It was a night of frustration for St Mirren as we fell to a narrow 1-0 loss away to St Johnstone. 

The Buddies missed an early penalty and gave away a soft first-half goal before being reduced to 10 men as the home side took all three points.

The visitors started brightly though goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky was forced into an early terrific save to push over Chris Kane's volley from the edge of the box.

Jason Kerr nudged Brad Lyons as the Northern Irishman burst into the box. Simeon Jackson was the man to take but his attempted chip didn't have enough on it and was blocked by the legs of returning St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark.

St Mirren's frustration with the missed penalty would only grow as St Johnstone took the lead five minutes later. The Buddies were the architects of their own downfall with Mateo Muzek attempted header back to Hladky too short allowing Chris Kane to nip in and slot past the goalkeeper. 

It seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors until late in the first half where twice half chances were created. Cammy MacPherson picked out Simeon Jackson in the box with a nice ball in, but the striker was quickly crowded out by the St Johnstone defence. 

Then, just before half-time, Jackson had a curling effort deflected into the arms of Clark in what was a fairly routine save for the St Johnstone goalkeeper.

The travelling Saints fans were making incredible noise as they tried to rally the team at the start of the second half and Oran Kearney's men were having the better of the match after the interval. 

Duckens Nazon replaced Ryan Flynn on 55 minutes and the Haitian striker looked bright as St Mirren chased an equaliser. 

With an hour on the clock Kyle McAllister saw an shot from the edge of the area take a nick off a St Johnstone defender and fly past the right hand post. From the resultant corner Paul McGinn headed wide.

St Johnstone had a big chance to kill the game with 15 minutes to go when a terrific through ball from Ross Callachan found Murray Davidson in acres of space inside the box. But the midfielder's touch was too heavy and cleared by the Buddies for a corner. Cammy MacPherson was in the right place at the right time as he managed to clear the ball off the line after Liam Craig's corner was knocked goalward. 

The Buddies broke forward and had a penalty appeal turned down when Simeon Jackson went down under the challenge of Joe Shaughnessy. Referee Steven McLean said no and Saints had to settle for a corner. Substitute Anders Dreyer sent the ball in and it was pinball inside the box before Nazon managed to find Mihai Popescu on the edge of the area. But the Romanian defender was leaning back as he smashed over.

With only a few minutes remaining, St Mirren were reduced to 10 men when Ethan Erhahon was given his marching order for a late tackle. It compounded what was a frustrating night of the Paisley Saints who face 11th place Dundee on Saturday at the Simple Digital Arena. 

Full Time: St Johnstone 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn (c), Popescu, Baird, Muzek, Erhahon, MacPherson, Flynn (Nazon 55), Lyons, McAllister (Dreyer 66), Jackson
Subs Not Used: Wilson, Corbu, Ferdinand, MacKenzie, Cooke

St Johnstone: Clark, Shaughnessy (c), Gordon, Kerr, Foster, Tanser, Craig, Callachan, Davidson, Kennedy (Watt 68), Kane
Subs Not Used: Bell, Swanson, Comrie, O'Halloran, Goss, Northcott

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Ralph Gordon
Assistant Referee: Michael Banks
Fourth Official: Alan Muir

It was late disappointment for Saints as Kilmarnock snatched victory in the dying minutes at the Simple Digital Arena last night.

In what was a fairly even game in which the Buddies would have felt worthy of a point, Kilmarnock took all three as Liam Millar got a toe on the end of an Eamonn Brophy ball across the box with three minutes of normal time remaining. 

The match was played in wet and windy conditions - similar to those experienced in the win over Livingston a little over a week ago. And like that match, it made it difficult for both sides to play football.

St Mirren started brightly enough with Kyle McAllister flashing a wicked left foot volley from the edge of the area just by the post with only two minutes on the clock.

Kilmarnock's Chris Burke tried to take advantage of the wild conditions when he had a go from range on 15 minutes, but Saints goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky was equal to it. 

10 minutes later, a neat through ball from McAllister found Simeon Jackson who raced towards goal. But under pressure from ex-Saint Kirk Broadfoot, the striker shot straight at Daniel Bachmann. 

The visitors best opportunity of the first half came just a minute before the interval. Burke was bodychecked by Ethan Erhahon as he charged forward and referee Don Robertson awarded Killie a free-kick 22 yards from the St Mirren goal. Brophy stepped up but fizzed over.

