St Mirren brought to an end Dundee United's 100% start to the Ladbrokes Championship with a stunning 3-0 win.

Lewis Morgan scored either side of half-time to put St Mirren 2-0 ahead before Ian McShane scored his first goal for the Buddies late on to seal the terrific victory. 

Saints were dominant throughout and thoroughly deserved the three points as they moved up to third in the league.  

The game got off to a lively start with Stelios testing United goalkeeper Harry Lewis after just 40 seconds, before the visitors' Paul McMullan had a shot held by Craig Samson. 

Samson then made a terrific block to deny Scott McDonald after Saints failed to clear a corner kick. 

But, on 26 minutes, St Mirren were ahead when Morgan, who told stmirren.com before the match that he relished the big matches, proved himself to be the man for the occasion as he opened the scoring with a wonderful goal. The winger picked the ball up from Stephen McGinn on the halfway line and burst forward before unleashing a low drive beyond Harry Lewis in the Dundee United goal to put the Buddies ahead.

Saints kept on coming and almost had a second 10 minutes later. McShane stepped up to take a free-kick on the left hand side which goalkeeper Lewis spilled into the path of Gregor Buchanan. The Saints defender got a flick of his boot on it only for it to come off the post, before the offside flag was raised with Gavin Reilly waiting to pounce.

And Reilly was unlucky not to score a few moments later when he latched on to a long ball up the field. Lewis had raced off his line, but the striker didn't connect well with the strike, sending it wide.

Just before the interval McShane almost got his name on the scoresheet directly from a corner. The 24 year-old whipped it in ferociously with it bouncing off the bar and eventually being scrambled to safety. 

Half Time: St Mirren 1-0 Dundee United

Saints got the second half off to the perfect start as Morgan scored his and St Mirren's second three minutes after the break.

Again the 20 year-old broke forward and looked likely to try to emulate his first with the space there for him to have a go. Instead he played it wide to Liam Smith, with the loanee's attempted cross knocked back into the path of Morgan who composed himself before curling the ball into the far corner of the net from the edge of the box. 

Robson went close to grabbing a goal back for the visitors a few minutes later after a terrific solo run, but the shot whizzed by the post. 

In truth St Mirren were well on top with Stephen McGinn unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. A corner from central midfield partner eventually fell to the skipper who took it first time on the volley with it only just going wide.

The Buddies killed the match with just over 10 minutes to go when Ian McShane grabbed his first St Mirren goal to seal the points. Morgan did well to keep the ball in play on the right side before expertly picking out the 24 year-old. The midfielder took a touch before curling it home from the edge of the box to end a perfect day for Saints in style. 

Full Time: St Mirren 3-0 Dundee United

St Mirren: Samson, Baird, Buchanan, Eckersley, L. Smith (Kirkpatrick 86), McGinn, McShane, Stelios, Morgan (Whyte 88), C.Smith, Reilly (Stewart 89)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, O'Keefe, Duffy, Sutton  

Dundee United: Lewis, Murdoch, Durnan, Quinn, Robson, Stanton, Flood, Fyvie (N'Koyi 65), McMullan, King, McDonald
Subs Not Used: Deniz, Toshney, Edjenduele, Allardice, Dailly, Thomas

Referee: Kevin Glancy 
Assistant Referee: Joseph Lawson
Assistant Referee: David Dunne

Attendance: 4,768

St Mirren inflicted a first defeat of the season on Livingston as ten men Saints earned a deserved three points at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

A Craig Halkett own goal got the Buddies off to a flying start before the Livi skipper equalised a little over five minutes later.

Saints were reduced to 10 men for a second week in a row when Gary Irvine received his marching order for a late tackle on Dale Carrick.

But a second half double from Gavin Reilly was enough to see the Buddies make it two wins from the first three league matches and end Livingston's 17 match unbeaten record.

Saints started the match well with Lewis Morgan testing Neil Alexander with only two minutes on the clock, stinging the palms of the goalkeeper with a fierce effort just inside the box. 

The good start would soon pay dividends as St Mirren went ahead on 10 minutes. It all came from the effort of captain Stephen McGinn who picked the ball up in midfield and drove forward before attempting to clip the ball in to the middle for one of the oncoming Saints players. It came off Halkett's outstretched leg before looping over Alexander to send the visitors into an early lead.

