fact they had not gone into the break in the lead, they struggled to take the opportunities they had through the first half, leaving the door open for Accies to come back into the game.

But after the interval St Mirren looked to have gained a huge advantage as George Oakley was sent for an early shower for the visitors, the referee gave the attacker his second yellow for leading with his elbow, leaving Hamilton a man down and forty minutes left of play.

The man advantage shows straight away for St Mirren as they pushed Hamilton deeper into their half. But this also made life more difficult for the home side as they had an even tougher challenge of breaking down a stubborn Hamilton side, who looked set to hold out for a point.

As the last 20 approached Magennis went close, he cut inside on the edge of the Accies box. While his shot may not have tested Fon Williams, it just went wide as the Saints continued their search for a goal. Hamilton nearly took the lead from the boot of Alston. A pass from Beck was hit first-time by the Accies player, forcing Hladky into action, pushing the ball wide with a dive to his far right. Beck seemed to have an instant impact for the travelling side as they began to push out of their half for the first time since the sending off.

With minutes left of normal time, St Mirren nearly take the lead from a scramble in the box. A lose header forces Fon Williams into a save and an open goal shot is blocked by the leg of Saints' sub Jon Obika, who was also offside, giving Hamilton a lucky break. The five minutes of additional time was dominated by the home side, as they fired cross, after cross into the Hamilton box. Accies defender Sam Stubbs was there to clear and stifle most opportunities.

Sadly, for Jim Goodwin’s men they couldn’t take advantage of their late dominance and Hamilton steal a point at the Simple Digital Arena, something that will frustrate the whole team with today’s overall positive performance.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Hamilton Academical

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, McLoughlin, Broadfoot, Waters, Flynn, Foley, Magennis (c), Andreu (Mullen 69), Durmus (McAllister 62), Morias (Obika 76)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, S.McGinn, Breadner, Djorkaeff

Hamilton: Fon Williams, McGowan, McMann, Stubbs, Easton, Collar (Hughes 62), Alston, Gogic, Smith (Beck 78), Ogkmpoe (Moyo 74), Oakley
Subs Not Used: Southwood, Fjortoft, Davies, Want

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: William Collum

Attendance: 4,807

Marcus Fraser's injury time goal stole the points for Ross County as they defeated St Mirren 2-1 in Dingwall.

The Staggies captain finished from close range in added on time to sicken Saints who thought they'd done enough to earn a point after Tony Andreu levelled following Ross Stewart's opener.

Jim Goodwin had made one change to the side that lost 2-1 away to Livingston before the international break with Junior Morias coming in for his first start in place of Tony Andreu.

The game didn't really get going in the first half until the latter stages with only a long range effort from Ewan Henderson which dragged wide and a Kyle Magennis free-kick that was easily held by Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw all either side had to show in the opening 30 minutes.

It was, however, Magennis who almost opened the scoring on 37 minutes as Saints looked to turn the screw heading towards half-time. The stand-in skipper cracked the bar from 20 yards after a terrific driving run into the County half.

The first-half came to a close in controversial fashion as referee Colin Steven disallowed a Saints goal two minutes before the break. Laidlaw punched a free-kick away, but it fell to Sean McLoughlin whose low shot towards goal was touched home by Jon Obika inside the six-yard box. There was no flag forthcoming and after a bit of deliberating, Steven decided to disallow the goal feeling that Obika had been in an offside position when McLoughlin got his shot away. Subsequent TV footage appears to show that Obika was onside, but the half would finish goalless.

If the first half started slowly, the beginning of the second 45 was anything but. Less than two minutes after the restart Vaclav Hladky made a great save to turn a Harry Paton effort by the post. The Canadian midfielder played a neat one-two with Michael Gardyne before curling a low effort towards the far post.

Paton quickly turned from attacker to defender when Saints' Sam Foley looked to race one-on-one with Laidlaw. The Buddies midfielder ran on to a flick from Junior Morais after a quick counter but Paton made a terrific recovery to block as Foley looked to pull the trigger from the edge of the box.

It was the home side made the breakthrough just after the hour mark when Ross Stewart slammed home from close range. Richard Foster's cross evaded everyone in the box and found its way to the former Saints striker who, unmarked, took the ball down on his chest and blasted into the back of the net to put the home side ahead.