Kilmarnock came out strongly after the interval, and despite Erhahon testing Bachmann on 47 minutes, it was Steve Clarke's side that went close twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Burke skimmed a shot wide from long-range before Brophy smacked the post. 

The game was very end-to-end with 20 minutes remaining and that was evidenced by both sides having the chance to break the deadlock on 72 minutes. Broadfoot rose the highest to meet a free-kick into the Saints box but Hladky gathered. The Czech goalkeeper quickly released the ball to McAllister who drove into the Kilmarnock half. He checked inside and found Jackson in good space, but the striker waited for the ball to fall to his feet allowing Stuart Findlay to slide in and deny the forward's effort.

Five minutes later Duckens Nazon had a go from 20 yards but his low shot was straight at Bachmann. Killie tried to get forward at speed right after with Stephen O'Donnell's long-range drive deflected just wide.

Jackson was denied his sixth St Mirren goal on 83 minutes when Bachmann made a great stop to tip away the striker's flick from Paul McGinn's cross.

With the game ebbing away it looked like Saints would gain the point that would lift us off the bottom of the league. But with only three minutes remaining Burke fed the ball down the right to Brophy. The striker sent the ball across the box where it found the unmarked Liam Millar who slid in to tap home from close range to take all three points.  

Full Time: St Mirren 0-1 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Popescu, Baird, Muzek, Erhahon, MacPherson (Nazon 65), Flynn, Lyons, McAllister, Jackson
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Ferdinand, MacKenzie, Corbu, Dreyer, Mullen

Kilmarnock: Bachmann, O'Donnell, Findlay, Broadfoot, Taylor, Burke, Dicker, McKenzie (McAleny 79), Power, Jones (Millar 79), Brophy (Tshibola 89)
Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Millen, Water, Boyd

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Joseph Lawson
Fourth Official: William Collum

Attendance: 4,458

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

A game that appeared to be petering out into an instantly forgettable draw could instead end up proving to be a pivotal moment in Saints' season as they snatched a late win over Livingston.

With barely a minute left, Simeon Jackson saw his shot parried by Liam Kelly. The ball sat up invitingly for anyone running in and Ryan Flynn did just that, taking what seemed like an age – although was probably only a couple of seconds – to compose himself before smashing the ball home.

It proved to be the winner in a game that was played in horrendous wind and rain, which may explain why chances were at a premium. Chris Erskine wasted Livi's best first half chance as he blazed over the bar while at the other end Kelly denied Duckens Nazon. The second half wasn't a great deal better, Craig Halkett curling a free-kick over for the visitors and Flynn testing Kelly the pick of the few highlights before the late drama.

Jackson once again found himself on the bench as Nazon was picked in the Saints attack, Anders Dreyer and captain Stephen McGinn returning as Kyle McAllister and the suspended Greg Tansey the pair dropping out. Former Buddies Ross Stewart, Gregg Wylde and Ryan Hardie were on the bench for the visitors who handed a first start to Ciaron Brown and were also able to name Raffa de Vita on the bench for the first time this season.

With the wind blowing down the pitch towards the away end, it was little surprise that Livingston chose to shoot towards their own fans. It made it hard for Saints to get out of their own half as every time they kicked the ball forward it came straight back at them. When Mihai Popescu fouled Steven Lawless just outside the Buddies box it gave Livi a chance to use the conditions to their advantage, although how much the wind had to do with Vaclav Hladky failing to hold Keaghan Jacobs' free-kick is hard to tell. Whatever, the ball sat up invitingly for Erskine but, with the Saints keeper on the deck, he could only blast over the bar.

The wind and rain was making it difficult for both teams, Lawless flashing a shot wide before Saints threatened for the first time, Duckens Nazon volleying over from Paul McGinn's cross. It marked the start of the first real spell of pressure from the hosts, a corner and a free-kick causing problems in the Livi box before Ethan Erhahon sent Nazon in behind the visiting defence only for his shot to be turned behind by Kelly.

Saints seemed to have got to grips with the weather but had a couple of close calls just before the break. After Mateo Muzek cheaply gave the ball away, Livi were able to work it to Craig Sibbald at the back post, his header being punched away by Hladky. Then, on the stroke of half-time, a Livingston corner was only cleared as far as Sibbald at the edge of the box but the midfielder drilled his shot off target.