The Buddies were value for their lead after the way they had started the match and could have doubled their advantage after Morgan slipped in Gavin Reilly a few minutes later. The striker had Cammy Smith in the box as support but went it alone drilling the ball mere inches by the far post. 

Saints were on top but the home side could have been level on 15 minutes when Scott Pittman rose to meet Rafaelle De Vita's cross. The midfielder powered the header goalward only to be denied by a truly wonderful save from Craig Samson. However, Saints failed to get the danger clear after the goalkeeper's save with Livingston winning a corner from which they'd find their equaliser. Halkett made amends for his part in Saints' opener as he met Josh Mullin's corner to bullet home the equaliser.

The home side grew in confidence and then, for a second week in a row, St Mirren were reduced to ten men when Gary Irvine was shown a straight red after catching Dale Carrick late. That meant a change of shape for the Buddies, going from a 3-4-3 to a 4-4-1 and gave the Lions a man advantage with around an hour of the match still to go. 

The windy conditions were also making it difficult for Saints as Livingston tried to make their extra man count. Craig Samson was on hand to deny De Vita's header after the forward met a terrific Mullin cross at the far post, before strong hands from the keeper kept out Joe Thomson's long range effort just before the interval.

Half Time: Livingston 1-1 St Mirren

Livingston came out of the traps quickly with Pittman having a shot blocked by Adam Eckersley.

But it was the visitors who would take the lead for a second time despite being down a man. Lewis Morgan was caught late 40 yards from the Livi goal as he tried to burst forward at pace and Saints were awarded a free kick. Ian McShane floated the ball into the box, where it was headed out only as far as Cammy Smith who let fly. Alexander got his hands to the effort, but only succeeding in pushing the ball into the path of Gavin Reilly who knocked it home.

And less than 10 minutes later the Buddies were three to the good with Reilly again on the scoresheet. Like the first it came from a free kick after Cammy Smith was pushed. McShane flung it deep into the Livingston box where he picked out Stelios who had peeled away at the far corner. The Cypriot nodded a header across the face of goal where Reilly was sliding into to crash it into the net to give Saints a cushion.

The drama in the match was far from over as Danny Mullen went into the book for a poor challenge on Stelios. Manager Jack Ross was sent to the stand as he protested the decision to take the full back off the pitch after receiving treatmenta.

Livingston had to chase the game, but it was Saints who were looking the more likely with the speed of Morgan causing problems when he hit the home side on the counter on several occasions. The closest the winger came was on 84 minutes when he broke through with John Sutton in support. He elected to go alone but saw his attempt blocked by Halkett.

The home side almost pulled one back two minutes later when substitute Nikolay Todorov cracked the bar after being teed off by Cadden. 

But the makeshift St Mirren defence held firm and Saints picked up a big three points to move them up to fourth place with just three games played. 

Full Time: Livingston 1-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, Buchanan, Eckersley, L.Smith, McGinn, McShane, Stelios, C.Smith (Kirkpatrick 74), Morgan, Reilly (Sutton 67)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Whyte, O'Keefe, Stewart, Duffy

Livingston: Alexander, Longridge, Halkett, Gallagher, Byrne (Mackin 66) , Pittman, Thomson, Mullen, Mullin, Carrick (Todorov 71), De Vita (Cadden 60)
Subs Not Used: Maley, Penrice, Knox, Jacobs

Referee: Craig Thomson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Ross Anderson

Attendance: 1609

St Mirren scored two late goals to avoid a shock exit at the hands of East Kilbride in the first round of the IRN-BRU Cup. 

Saints had dominated the match but failed to find a breakthrough before Dominic McLaren scored with less than 10 minutes to go to send the Lowland League side into the lead.

The Buddies were staring exit in the face before Ross Stewart levelled on 87 minutes. The game was poised for extra time when Lewis Morgan popped up deep in injury to snatch a 2-1 victory that sees the St Mirren in the draw for the next round.

Saints started well with new boy Darryl Duffy testing Jacob Kean in the East Kilbride goal with a header on four minutes after he got on the end of Cammy Smith's ball in.

Smith then went close himself a minute later with a goal-bound effort that was headed off the line. 

Ross Stewart will have been disappointed not to have opened the score twice within the space of a minute. The striker was first on the end of a Cammy Smith cut back and fired over at close range with the goal gaping. Then, less than 60 seconds later, he was the recipient of a great ball in from debutant Liam Smith. He nodded towards goal but his header was clawed over by Kean.