Saints looked for a quick response and almost got it within two minutes after County's opener with Magennis smashing off the post from the edge of the box.

The response would come less than 10 minutes later when substitute Tony Andreu scored his first goal for the club. It's one Laidlaw will want to forget after allowing the Frenchman's low free-kick to squirm underneath him and over the line.

It looked like Saints were going to take a point back to Paisley, but were hit by a stoppage time sickener as Fraser met a cross to win the game for County at the death.

Full-Time: Ross County 2-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, McLoughlin, MacKenzie (Broadfoot 49), Waters, Magennis (c), Flynn, Foley, McAllister, (Durmus 73) Morias, Obika (Andreu 66)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, MacPherson, Broadfoot, Durmus, Andreu, Djorkaeff, Mullen

Ross County: Laidlaw, Fraser, Fontaine, Watson, Foster, Henderson (Mullin 78), Paton, Vigurs (Chalmers 36), Gardyne, McKay (Graham 72), Stewart
Subs Not Used: Subs: Ruddy, Grivosti, Spittal, Power

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter
Assistant Referee: Stuart Hodge
Fourth Official: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 3,637 (456 St Mirren fans)

St Mirren were edged out by Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena who continued their unbeaten start to the season.

Goals from Alan Lithgow and Lyndon Dykes either side of half-time had Livingston in control. Kyle Magennis scored a wonderful second half goal as the Buddies battled hard to take something from the match, but it wasn't enough 

The first-half was a largely forgettable affair with a Tony Andreu volley from the edge of the area that was routine for Livingston goalkeeper Ross Stewart all that either side had to show in the opening 20 minutes. 

It was on 26 minutes that Livingston would break the deadlock when Lithgow rose unchallenged above the Saints defence head the home side in-front from a corner. 

Jon Guthrie sent a shot wide on 38 minutes, while the home crowd thought Aymen Souda had grabbed a second with half-time approaching, but the striker's effort came crashing off the side netting. 

While it was a disappointing first-half, Saints came out all guns blazing at the start of the second 45 and almost found themselves level seconds after the restart when Kyle McAllister's clipped ball into the box found the head of Jon Obika who nodded just over the bar.

A minute later Calum Waters did so well on a solo run into the box, cutting by a number of Livingston players. The full-back's attempt was blocked but fell for Andreu who was denied by a good save from Stewart.

Saints were left frustrated when two handball shouts inside the Livingston box were denied around 55 minutes and that frustration grew when the home side caught the Buddies on the break to score a second. The goal was contentious with Saints players believes Souda had handballed inside the St Mirren box in the build-up to the goal that saw Chris Erskine cutback to Dykes who knocked home from close range.

Looking for a quick-fire third, Steven Lawless tried to catch Vaclav Hladky off his line from distance but Czech goalkeeper managed to gather. 

The St Mirren reaction was good though and just six minutes after Livi's second, Saints found a route back into the match when Kyle Magennis scored his first of the season. It was a terrific effort from the captain who curled into the top corner from the edge of the box to half the deficit. 

Both sides had a chance inside minute as the game entered the final 15 minutes. Livingston almost made it three when Lawless crashed a shot over, while Obika nodded a McGinn cross over from close range. 

McGinn had Saints next opportunity on 78 minutes when he got on the end of a wonderful pass from Kyle McAllister but his powerful shot down the throat of Stewart was gathered. 

Livingston could have added a third with just two minutes remaining when substitute Jack Stobbs had a shot blocked on the line by McGinn before sending the follow-up off the bar. 

However, it would prove that two would be enough for Livingston to pick up their second league win of the season and continue their unbeaten start to the 2019/20 season.

Full-Time: Livingston 2-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, MacKenzie, McLoughlin, Waters, Flynn (Durmus 80), Foley, McAllister (Mullen 87), Andreu (Morias 68), Magennis, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Baird, MacPherson, Djorkaeff

Livingston: Stewart, Devlin, Lithgow, McMillan (Savane 65), Guthrie, Bartley, Erskine (Tiffoney 74), Souda (Stobbs 80), Lawless, Crawford, Dykes
Subs Not Used: Sarkic, Pepe, Henderson

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Jordan Stokoe
Fourth Official: John McKendrick

Attendance: 2,346

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren suffered a narrow loss at home to Rangers on Sunday after a second-half free-kick from Borna Barisic gave the visitors a win over a well drilled Saints side.