Despite now playing into the wind, the visitors were first to threaten in the second half as Erskine shot well wide. After Nazon was fouled by Steve Lawson, Cammy MacPherson decided to to use the wind and have a go with the long-range free-kick but it bounced wide of the Livi goal. After that brief flurry, chances continued to be at a premium but one came the way of Jack Baird when a corner from McAllister – who had replaced Dreyer – bounced his way but the big defender failed to connect with the ball.

Livi were dealt a blow when Lawson had to go off injured after being clattered by Stephen McGinn just outside the box. The free-kick was in a great position and Halkett was unlucky to see his attempt go just over the bar, a few Livi fans at the other end of the ground briefly thinking he'd found the net. Saints were next to go close, McAllister playing in Flynn whose drive stung the palms of Kelly, the rebound bouncing off the head of Jackson and going behind before the sub had had a chance to react. The same player was squeezed out as Saints threatened again before Paul McGinn saw his low shot saved by Kelly.

With the rain and wind at their strongest, few people would have complained if the officials had decided to call it quits at that point and not bother with the last five minutes. Of course they didn't, which turned out to be a good thing from a Saints point of view. In the final few seconds of normal time Jackson – who had replaced Nazon – got the better of two Livingston players before having a go from the edge of the box. Kelly wasn't able to hold his shot and Flynn rushed in to thump it into the net. 

Oran Kearney's men had four minutes of stoppage time to see out but they did it comfortably, a Hardie shot that Hladky comfortably saved the only real danger.

It seemed appropriate that as the full-time whistle went the rain stopped and the sun came out to mark Saints' first league win of 2019 – a victory that moves them to within a point of Dundee with just 10 games of the Premiership season to go.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-0 Livingston

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Baird, Popescu, Muzek, Erhahon, MacPherson (Mullen 82), S.McGinn, Flynn, Dreyer (McAllister 57), Nazon (Jackson 62)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, MacKenzie, Ferdinand, Corbu

Livingston: Kelly, Gallagher, Halkett, Lithgow, Brown, Lawson (Odoffin 67), Pittman (Robinson 56), Sibbald (Hardie 54), Jacobs, Lawless, Erskine
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Wylde, De Vita, Tiffoney

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Assistant Referee: Ivan Stankovic
Fourth Official: David Dickinson

Attendance: 4,014

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

Saints picked up another good point on the road as we drew 1-1 with Hearts at Tynecastle this afternoon. 

The Buddies were good value for the point as we closed the gap on Dundee and Hamilton to four points.

It was almost a dream start to the match for Oran Kearney's men with Greg Tansey going close to opening the scoring with a little over 60 seconds on the clock. A half-hearted penalty shout was denied by referee Don Robertson when Duckens Nazon went down in the box. The ball found its way to Kyle McAllister on the right who did brilliantly to beat his man but looked like he was being impeded. Again, nothing was given but the winger was strong enough to force the ball across the box where Tansey ran on to it outside the area and smashed just by the right-hand post. 

But it wasn't just Saints who were determined to start the game well. Just a few minutes after Tansey's early chance, Buddies goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky had to be alert to save from Steven Naismith after the veteran forward found space inside the box. 

Saints had another great chance on 10 minutes after winning a corner kick. McAllister's low ball in somehow found its way to the back post to meet an unmarked Paul McGinn who scuffed a volley wide. 

Both sides had half-chances before the half hour mark with Nazon curling over from 20 yards and Christophe Berra heading straight at Hladky.

The Buddies players felt they should have had a penalty on 25 minutes when Nazon was felled right on the edge of the area. The players argued the challenge had happened inside the box, but Don Robertson was adamant the foul had taken place just outside the area and a free kick was awarded. Cammy MacPherson went across to take from a tight angle and fizzed over. 

Nazon had a great chance to put St Mirren in front on 31 minutes after being found by Paul McGinn inside the box but the Haitian striker fluffed his lines as he tried to get the shot away. 

Two minutes later Hladky was the hero for Saints after a stramash in the box making a number of saves - the pick of them being to deny Berra what looked a certain opener. 

Saints should have taken a lead into the half-time interval when McAllister passed up a great opportunity. After wonderfully timed challenge by Tansey on Sean Clare inside the St Mirren box following a Hearts corner, McAllister nipped in ahead Berra to steal the ball off the Jambos captain near the halfway line. The tricky winger turned the afterburners on as he burst forward and broke into the box. However, he somehow put the ball wide from just inside the area when he looked poised to smash it into the far corner of the net.

The home side started the second half the stronger and opened the scoring 10 minutes after the interval. It was Clevid Dikamona who rose the highest from a corner kick to nod beyond Hladky. 