Kean, deputising for the McGinley, was having the game of his life and made a super stop to deny Ian McShane a first St Mirren goal. The midfielder rushed into the box to meet an Adam Eckersley cross with his head but again the goalkeeper was in hand to keep the score goalless.

The returning Eckersley was the next to be denied as Kean palmed his cross-cum-shot away from goal just before the match reached half time.

Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 East Kilbride

After a slow start to the first second half Saints took control after the manager made two substitutions. On came Gavin Reilly and Stelios Demetriou, with the former thwarted by the goalkeeper a little after the hour mark. The striker burst into the box and looked certain to finally put Saints in front, but once again Kean was there to push the attempt away. 

And Kean would continue to frustrate the Buddies as he denied Lewis Morgan after the winger drove forward and went low with his effort only to see the goalkeeper flick it by the post. 

Saints were huffing and puffing but East Kilbride's house just wouldn't blow down. Reilly looked certain to score when he was found in space but his shot was deflected wide before Ross Stewart leaped to reach a cross only to see it come off the post.

And then, all of a sudden against the run of play, the visitors took a shock lead with just 10 minutes to go. Dominic McLaren rose above the St Mirren defence to head the Lowland League side in front from a corner kick.

It was scarcely believable given the previous 80 minutes of play with the Buddies now on the verge of inconceivable exit from the competition. But still St Mirren pressed on and were rewarded when Ross Stewart finally breached the stubborn Lowland League side's defence to level the scores. The striker nipped in ahead of the East Kilbride defence to lift the ball over the goalkeeper to restore parity.

Saints pushed and pushed to score to avoid extra-time. Once again Kean was imperious on the 90 minute mark as he inexplicably turned away a Reilly shot at the far post.

But there was yet another twist in the tail as Morgan picked the ball up after a scramble in the box and squeezed the ball in at the near post to put Saints into the next round.  

Full Time: St Mirren 2-1 East Kilbride

St Mirren: Stewart, L. Smith, Baird, Buchanan, Eckersley (Stelios 57) , Morgan, McShane, McGinn, C.Smith (Kirkpatrick 75), Stewart, Duffy (Reilly 56)
Subs Not Used: Samson, Irvine, O'Keefe,  Sutton

East Kilbride: Kean, Stevenson, Coll, Russell, McLaren, Gibbons, Corrieri (Ferris 66), McLeish (Anderson 75), Coogans (Campbell 66), Hughes, Strachan
Subs Not Used: McGinley, McNeil, Robertson, Beattie

Referee: John McKendrick
Assistant Referee: Kylie McMullan
Assistant Referee: Jordan Paterson

Attendance: 1357

St Mirren were reduced to ten men on the way to defeat by Morton in the first Renfrewshire derby of the season.

Jack Baird's second half sending off was a pivotal moment in the match with the scores level at 1-1 when the defender conceded a second penalty of the afternoon. 

Tidser had scored from the spot to open the scoring before Cammy Smith equalised with a superb strike. Baird's red card soon after the interval allowed Tidser to score again. Bob McHugh and Andy Murdoch rounded off a disappointing afternoon for Saints with two goals in a five minute period to give Morton a 4-1 victory.

Jack Ross named the same starting eleven for the third match in a row with new signing Darryl Duffy on the bench.

But it was a striker who has made over 100 appearances for the Saints that should have opened the scoring for Saints just six minutes into the match. John Sutton rose above the Morton defence and teammate Gavin Reilly to reach a brilliant ball in from Lewis Morgan but headed wide. 

Saints had started well but the home side grew into the game with Ross Forbes almost putting Morton ahead on 14 minutes, sending a free kick just wide. Gary MacKenzie was penalised for a foul 20 yards out with Forbes stepping up to curl it into the side netting just a few moments after he had sent a shot crashing over the bar.

The home side were awarded a penalty on 25 minutes when Jai Quitongo went down under the challenge from Jack Baird as he was bearing down on goal. Craig Samson was infuriated by the decision as he felt striker went down easily and a bit of afters saw both the goalkeeper and Quitongo join Baird in the book. Michael Tidser stepped up after a bit of a delay but made no mistake as he dispatched it low into the left with Samson going the wrong way. 

Morton should have been two goals to the good after a terrific low fizzing ball across the box from Quitongo met Bob McHugh. The striker hit his shot into the ground with Samson doing tremendously well to claw the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner Morton captain Thomas O'Ware sent a header just wide of the right hand post after meeting Forbes' ball in.