The Buddies made life difficult for the Ibrox side and it took a moment of magic from Croatian defender Barisic to separate the side. 

Jim Goodwin stuck with the same starting 11 that defeated Aberdeen two weeks previously. Ilkay Durmus' early strike against the Dons was all that separated the two sides that afternoon, but it was Rangers who could have struck early during Sunday's contest. Experienced forward Jermain Defoe beat the offside trap to find himself one-on-one with Vaclav Hladky but somehow stuck it wide from just a few yards out. 

That early scare aside Saints started fairly well. Tony Andreu may have feel he could have done better on 10 minutes when he nipped in ahead of a Rangers midfielder to open up a bit of space but took the shot early and fired well over. Durmus 

The closest either side came in the opening half hour was on 29 minutes when Jon Obika's cross-cum-shot had Allan McGregor beaten all ends up but cracked off the bar.  Two minutes after that chance, Ryan Jack's strike from the edge of the area for the visitors was deflected just by the post. A few minutes later, Hladky made a terrific instinctual save to deny Scott Arfield the opener. 

Obika was adamant he should have had a penalty on 42 minutes when he went to ground under the challenge of Rangers defender Filip Helander. The striker looked to have outmuscled the Swedish defender who then hauled down Obika after clipping his own feet, but referee Kevin Clancy deemed that the forward had brought Helander down and awarded Rangers a free-kick.

The visitors started the second half strongly with Joe Aribo nodded just by the post inside the first minute from a James Tavernier corner before Hladky did well to deny Glen Kamara from a tight angle after the midfielder had been slipped in by Defoe. Hladky made another good stop to turn a Jack attempt round the post on 55 minutes.

Rangers pressure would pay off just before the hour mark as Barisic gave them the lead with a free-kick from 25 yards after Calum Waters fouled Defoe. It was a bit of a contentious decision with Saints believing Sam Foley had been fouled in the build up. Nonetheless, Rangers were awarded the set-piece and there was nothing Hladky could do to stop Croatian international Barisic's effort which was curled into the top right corner. 

The game seemed to peter out in the final 30 minutes, but Saints did have chances with just five minutes remaining to haul themselves level. Paul McGinn headed over from a corner on 86 minutes, while debutant Junior Morias could have made it a dream first appearance for the Buddies when he was picked out inside the box by Kyle McAllister, only for the striker to flick into the arms of Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor from close range.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Rangers

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, McLoughlin, MacKenzie, Waters, Flynn, Foley, Magennis, Andreu (Mullen 84), Durmus (McAllister 45), Obika (Morias 66)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Baird, MacPherson, Djorkaeff

Aberdeen: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Jack, Kamara, Aribo, Arfield (King 84), Jones (Davis 67), Defoe (Morelos 75)
Subs Not Used: Foderingham, Edmundson, Halliday, Hastie

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Fourth Official: Alan Newlands

Attendance: 7,232

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren earned their first league win of the season and the Jim Goodwin era thanks to Ilkay Durmus’ first-half goal.

Durmus goal was no more than the Saints deserved as they outplayed Aberdeen in the first half and frustrated Derek McInnes’ side in the second for a well earned three points.

It may not have been the most ideal conditions for passing football with heavy rain falling in the hours leading up to kick off. But Saints were displaying some nice stuff as they looked to exploit the flanks and Jon Obika was a constant menace for the Aberdeen defence.

The Buddies were awarded for their neat play in the first half when Durmus opened the scoring after 14 minutes.

Kyle Magennis made a fantastic run down the wing and gave himself plenty of space to drive into the box. He cut the ball back to the 18 yard line where the onrushing Durmus fired home to bag his first goal for the Saints.

Jim Goodwin were clearly fired up after their goal and missed a couple of chances to extend the lead shortly after. Durmus and Gary Mackenzie headed over the bar as Aberdeen struggled to contain St Mirren down the wings.

Up the other end, the Saints defence were standing resolute and restricting the Dons to chances from distance. A powerful shot by Lewis Ferguson from about 25 yards out was straight at Vaclav Hladky and was the most the Czech goalkeeper was troubled in the first half.

The Buddies would have been expecting a reaction from Aberdeen in the second half and so it turned out to be as Main shot wide from the edge of the box and Hladky pulled off a terrific save to tip over a Ferguson header.