It was a bitter blow after an impressive first half performance, but Saints refused to let heads drop and had an appeal for a penalty waved away just after the hour mark when they claimed a Nazon shot was blocked by a Hearts hand.

The Buddies kept at it and found themselves level on 66 minutes. A corner in came off the head of Hearts midfielder Sean Clare and went beyond Zlamal to make it 1-1.

And how close one nearly became two for Saints almost immediately after the equaliser. A dangerous low ball from the right from McGinn was ready to be tapped home from close range by Simeon Jackson. But Jambos defender Dikamona got a toe on it which turned the ball goalward. Zlamal had to be at full stretch to push away the deflection as it headed towards the top corner of the net. 

Both sides created half chances as the game ebbed away, but in the end had to settle for a point apiece. 

Full Time: Hearts 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Baird, Popescu, Muzek, Erhahon, MacPherson, Tansey, Flynn, McAllister, (Dreyer 77) Nazon (Jackson 63)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, MacKenzie, Corbu, Cooke, Mullen

Hearts: Zlamal, Souttar, Haring (Bozanic 68), Berra, Dikamona (Morrison 75), Lee (MacLean 68), Clare, Djoum, Mulraney, Naismith, Ikpeazu
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Shaughnessy, Keena, Hickey

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Andrew McWilliam
Assistant Referee: Ralph Gordon
Fourth Official: Bobby Madden 

Attendance: 16,705 (606 away fans)

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren picked up a valuable point at Pittodrie this afternoon following a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen. 

Oran Kearney's side twice took the lead with Duckens Nazon and Kyle McAllister on target either side of half-time, but the Buddies had to settle for just a point in the end.

Saints started brightly - winning a few corners in quick succession in the opening few minutes without being able to create from them. 

But from a corner on 19 minutes, Paul McGinn would win the penalty kick that got the opener. There was no arguing referee Craig Thomson's decision as McGinn was hauled to the ground by Sam Cosgrove who had wrapped both his arms around the stand-in captain. Duckens Nazon stepped up to squeeze the ball home into Joe Lewis' right hand corner. The Dons keeper went the right way, but couldn't deny the Haitian international his second goal for the Buddies. After a few ropey starts at Pittodrie in recent times it was the perfect way to get things underway. 

But nobody has to warn Saints of the danger the Dons pose at their home ground and they went in search of a quick equaliser. Buddies goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky was brave on 25 minutes to block an effort from Greg Stewart with his feet. The two players colliding and had to receive treatment in the aftermath but were able to continue.

Aberdeen continued to threaten and just after the half hour mark a dangerous looking Max Lowe ball into the box was only just turned behind by Jack Baird. Then initial corner was knocked out for another by Saints but Aberdeen would find themselves level from the second. The Dons took it short to Gary Mackay-Steven whose cross into the box was flicked on by Michael Devlin and nodded home by Lewis Ferguson at the back post. 

Buoyed, the home side should have taken the lead three minutes after their leveller. Greg Stewart picked out Niall McGinn in acres of space inside the Saints box, but the unmarked forward somehow skied it from just a few yards out when it looked like he might burst the net.

Aberdeen were on top at this stage but their momentum was halted after an injury Tommie Hoban as the game ebbed towards half-time. The defender went down under no challenge and was screaming in agony on the deck.

The Buddies nearly found themselves back in front almost immediately after the interval. There was less than two second half minutes gone when Kyle McAllister's cross picked out Brad Lyons who glanced his header just inches by the post with Joe Lewis scrambling across his goal-line. 

After having already made two changes at the break with Ethan Erhahon and Simeon Jackson replacing Mateo Muzek and Duckens Nazon, Saints were forced into a final change just before the hour mark when Anton Ferdinand was injured after putting his body on the line to block an Aberdeen attack.

St Mirren took the lead for a second time. The Buddies picked up on a loose ball from Aberdeen in the middle park and broke forward at speed. Brad Lyons found McAllister scuttling down the right wing. The 20 year-old winger drove into the box, cut in onto his left foot and smashed the ball into the far left corner to make it 2-1 to Saints.

The Buddies went in search of a third and would have felt aggrieved that the offside flag denied McAllister a chance to go one-on-one with Lewis despite the winger being onside. The third almost came a few short moments after that though when substitute Jackson got the better of Devlin on the left hand side. The Canadian striker worked his way into the box, wriggling away from Devlin and was so unlucky to knock the ball just wide from a tight angle. 