Saints made the home side pay for that profligacy on 40 minutes when Cammy Smith scored a peach of an equaliser. It was the forward's third goal in as many games as he picked up the ball and drove forward before spectacularly drilling it into the top corner of the net to take the sides level into the second half.

Half Time: Morton 1-1 St Mirren

Saints got the second half off to the worse possible start as Baird received a second yellow card as he conceded a second penalty less than five minutes after the interval.  

A misplaced pass from MacKenzie was pounced upon by Quitongo before he slipped it to McHugh who got ahead of Baird and charged through on goal. The defender tugged at the striker's jersey and he fell to the ground with Willie Collum quickly pointing to the penalty spot for a second time. 

Once again Tidser stepped up to take and once again he sent Samson the wrong way, this time crashing the ball into the right side of the net to put the Greenock side back in front. 

Morton made their man advantage count as they gave themselves a cushion on 72 minutes. Good work on the right hand side from the effective Quitongo saw him pick out McHugh inside the box and the striker fired it home to ensure the bragging rights would stay in Greenock. 

Ian McShane almost pulled a goal back for Saints with his powerful drive from the edge of the box turned over the bar by Derek Gaston. 

McHugh turned provider five minutes later as Morton further extended their lead. Andy Murdoch peeled off on the right hand side before being slipped in by the striker and slotting the ball beyond Samson to make it 4-1.

That was how it finished as Morton picked up the bragging rights for the first derby of the season. 

Full Time: Morton 4-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, MacKenzie, Baird, Stelios, Smith, McGinn (c), McShane, Morgan, Sutton (Buchanan 50), Reilly (Stewart 64)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Eckersley, Kirkpatrick, O'Keefe, Duffy

Morton: Gaston, Murdoch, O'Ware, Lamie, Doyle (McManus 76), Forbes (Oliver 85), Quitongo (Harkins 76), Thomson, McHugh, Tidser, Russell
Subs Not Used: McGowan, Tiffoney, Iredale, Strapp, McManus, Harkins, Oliver

Referee: Willie Collum
Assistant Referee: Ralph Gordon
Assistant Referee: Alan MacFayden

Attendance: 4,661

St Mirren opened their Ladbrokes Championship season with a first opening day win since 2006 as they came from behind to deservedly defeat Falkirk 3-1 at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Nathan Austin gave the Bairns an early lead before goals from Stelios, Cammy Smith and Gavin Reilly gave Saints all three points.

Jack Ross elected to name the same starting eleven that defeated Airdrieonians 5-0 a week prior. 

But the Buddies couldn't have gotten off to a worse start with the vistors taking the lead with a little over 90 seconds on the clock. Gary Irvine slipped inside the box allowing ex-Saint Rory Loy to curl an effort towards the top corner that Craig Samson could only push into the air. Nathan Austin was on hand to nudge the ball over the line from close range to put Falkirk ahead.

Saints' best chance of the match came after 24 minutes after a quick break from Lewis Morgan. The winger played a sensational cross field pass onto the head of John Sutton who nodded it down into the path of Cammy Smith. The striker was one-on-one with Robbie Thomson but stuck his attempt over the bar. 

St Mirren got themselves level on 33 minutes as Stelios scored Saints' first league goal of the season. The left-back charged onto a great ball across from Gavin Reilly and drilled it low beyond Thomson to level the proceedings. 

The home side grew in confidence after the equaliser winning a couple of corners, the best chance coming when Morgan curled wide after a McShane corner. 

Falkirk almost got themselves in front for a second time just before the break when Myles Hippolyte flashed a powerful low drive a whisker by the post. 

Half Time: St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk

While Saints couldn't have wished for a worse start to the first half, they got off to the perfect start after the interval. Just 45 seconds into the second half Falkirk keeper Thomson clawed at Gavin Reilly's cross from the right hand side, but only succeeded in putting it into the feet of Smith who composed himself before driving the ball into the net. 

Goalscorer Austin went close to grabbing his second when he sprinted into the box, closely guarded by Gary MacKenzie. The big defender did his best to hold him off but the striker eventually got the shot away which Samson blocked. 

And less than 10 minutes later it was Smith's turn to play provider for Reilly. Smith played a delightful through ball for the striker who burst through and finished it beautifully with a hard, low strike across the face of goal into the back of the net. 