Main then had the ball in the net for his side. However, it was ruled out as the big striker illegally robbed the ball from the hands of Hladky.

The visitors then had what looked to be a strong shout for a penalty. A Ryan Hedges cross hit the arm of Ryan Flynn and there was a big shout from the Aberdeen fans and players alike for a penalty kick. Referee Steve McLean was unmoved however and the only action he took was to book Zak Vyner for his protestations.

Although the Buddies were more on the back-foot in the second half than they were the first, they were not without their chances.

Tony Andreu could not get the right contact on an inch perfect Paul McGinn cross and had to watch the ball trickle wide.

Kyle McAllister then came close to marking his return to the Saints with a fantastic goal as he drove from the halfway line before unleashing a curling effort just over the bar.

As the game went into four minutes of added on times Niall McGinn passed up on a gilt-edge chance to earn his side a point. The ball came to forward who was all alone at the back post, and with the goal at his mercy, hit the woodwork and the ball went harmlessly wide.

One goal was enough for the Buddies after an impressive performance. Goodwin’s men showed they can play good football and have the character to grind out results too after a battling second half display.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Aberdeen

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, McLoughlin, MacKenzie, Waters, Flynn, Foley, Magennis, Andreu (Breadner 88), Durmus (McAllister 70), Obika (Mullen 75)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Baird, MacPherson, Djorkaeff

Aberdeen: Lewis, Vyner, Leigh (Wilson 87), Considine, McKenna, Ojo, Ferguson, Wright (Gallagher 62), Hedges, McLennan (N.McGinn 62), Main
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Logan, Devlin, Campbell, Wilson

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: David Lowe

Attendance: 6,199

A late Scott Allan goal denied battling Buddies a point away to Hibernian on the opening day of the 2019/20 season.

Jim Goodwin's side had plenty of chances and looked worthy of a point before a piece of individual brilliance from Allan gave the Hibees all three points.

The manager gave starting debuts to Sean McLoughlin, Sam Foley and Ilkay Durmus - all of whom signed for Saints this week. 

The Buddies started the contest brightly with Kyle Magennis, captain in the absence of Stephen McGinn, playing a nice ball across the box in the third minute where both Ilkay Durmus and Danny Mullen were waiting. But the pair ended up getting in each others way allowing Hibs to clear.

Stevie Mallan had the game's first shot on goal on five minutes. The ex-Saint was a whisker away from scoring the opener with his powerful effort from the edge of the area flying just over Vaclav Hladky's crossbar. 

Debutant Durmus was looking lively for the Buddies down the left-hand side. A quick counter for Saints saw the Turkish winger bear down on goal but his cross-cum-shot was held by Ofir Marciano. 

Sam Foley tried to catch the big Israeli goalkeeper out when Saints won possession deep in the Hibees half. The midfielder attempted to catch the goalkeeper off his line but couldn't connect with it properly making it easy for Marciano to gather.

The Buddies were having a good spell and could have been ahead on 27 minutes when Tony Andreu's lovely through ball found Paul McGinn through on goal. Steven Whittaker was quick to get across to block McGinn's attempt.

Four minutes later, Durmus forced Marciano into a wonderful stop with the goalkeeper getting a strong hand on the winger's vicious strike from the left.

Hibernian were still very much in the match and could have taken the lead on 34 minutes when Horgan's low ball into the box had Hladky's beaten and looked primed to meet Florian Kamberi who was ready to tap home. But Gary MacKenzie did well to get in-front to knock the ball wide.

Durmus had a terrific chance to open the scoring just a few minutes before half-time. The winger was found in space inside the box by Foley and took a touch to steady himself before smashing his effort over the bar. Durmus had his head in his hands afterwards realising how good an opportunity it was.

The home side looked to take charge of the game in the early part of the second half and thought they had taken the lead on 52 minutes. Scott Allan had Hladky beaten with his curling effort, but the shot cracked off the inside of the post. The Hibees kept coming and had the ball in the net seconds later only to be denied by the offside flag. Joe Newell's header came off the same post as Allan's shot and fell to Kamberi who touched home. The far side linesman's flag curtailed the celebrations though subsequent pictures showed that the Swiss forward was actually onside. 

Saints were still creating chances with Andreu going close when received the ball from debutant Jonathan Obika 25 yards from goal. The Frenchman took it first time from on his left foot, drilling towards the top corner with Marciano clawing away to keep the score level.