Saints would have to settle for just a point though when Aberdeen equalised with a little over 10 minutes to go. Saints goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky will have been disappointed he couldn't keep Cosgrove's low effort out as the striker swept home from a cross on the left.

Full Time: Aberdeen 2-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn (c), Baird, Popescu, Ferdinand (Tansey 59), Muzek (Erhahon 46), MacPherson, Flynn, Lyons, McAllister, Nazon (Jackson 46)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Corbu, Mullen

Aberdeen: Lewis, Lowe (Wilson 64), Devlin, Considine, Hoban (Gleeson 45), Shinnie (c), N.McGinn (McLennan 78), Ferguson, Stewart, Mackay-Steven, Cosgrove
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ball, Campbell, May

Referee: Craig Thomson
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Graeme Leslie
Fourth Official: Mike Roncone

Attendance: 14,701

St Mirren were knocked out of the William Hill Scottish Cup after a 2-1 loss at home to Dundee United.

First half goals from Pavol Safranko and Nicky Clark did the damage despite Saints dominating the second 45.

The Buddies created the first opening of the game with Greg Tansey striking from the edge of the area. However, the midfielder's effort was routine for United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist.

United took the lead on 15 minutes as the Saints defence failed to clear their lines follow two great stops from goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky. The Czech stopper blocked Nicky Clark's header and then Safranko's follow-up. But the Buddies could only get it clear as far as the edge of the box where Peter Pawlett had a go. Safranko stuck a toe on it to knock it beyond Hladky and give the visitors an early lead. 

The Tangerines were buoyed by their opener and took a firm grip on the game. Calum Butcher headed over from a corner not long after Safranko almost added his and United's second. Then, on 27 minutes, Hladky and Mateo Muzek did well to deny Pawlett and Ian Harkes from making it 2-0. 

Ex-Saint Cammy Smith had a go on 31 minutes after driving forward, but his long distance effort for easy for Hladky.

It was a first half to forget for Saints and any hopes of hanging on to just a one goal deficit heading into the interval were extinguished when Clark added a second for the visitors right on the stroke of half-time. A long ball over the top caught out the Buddies defence and allowed Clark to get in between Jack Baird and Mihai Popescu and the striker lifted the ball over Hladky to make it 2-0. 

Saints gave themselves it all to do in the second half but started brightly as they looked to find a way back into the match. Oran Kearney had brought on Kyle McAllister and Simeon Jackson in place Greg Tansey and Anders Dreyer. 

McAllister looked sharp and had a go two minutes into the second period only for the shot to be blocked. On 56 minutes the winger then floated a ball into the box for Jackson whose header from a tight angle was clawed away by Siegrist. 

After a positive start, Saints were given a boost when United were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark. Calum Butcher was given his marching orders after a poor challenge on Ryan Flynn at the centre circle. 

The Buddies almost had a goal back just a minute after the red when Popescu cracked a shot off the underside of the bar that had looked as if it may just had sneaked in. 

Brad Lyons and Jackson had curling attempts from inside the box as Saints desperately tried to find a way back into the match - both sent just wide. 

Then with 13 minutes to go St Mirren had the goal their second half play deserved. Duckens Nazon scored his first for the Buddies with a strike from the edge of the box deflected off the thigh of Pawlett on its way beyond Siegrist.  

Saints had United penned back for the remainder of the match, but try as they may just couldn't fashion the opportunity that would have levelled the scores and taken us to a replay at Tannadice. 

Full Time: St Mirren 1-2 Dundee United

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn (c), Popescu, Baird, Muzek, MacPherson (Erhahon 81), Flynn, Tansey (McAllister 46), Lyons, Dreyer (Jackson 46), Nazon
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Corbu, Mullen

Dundee United: Siegrist, Reynolds, Connolly, Butcher, Robson, Seaman, Harkes, Smith (Sow 63), Pawlett, Safranko, Clark (Gomis 65)
Subs Not Used: Laidlaw, Frans, McMullan, Fyvie, Nesbitt

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Fourth Official: Steven McLean

Attendance: 3,965

St Mirren were edged out by Motherwell at the Simple Digital Arena this evening.

Well took an early lead thanks to a sensational goal from from in-form Jake Hastie. But the Buddies got themselves level through Paul McGinn late in the second half. However, just a few minutes later, the Steelmen grabbed all three points when Allan Campbell popped up with a header.