Falkirk's hopes of salvaging anything from the match were dealt a blow on 76 minutes when Aaron Muirhead was shown a straight red card. It was a deserved sending off for the Bairns defender as he caught Stelios with an elbow as the pair went up for a header. 

Yet the visitors should have pulled a goal back when substitute Lee Miller was sliding in at the back post. He connected with the low ball across inside the six yard box, but somehow failed to guide it into the net. 

Jack Baird almost got Saints a fourth as he rose above the Falkirk defence to head just over from a McShane corner. 

That was the last chance in the match with Saints ending up deserved winners and getting their season off to a flying start.

Full Time: St Mirren 3-1 Falkirk

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, MacKenzie, Baird, Stelios, Smith (O'Keefe 90), McGinn (c), McShane, Morgan, Sutton (Kirkpatrick 89), Reilly (Stewart 83)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Buchanan, Whyte, Eckersley

Falkirk: Thomson, Muirhead, Grant, McKee, Kerr, Austin (Gasparrotto 78), Hippolyte, Harris (Shepherd 65), Gallacher, Loy (Miller 50), Watson
Subs Not Used: Mitchell, Taiwo, O'Hara, Craigen

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Anthony Cooper
Assistant Referee: Colin McAlpine

Attendance: 4,639

Match Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren's Betfred Cup campaign ended with a morale boosting win over Airdrieonians at the Paisley 2021 Stadium this afternoon. 

Jack Ross' side were dominant throughout the 90 minutes, putting five beyond the Diamonds as they gear up for the Ladbrokes Championship opening day fixture against Falkirk next week.

Saints were ahead just nine minutes in as a Stelios cross was turned into the net. Cammy Smith was credited with the goal but it appeared to come off Airdrie's Kieran MacDonald, leaving Rohan Ferguson helpless in the visitors' goal. Nevertheless it gave the side an early lead from which to build upon.

The Buddies could have been two to the good a little over five minutes later. A short freekick was worked wide to Jack Baird whose attempted cross was knocked out for a corner. Ian McShane pinged the ball into the penalty spot where Gary MacKenzie leaped above the Diamonds' defence to bullet just wide of the mark. 

The home side had to be alert when an excellent ball in from Cameron Russell was headed wide by Stelios with John Higgins waiting to pounce at the back post. From the corner, Saints cleared to Lewis Morgan who broke forward at speed before seeing his effort from the edge of the box blocked. 

Saints were on top and a succession of corners first saw McShane having a shot pushed wide by Ferguson, before the Airdrie keeper made a brilliant save to deny Jack Baird. 

St Mirren's dominance was to pay dividends when Gavin Reilly made it 2-0 on the half hour mark. Stephen McGinn expertly picked out John Sutton with a beautifully weighted ball into the box which the experienced striker cushioned on to Reilly. The 24 year-old didn't need a second invitation as he fired high into the top of the net to double the Buddies' advantage. 

Half Time: St Mirren 2-0 Airdrieonians

The visitors spurned a glorious to reduce the deficit early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty. MacKenzie was booked for his protests after he was adjudged to have pulled down Dean Cairns from a corner kick. Andy Ryan stepped up but sent the spot kick wide of the target. 

Saints would also miss a penalty after substitute Ross Stewart was fouled inside the box around 15 minutes later. Reilly stepped up looking to net his second of the afternoon but his effort was tame and easily saved by Ferguson. 

The striker would quickly make amends though. He was on the end of a cross from Morgan with his header hitting the post before creeping over the line to put the game to bed. 

He could have had the match ball less than 60 seconds later as he found himself in good space before his attempt was pushed wide by Ferguson. 

The game was over as a contest but there was a clean sheet to be kept for Craig Samson. He made a series of good stops in a busy two minute spell. First he denied David Brownlie with a fine save, tipping the header over the bar. From the resultant corner he made another excellent stop from Ryan's header before blocking Murray Loudon's far post volley. 

And not only was there a clean sheet to be kept, but Saints were hungry for more goals with Morgan getting in on the act. The 20 year-old winger scored a fine angled effort after latching on to a ball over the top from McShane, rifling into the far corner beyond Ferguson. 

Stewart thought he had netted when he followed up Morgan's saved effort minutes later but the linesman's flag was raised to deny the striker a first goal at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. 

There would be a fifth though as Smith scored on 89 minutes. There was to be no argument about this one as the forward broke into the box and smashed it home to make it 5-0.