With 10 minutes to go Sean McLoughlin had a great opportunity to put Saints in the lead when he ghosted in at the back post to meet Oan Djorkaeff's corner but nodded wide of the mark.

There was a scare for the Buddies when Stevie Mallan lined up a free-kick 25 yards from goal. St Mirren fans know what Mallan is capable of from that kind of range and having scored twice at Easter Road for Saints from free-kicks in the past there was the fear he was about to put his current side in front. The midfielder went for a low curling effort that was easy enough for Hladky to gather.

Hibernian would, however, take the lead just a minute later when Scott Allan danced his way into the St Mirren box and lashed beyond Hladky to break the deadlock.

Far from being down and out, Saints had two late chances to snatch an equaliser with Flynn heading wide from a MacPherson free-kick and debutant Obika flicking over the bar.

It wasn't to be on the opening day but Jim Goodwin will have taken plenty of encouragement from the performance of his players heading into next week's match against Aberdeen.

Full-Time: Hibernian 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, MacPherson, MacKenzie, McLoughlin, P.McGinn, Magennis (c), Flynn, Foley, Durmus (Breadner 71), Andreu (Djorkaeff 74), Mullen (Obika 55)
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Baird, McAllister, Erhahon

Hibernian: Marciano, Whittaker, Hanlon, Jackson, James (Mackie 45), Vela (Doidge 65), Mallan, Newell, Allan, Horgan (Slivka 65), Kamberi
Subs Not Used: Maxwell, McGregor, Shaw, Murray 

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 16,631 (845 St Mirren fans)

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren's Betfred Cup campaign came to an end after a goalless draw away to Albion Rovers. 

Saints had to win and hope results elsewhere would go our way to have any chance of qualifying for the next round, but couldn't find the breakthrough during a stuffy 90 minutes against the League Two side.

Jim Goodwin was forced into one change from the side that drew 0-0 with East Kilbride on Saturday. Stephen McGinn, who picked up a knock during that draw, was replaced by Cody Cooke. 

Already depleted, Saints were dealt an early blow when Cammy MacPherson had to be replaced on seven minutes after picking up a shoulder injury. On came 18 year-old Nick McAllister who almost nabbed himself a debut goal just four minutes after taking the field. He floated in at the back post to get his head on the end of an Oan Djorkaeff cross but nodded over.

The Buddies could have found themselves ahead on the half-hour mark with Jack Baird and Kyle Magennis going close. A corner in fell kindly to Baird who cracked a low effort into the post. The Albion defence couldn't get the ball away which allowed Magennis to nod over goalkeeper Chris Smith. Just as it looked set to creep over the line a Rovers defender was there to clear.

Saints continued to press for an opener and again went close twice in quick succession on 38 minutes. Albion keeper Smith made a terrific fingertip stop to turn a powerful Cody Cooke attempt by the post. The ball fell to Djorkaeff on the edge of the box after Magennis had a shot blocked from a corner. The Frenchman wasn't far away with his attempt, curling just wide of the keeper's left-hand post. 

The hosts went close with five minutes to go before the interval when Ross Clarke sent an effort just over the bar from the edge of the Saints box.

Danny Mullen should have given Saints the breakthrough on 45 minutes when Ryan Flynn sent the forward one-on-one with Smith but the goalkeeper made a good block to keep it level at half-time.

Magennis, captain for the evening in the absence of Stephen McGinn, went mightily close to breaking the deadlock five minutes into the second half. The midfielder met a Tony Andreu header around 25 yards from goal and crashed a volley agonisingly past the post with the keeper beaten. 

And it was a volley that could have had the home side ahead with just over 20 minutes to go. A ball was floated across the Saints box where it met Roberts in acres of space. The Rovers number seven caught the ball sweetly but smashed his attempt off the bar.

St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Cammy Breadner was brought on with just over 10 minutes to go and looked to have made an impact when his super ball into the box was turned home by Danny Mullen with just six minutes remaining. However, the lineswoman raised her offside flag to keep it 0-0.

There were further late chances for Mullen and Magennis who both almost snatched a late winner for the visitors, but, for the second match in a row, St Mirren were taken to penalties. Bryan Wharton and Smart Osadolor missed for the hosts while Paul McGinn, Andreu, Flynn and Magennis netted for Saints giving us the bonus point as we ended our Betfred Cup campaign on six points.