Saints were given an early warning when Curtis Main broke the offside trap to get in ahead of the St Mirren defence only to be foiled by a good save from Buddies goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky. 

But only two minutes later the visitors were ahead. There was only 10 minutes on the clock when Well went in front thanks to a stunning strike from Jake Hastie. The midfielder cut in from the right and rifled his effort from the edge of the area that cracked in off the bar. 

Oran Kearney reacted by making an early change of shape with Kyle McAllister coming on to replace Jack Baird.

Saints went from a 3-4-1-2 to a 4-4-2 and it almost immediately paid dividends. The Buddies had two great chances to level within the space of a minute. 

First, a break of the ball saw Anders Dreyer find a bit of space and the winger hit a snapshot toward goal with only a terrific Mark Gillespie save denying the Dane. 

Dreyer then turned provider a minute later with a neat piece of skill near the touchline allowing him to roll the ball across the box into the path of McAllister who blazed over. 

Saints had another few opportunities before the interval with Mihai Popescu heading into the arms of Gillespie on the half hour mark, while Brad Lyons also tested the goalkeeper from range on 44 minutes.

Motherwell could have doubled their advantage near the hour mark after a counter attack saw Hastie break into the box and cut ball across for Main. The striker got a toe to it as he tried to force home but Kyle McAllister managed to clear. 

Main went close again on two more occasions, flashing an effort just by the post from a tight angle before having another attempt deflected over the bar by Popescu. 

But with just over 15 minutes to go, Saints grabbed a leveller. A Dreyer corner was punched clear by Gillespie but only as far as the Danish winger. Dreyer pinged the ball in again where it met the head of Paul McGinn who glanced home to make it 1-1. 

However, the joy was short-lived for the Buddies with Motherwell regaining the lead four minutes later. Elliot Frear's pinpoint ball into the box was met by Allan Campbell who headed beyond Hladky to restore the Lanarkshire side's advantage and give them all three points.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-2 Motherwell

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Popescu, Baird (McAllister 22), Ferdinand, Muzek, S.McGinn (Tansey 60), Lyons, Dreyer, Nazon (Mullen 69), Jackson
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Corbu, Erhahon, Flynn

Motherwell: Gillespie, Tait, Aldred, Campbell, Main, Aribayi (Frear 64), Grimshaw, Dunne, Gorrin (McHugh 61), Turnbull, Hastie (McCormack 82)
Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Hartley, Johnson, Scott

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Assistant Referee: Ross Haswell
Fourth Official: David Lowe

Attendance: 4,383

St Mirren were beaten 4-0 by Rangers at Ibrox this afternoon. 

The Light Blues were awarded FOUR penalties over the 90 minutes by referee Andrew Dallas - three of which left the Buddies frustrated.

Saints couldn't have wished for a worse start when referee Andrew Dallas pointed to the penalty spot after Ethan Erhahon felled Jermain Defoe inside the box with just two minutes on the clock. There were no arguments from St Mirren about the award and James Tavernier stroked home to give the home side an early lead.

To the Buddies' credit they responded well to the early setback and were having plenty of the ball. Brad Lyons almost put Anders Dreyer one-on-one with Allan McGregor, only for a well-timed Tavernier tackle denying the Dane. 

While Saints were on top when it came to possession, Rangers were threatening on the counter and almost doubled their lead on 12 minutes when a quick break forced Vaclav Hladky to turn behind a Ryan Kent effort from the edge of the area.

St Mirren had a couple of corners but couldn't capitalise from them with the nearest chance coming when Dreyer clipped a ball into the box to meet Simeon Jackson. But the forward headed over.

On 25 minutes Rangers were awarded a second penalty when Defoe went down inside the box with Paul McGinn in close proximity. Saints were incensed by the decision with Jack Baird booked for his remonstrations. Again it was Tavernier who stepped up, but this time the right-back smacked his effort off the post.

It would have felt like justice for the Buddies who continued to be well in the match heading towards half-time. However, all Oran Kearney's side had to show for it was a long range shot from Dreyer which drifted wide.

With 10 minutes to go until the break, Kent almost made it 2-0 when he curled the ball off the top of the cross bar from 18 yards. 

It was a slow start to the second half, but Saints had the first half chance when good work from Erhahon saw the 17 year-old get the ball into the box to meet the foot of Jackson who fired over. 

Nine minutes into the second half Rangers were awarded their third penalty of the afternoon. Like the second, it looked to be another harsh decision as the ball appeared to strike Tansey's hands outside the box. This time Tavernier made no mistake from 12 yards to double Gers' advantage. 

Following the second goal, Saints goalkeeper Hladky was kept busy making good stops to deny Defoe, Alfredo Morelos and then Daniel Candieas stretching Rangers lead further.

Remarkably, with 11 minutes of the game remaining, Andrew Dallas pointed to the spot for a FOURTH time. And, as with the previous two, the St Mirren players were left feeling aggrieved with suggestions the foul on Candieas took place outside the box. Despite the protests, Defoe stepped up to score his first goal at Ibrox and make it 3-0 to the home side.

With the game gone from St Mirren, Rangers added a fourth two minutes later when Ryan Kent finished beyond Hladky from inside the box. 

Full Time: Rangers 4-0 St Mirren 

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn (Corbu 77), Baird, Popescu, Ferdinand, Erhahon (Muzek 72), S.McGinn, Tansey, Lyons, Dreyer, Jackson (Nazon 56)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Flynn, McAllister, Mullen

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Worrall, Katic, Barisic, McCrorie (Jack 54), Davis (Candieas 64) , Arfield, Kent, Morelos, Defoe (Lafferty 83)
Subs Not Used: Foderingham, Halliday, Coulibaly, Middleton

Referee: Andrew Dallas
Assistant Referee: Alistair Mather
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Graham Beaton

Attendance: 49,463

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren missed up a golden opportunity to move out of the bottom two as they lost to Hibs at the Simple Digital Arena.

The Buddies deservedly led at the break as Simeon Jackson clinically finished off a cross from Brad Lyons. Seconds after Kyle McAllister had a great chance to double the lead, Oli Shaw struck to draw Hibs level.

Ten minutes later a familiar face put Hibs in front, Darren McGregor reacting first to score from a corner. McAllister and Stephen McGinn both went close to restoring parity but just before the end another former Saint killed things off, Mallan stroking home Shaw's pass.

Mallan had an early chance to show his set-piece ability when he was fouled just outside the box by Stephen McGinn, the midfielder's free-kick hitting the wall and going behind for a corner that came to nothing. Jack Baird then did well to snuff out the threat of Daryl Horgan after a tremendous through ball by Ryan Gauld, David Gray heading over from the corner that followed. Stephen McGinn had been in the wars a bit but when a Saints free-kick was nodded back out of the box he decided to have a crack, unleashing a thunderbolt that was blocked.

Minutes later the Buddies took the lead. Lyons did well to evade McGregor to get to the byline and his fine low cross evaded the Hibs defence, Jackson rushing in to hammer it past Ofir Marciano for the Canadian international's first Saints goal at home. As the visitors tried to respond, Gray was booked for sliding in on Vaclav Hladky as the Saints keeper rushed out to gather a through ball. Mallan then tried his luck from his usual sort of range but the shot was always drifting well wide.

Jackson had as great chance to double his tally when Greg Tansey's free-kick was deflected into his path, the striker seeing his shot tipped away by Marciano. Jackson headed wide from Stephen McGinn's cross as Saints kept up the pressure, however they nearly conceded just before the break as Horgan pounced on a slack pass and set his sights on the bottom corner, Hladky doing well to tip his shot away before Florian Kamberi was flagged offside as he tried to pounce on the rebound.

Lyons and Jackson almost combined again in the early stages of the second half, Jackson just unable to get his head on Lyons' teasing cross. After Lyons sent a shot well over Hibs made what proved to be a pivotal change, a visibly limping Horgan being replaced by Shaw. Jackson pulled an effort wide before Tansey set up newboy Anders Dreyer at the edge of the box but he blazed his shot over.

Hibs had barely threatened since the break but Gauld almost drew them level as he nipped the ball away from a hesitant Stephen McGinn before drilling a shot wide from 20 yards. It seemed to provide some hope for the visiting fans behind the goal and their side began to put Saints under real pressure for the first time, Hladky turning Marvin Bartley's shot behind for a corner. From that the Buddies broke and McAllister passed up a golden chance to put the hosts two in front. As shouts for a foul fell on deaf ears, Marciano scuffed a clearance off the winger who then managed to get the better of the keeper. With the goal gaping, McAllister delayed his shot just enough for the grounded Marciano to narrow the angle and when he did get his strike away it was trundling off target before Bartley hacked it away.

It was to prove costly as Hibs equalised immediately as Mallan slipped a fine ball through to Shaw and, the sub slotted it under the onrushing Hladky to bring the sides level. It was then down to a former Buddie to put the Hibees in front – but probably not the one you'd have expected. Kamberi's header at a corner was blocked by Paul McGinn but the ball sat up invitingly for McGregor, who showed the predatory instincts of a striker to stab it high into the net.

Saints were shaken but weren't going down without a fight. Ethan Erhahon's cross was nodded back into the mix and when Jackson's header was half-cleared, Stephen McGinn thumped it towards goal only for Marciano to save it and McGregor to clear away Jackson's follow-up McAllister was next to be denied, a corner being cleared as far as the winger whose fine shot was kept out by an even better save by Marciano.

Any hope of Oran Kearney's side salvaging something was wiped out a few minutes from time. Gray found Shaw with a fine ball and when he played it inside, Mallan stroked it into the bottom corner. The former Saint almost rubbed more salt into the wound in what little time remained as he flashed a shot just wide but the damage was already done, the Buddies somehow ending up with nothing from a game they looked perfectly placed to win.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-3 Hibernian

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Baird, Popescu, Erhahon, S.McGinn, Dreyer, Tansey, Lyons, McAllister, Jackson
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Ferdinand, Flynn, Glover, Breadner, Jamieson

Hibernian: Marciano, Gray (c), Whittaker, Hanlon, McGregor, Bartley, Horgan (Shaw 50), Slivka, Gauld (Omeonga 76), Mallan (Mackie 90), Kamberi
Subs Not Used: Dabrowski, Nelom, Murray, Omeonga, Allan

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: David Doig
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan

Attendance: 5,650

St Mirren were beaten in their first league game of 2019 as we fell to a 4-0 loss to Celtic at Celtic Park.

Two goals in the space of six first half minutes from Oliver Burke and Scott Sinclair had the league leaders in control going into the interval before Burke and substitute Timothy Weah added goals in the second half. 

There was very little between the two sides in the opening 10 minutes, though the hosts were enjoying the lion's share of possession.

Celtic were awarded a free kick on 11 minutes when 17 year-old Ethan Erhahon tugged back James Forrest as the winger tried to burst down the right side. Ryan Christie whipped the free kick into the six yard box where Burke, who peeled away from his marker, met the ball with his head and guided towards goal. Vaclav Hladky got two hands on it but couldn't get enough on it to keep the ball out of the net.

A few minutes later, St Mirren were temporarily reduced to ten men when Lee Hodson came out the worst in a 50/50 with Ryan Christie. Jim Kellermann was primed to come on but before he could make his way on to the park Celtic were awarded a penalty. Stephen McGinn caught Scott Sinclair as the English winger drifted into the box from the left. It was Sinclair who stepped up and dispatched into the left hand corner of the net. 

Celtic could have made it 3-0 on 25 minutes when Mihai Popescu played the ball straight to Forrest. Forrest played it through to Burke who held the ball up before picking out an unmarked Callum McGregor. The midfielder drove into the box but somehow blasted over from close range. 

As half time approached Stephen McGinn sent an effort from outside the box into the arms of Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain.

Celtic extended their lead 10 minutes in to the second half. Hladky had make a good double save to deny Forrest and then McGregor, but the Saints defence couldn't react to the danger and Burke was on hand to follow up to make it 3-0. 

Both sides made changes as the game wore on. Cody Cooke and Jim Kellermann, both of whom seemed to have picked up knocks, made way for Simeon Jackson and Kyle McAllister, while Timothy Weah and Ewan Henderson replaced Burke and Christie for the hosts. 

The substitution of Weah highlighted Celtic's strength in reserve and the young American almost made an immediate impact as he found himself one-on-one with Hladky, but the Czech goalkeeper produced a great save to turn the effort by the post.

Weah did add his name to the scoresheet though with less than five minutes remaining. He got on the end of a Ewan Henderson through pass and slid the ball low beyond Hladky to round off a difficult night for Saints.

Full Time: Celtic 4-0 St Mirren 

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Baird, Popescu, Erhahon, Hodson (Kellermann 17, McAllister 72), Tansey, S.McGinn (c), Lyons, Flynn, Cooke (Jackson 59)
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Ferdinand

Celtic: Bain, Lustig, Ajer, Benkovic, Izaguirre, Forrest, Brown, McGregor, Sinclair, Christie (Henderson 72), Burke (Weah 64)
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Simunovic, Bitton, Hayes, Johnston

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Craig Thomson

Attendance: 54,821