It may have meant little in terms of the Betfred Cup, but the emphatic win gives Saints a boost heading into next week's curtain raiser in the Ladbrokes Championship. 

Full Time: St Mirren 5-0 Airdrieonians

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, Baird, MacKenzie (Buchanan 68), Stelios, Smith, McShane, McGinn, Morgan, Sutton (Stewart 65), Reilly (Kirkpatrick 75)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Horne, Whyte, Morrison

Airdrieonians: Ferguson, S. Stewart, MacDonald, McIntosh, Cairns, Brownline, Higgins, Conroy, Ryan, Russell (Loudon 45), Brown (Thomson 77)
Subs Not Used: Kerr, McLaughlin, Leighton

Referee: Craig Napier
Assistant Referee: Jordan Stokoe
Assistant Referee: Daniel Graves

Attendance: 1,557

Match Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

It was a day to forget for St Mirren as they were on the end of a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Partick Thistle in the Betfred Cup.

It's a result that puts to an end Saints hopes of qualifying for the next round with one match remaining. 

An even opening 10 minutes saw both sides go close but it was Jordan Kirkpatrick, making his first St Mirren start, who forced the first save of the match with a long range effort that Tomas Cerny had to do well to push away from goal.

But the home side were ahead two minutes later. There were suspicions of offside as Blair Spittal's knock down found Kris Doolan inside the area and the striker finished low into the far corner beyond Ross Stewart.

The Jags, buoyed by the opener, were on the ascendancy and should have been 2-0 when Abdul Osman found Chris Erskine who held off the challenge of Gary MacKenzie to race clear on goal. The midfielder will have felt he should have done better when his shot was blocked by the legs of Stewart. Credit to the Saints goalkeeper though who did well to deny the 30 year-old.

However, from the resultant short corner Erskine made amends as he received the ball from Steven Lawless on the edge of the box before playing it back to the winger who drilled the Jags into a two goal lead.

The home side were on top but Saints could have got themselves back into the match when Kirkpatrick slipped in Gavin Reilly on the left hand side after capitalising on slack play from Abdul Osman. The striker broke into the box and would have been disappointed not to make the goalkeeper work as he dragged the ball wide.

Soon after it was effectively game over when Lawless notched his second of the match to make it 3-0. Callum Booth picked out Lawless who finished well from the edge of the box.

Saints' misery was further added to a mere four minutes later when Spittal added his name to the list of scorers. Jack Baird was penalised for a foul around 25 yards out and picked up a booking. Spittal stepped up and curled it neatly into the near post leaving Stewart with no chance.

Half Time: Partick Thistle 4-0 St Mirren

Abdul Osman was giving a yellow card for a poor challenge on Stephen McGinn early into the second half that gave St Mirren a free kick in a good area. Lewis Morgan went for goal but sent the effort wide.

10 minutes later Osman was sent packing after another bad tackle on the Saints skipper. Yet almost immediately after the red card Thistle had further extended their lead. The home side won the ball back from the free kick, Erskine skipped by Darren Whyte before sending an excellent ball across the middle to the onrushing Spittal who slid it into the net. 

Saints had a couple of opportunities to get themselves a consolation goal with Cammy Smith drilling a shot wide and substitute Ross Stewart heading just over the bar, but it was Ian McShane who really came closest forcing a tremendous save from Cerny. The midfielder looked set to score his first Buddies goal but the Czech goalkeeper pushed away his effort as it was set to find the top corner. 

The game, however, was long since over and Saints will close their Betfred Cup campaign at home to Airdrieonians next week before concentrations turn to the Ladbrokes Championship. 

Full Time: Partick Thistle 5-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Stewart, Whyte, MacKenzie, Baird, Irvine, McShane, McGinn, Morgan, Smith (Stewart 73), Kirkpatrick (O'Keefe 45), Reilly (Sutton 64)
Subs Not Used: Samson, Buchanan, Horne, Erhahon

Partick Thistle: Cerny, Booth, Devine, Barton, Osman, Erskine (Edwards 65), Elliot, Bannigan (McCarthy 83), Spittal, Lawless, Doolan (Nisbet 74)
Subs Not Used: Scully, Penrice, Lamont, McLaughlin

Referee: Stephen Finnie
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
Fourth Official: David Munro

Attendance: 2727 (883 St Mirren fans)

St Mirren's first game of the season at the Paisley 2021 Stadium ended in defeat as an early goal from Dale Carrick was enough to gain Livingston three points. 

The Livi midfielder struck with just two minutes on the clock and that strike was enough for the visitors to hold on to for the rest of the match as they secured a big win in the Betfred Cup.

Kyle Jacobs' ball into the box was chested down into the path of Carrick who lashed the lions into a lead. 

It was an early setback for Saints and it could've got worse almost immediately as Craig Samson had to deny Scott Pittman moments later. Gary Irvine was caught in possession by Danny Mullen who found Jacobs before he laid it off to Pittman with the Buddies goalkeeper doing well to block. 

Steadily though St Mirren grew into the game after being rocked early doors. Cammy Smith almost had Saints level on 12 minutes as he got on the end of a Lewis Morgan cutback, but a deflection took it by the post. 

Ross Stewart, making his home debut, nearly added to his goal against Stranraer on Saturday after being found in space on the right. The forward broke into the box and forced Neil Alexander to make a good stop at his near post. 

Gregor Buchanan went close as he headed over from an Ian McShane corner before Morgan flashed an effort across the face of goal with no takers.

Stephen McGinn almost caught out Alexander with a curling effort but it was comfortably held by the experienced Livi keeper. 

Half Time: St Mirren 0-1 Livingston

Saints forced a couple of corners after the interval but failed to make any count with Alexander not having a save to make. 

Livingston went close to doubling their lead when Alan Lithgow rose above the St Mirren defence to head just over the bar from a free kick on the left.

Substitute Conor O'Keefe slammed the ball into the net with 77 minutes played, but the linesman's flag has already been raised after the youngster strayed offside after McGinn's flick on. 

O'Keefe looked like he might bag his first St Mirren goal as he got on the end of a header down. The youngster's scissor kick was heading right into the bottom corner of the net, only for Rafa De Vita to be in the right place at the right time to block. 

One last chance would come for Saints as the clock reached the 90 minute mark. A cross from Stelios was headed down by MacKenzie who looked to put it into the path of McGinn but the skipper was unable to reach the ball as trickled wide.

Full Time: St Mirren 0-1 Livingston 

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, Buchanan (Kirkpatrick 78), MacKenzie, Stelios, McGinn, McShane, Stewart (Sutton 61), Smith (O'Keefe 70), Morgan, Reilly
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Baird, MacPherson, Sutton

Livingston: Alexander, Lithgow, Halkett, Gallagher, Byrne, Pittman, Mullin, Jacobs (Todorov 62), De Vita, Mullen (Peters 79), Carrick (Longridge 33)
Subs Not Used: Maley, Mackin, Knox

Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Jim Burns

Attendance: 2,104

Match Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren's Betfred Cup campaign got off to a winning start as the Buddies came from behind to defeat Stranraer at Stair Park. 

Scott Agnew gave the home side the lead before goals from Gavin Reilly, Ross Stewart, Lewis Morgan and Gregor Buchanan sealed an emphatic win for Saints.

Ian McShane almost made himself an instant Saints hero with just six minutes on the clock. The new signing played a neat one-two with Cammy Smith, finding himself one-on-one with Stranraer goalkeeper Cameron Belford. But the goalie did well to block with the rebound coming off McShane's knee and bouncing wide. 

However, it was the Stranraer who drew first blood as the home side took the lead on 11 minutes through ex-Saint Scott Agnew. It was three on two in favour of the home side with Ryan Wallace slipping the ball through to midfielder Agnew who slotted beyond Craig Samson. 

Saints were level just before the half hour mark with a debut goal from Gavin Reilly. Morgan picked the ball up from McShane and went on a driving run before crashing an effort off the post. Reilly was in the right place at the right time as he took a touch before finishing beyond Belford.

The Buddies kept on the pressure and took the lead four minutes later. This time it was Ross Stewart's turn to notch a debut goal. A free kick from deep in the Stranraer half was headed on inside the box by Gregor Buchanan, falling invitingly for Smith whose shot was well saved by Belford. It then fell to Stewart who was on hand to tap home to put the visitors ahead. 

Stranraer went close to restoring parity when they won a free kick after goalscorer Agnew was felled. Wallace and Agnew stood over the ball, but it was the former who took a pop and he wasn't far away as it whistled just over the bar.

But it was St Mirren who would further extend their lead before the half time interval. Smith picked out an unmarked Morgan 25 yards out from a corner kick. The young winger, Saints Player of the Year last season, rifled an effort towards the ruck of bodies in the box with it striking off a Blues player and nestling into the far corner of the net.

McShane was unlucky not to have added his name to the debutant scorers in the first half when he broke through on the right hand side of the box and saw his powerful effort expertly pushed away by Belford. 

Half Time: Stranraer 1-3 St Mirren

The hosts went close to narrowing the deficit early into the second half when a free kick from the left by Agnew was glanced wide by Tom Lang. 

And how that would prove to be an real chance gone when Buchanan added his name to the list of debutant scorers for St Mirren 10 minutes after the restart. McShane whipped a corner deep to the back post where it met the head of the defender who nodded beyond Belford to put the Buddies out of sight.

Saints were well in control and it would take a minor miracle for the Blues to get back into the match but the visitors still had to be alert. Jamie Hamill twice forced Craig Samson to push away efforts with Agnew also drilling an effort towards the top corner, only to see Samson knock it wide.

Stewart should have nabbed his second of the match, and St Mirren's fifth, after getting on the end of a poor Stranraer backpass. He stole the attempted ball back to the goalkeeper and burst through only to be thwarted by Belford who clawed the shot away.

Samson made another good save late in the match to deny Morgen Neill a consolation goal, but in the end Saints triumphed comfortably and lead Group H after the first round of matches.

Full Time: Stranraer 1-4 St Mirren

St Mirren: Samson, Irvine, Buchanan, MacKenzie, Stelios, McGinn, McShane (Quinn 73), Stewart, Smith (O'Keefe 78), Morgan, Reilly (Kirkpatrick 69)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Baird, MacPherson, Sutton

Stranraer: Belford, Robertson, Dick, Neill, Lang, Bell (Okoh 59), Anderson (Woods 59), Hamill, Thomson, Agnew, Wallace (Stoney 59)
Subs Not Used: Currie, Barron, McGowan, Turner

Referee: Colin Steven

Attendance: 849

Match Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

Saints were held to a goalless draw by Alloa at the Indodrill Stadium as preparations for the new season continued.

The Buddies, who get back to competitive action next Saturday against Stranraer in the Betfred Cup, couldn't find a breakthrough against the League One side in an even match.

Jim Goodwin's Wasps started the game off brightly and almost took the lead when Iain Flannigan almost latched on to Alan Cook's tempting ball across.

Andrew Graham could have done better when he rose above the Saints defence, but his glancing header from a free kick was easily held by Ross Stewart. 

Saints had their best spell of the match as they approached the interval. 

First Jordan Kirkpatrick, facing the club he left in the summer, had the best chance to open the scoring when he ghosted in at the back post and forced a terrific save from Alloa goalkeeper Craig McDowall. 

A minute later, Dale Hilson almost got the Saints ahead from a similar position with his effort flashing just wide of the left hand post. 

Gary MacKenzie nodded a header from a Kirkpatrick corner wide after leaping above the Alloa defence, before McDowall was called into action again denying Hilson and Ross Stewart with a fine double save. 

The Buddies were on top at the point but entered the interval with nothing to show for it. 

They failed to continue that strong finish after the break and it wouldn't be until 20 minutes into the second half before something of note would happen for the visitors. 

Lewis Morgan picked the ball up on the edge of the box and rifled a shot that was deflected behind. McDowall made a stunning low stop to deny substitute Gavin Reilly from adding to his goal again in Dundee from the resultant corner. 

Alloa arguably should have taken the lead just five minutes later when Kevin Cawley was picked out at the back post. The midfielder was unmarked and has time to pick his spot only to be denied by the legs of Saint goalkeeper Stewart. 

Saints had a couple of corners while Alloa's Ryan Hoggan scuffed a free kick wide as the game ended in stalemate. 

St Mirren: Stewart, Irvine (Quinn 53), Buchanan, MacKenzie (Baird 68), Stelios (McDonald 74), McGinn (O'Keefe 74), MacPherson (Horne 81), Todd (Reilly 61), Hilson (Morgan 43), Kirkpatrick (Smith 60), Stewart (Sutton 61)
Subs Not Used: Samson, Whyte

Alloa: McDowall, Taggart, Meggatt, McKeown, Graham, Robertson (Grant 68), Cawley (Cunningham 77), Flannigan (Hoggan 68), Malcolm (Hetherington 63), Fleming (McDonald 45), Cook (Martin 63)
Subs Not Used: Wilson, Monaghan