Full-Time: Albion Rovers 0-0 St Mirren (St Mirren win 4-3 on penalties)

St Mirren: Hladky, MacPherson (McAllister 7), P.McGinn, Baird, Erhahon, Flynn, Magennis, Djorkaeff (Breadner 79), Andreu, Cooke, Mullen
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Walker, Glover

Albion Rovers: Smith, Lynas, Clarke, Wilson, Fagan (Wharton 77), Morena, Roberts, Fotheringham, Osadolor, East, Stewart (Phillips 76)
Subs Not Used: Carlin, Paterson, Gordon, Krones

Referee: Barry Cook
Assistant Referee: Kylie Cockburn
Assistant Referee: David Ingram

Attendance: 512

St Mirren's hopes of qualifying for the next round of the Betfred Cup were dealt a blow after a frustrating 0-0 draw away to East Kilbride. 

Saints were largely in control of the match but couldn't find a breakthrough with East Kilbride goalkeeper Alan Martin in fine form, earning himself the man of the match away. 

The Buddies disappointment was compounded as East Kilbride picked up the bonus point after coming out on top on penalties.

The first opportunity of the match fell to the hosts on five minutes when Paul McGinn's clearance came off Jack Baird and landed at the feet of Sean Winter. The East Kilbride winger got his shot away but the attempt was always heading wide. 

It was a slow start to the match, but the Buddies started to turn the screw after 20 minutes with Tony Andreu at the centre of three Saints chances in quick succession. The Frenchman played a lovely through ball for Oan Djorkaeff who looked primed to go one-on-one with Martin. But a last-gasp challenge from a Kilby defender allowed the goalkeeper to come out and smother.

Moments later, Andreu played a corner to the edge of the area where it met skipper Stephen McGinn. The captain had a go but Martin was equal to it. 

Andreu then picked out Kyle Magennis inside the East Kilbride box. The young midfielder rounded Martin but slammed into the side net from a tight angle. 

With half-time approaching Saints really should have been ahead when Stephen McGinn's long ball found Danny Mullen clear of the Kilby defence. The striker smashed goalward, denied by a fine Martin save before the goalkeeper blocked the follow-up attempt.

Saints looked like they would take the lead just seconds before the whistle blew for half-time when Magennis curled a shot towards the far post. It seemed as if it was going to creep in but Martin managed to gather.

The Buddies started the second-half brightly with Djorkaeff heading over from a corner and Mullen & Magennis having efforts saved by Martin in the opening five minutes after the interval. 

Jim Goodwin made changes after the hour mark with Jim Kellermann and Cody Cooke on to replace Stephen McGinn and Magennis. Cooke went agonisingly close to heading Saints ahead just a few minutes after his introduction. The English striker was on the end of a wonderful Cammy MacPherson cross but nodded just over the bar.

With just over 10 minutes to go, the Buddies cranked up the pressure. Andreu had a shot blocked after getting on the end of a quick Ryan Flynn free-kick and sent another effort inches wide either side of a Kellermann strike that was well saved by Martin. 

But Saints couldn't find the breakthrough they needed and headed to penalties for a bonus point. Paul McGinn, Andreu, Flynn and MacPherson all scored which allowed Danny Mullen the chance to win it after Ryan Sinnamon had missed for the home side. However, the striker smashed his penalty over taking the match to sudden death. Djorkaeff scored as did East Kilbride's Dean Cairns. Cooke missed after being ordered to retake his penalty which allowed David Brownlie to seal the bonus point for the Lowland League outfit.

Full Time: East Kilbride 0-0 St Mirren (East Kilbride win 6-5 on penalties)

St Mirren: Hladky, MacPherson, P.McGinn, Baird, Erhahon, Flynn, S.McGinn (Kellermann 61), Magennis (Cooke 70), Andreu, Djorkaeff, Mullen
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Walker, McAllister, Glover, Breadner

East Kilbride: Martin, Sinnamon, Coll, Reid (c), Brownlie, Cairns, Winter (Carmichael 55), Holmes (Stevenson 70), Paton (Kavanagh 64), Brady, Woods
Subs Not Used: Kean, E. MacPherson

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Assistant Referee: David Dunne

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography