St Mirren were narrowly beaten by Motherwell in a controversial William Hill Premiership match at Fir Park.

Lennon Miller's first-half double saw Motherwell win 2-1 after Killian Phillips' goal had given Saints an early lead. But the game was marred by controversy with questions over Motherwell's goals and both sides being reduced to 10 men in the second-half. 

Scott Tanser and Elvis Bwomono came into the start 11 in the only changes from last weekend's win over Hearts at The SMiSA Stadium. The manager was also able to welcome Greg Kiltie back into the squad for the first time this season after recovering from an ankle injury. He took his place on the bench.

The Buddies hit the front with just 10 minutes on the clock. Phillips brilliantly brought down a pinpoint cross from Bwomono and half-volleyed low into the left-hand corner of the net to score his first goal for Saints. 

Killian Phillips celebrates after opening the scoring at Fir Park (Image: John Millar)

Motherwell looks to respond quickly and could have drawn level four minutes after the opener. Moses Ebiye intercepted Mark O'Hara's pass intended for Alex Gogic and raced away from the Cypriot defender but fired into the side netting. 

The hosts would equalise on 19 minutes when Marcus Fraser was adjudged to have fouled Dan Casey at a corner kick. There was bemusement amongst the Saints players about the decision, with Fraser subsequently booked for the infringement. Miller made no mistake as he fired home from 12 yards to restore parity.

Toyosi Olusanya was close to putting Saints back in front soon after as he looked for his fourth goal in as many games. The forward was picked out by Phillips, but he clipped into the side net as he looked to lift it over 'Well stopper Aston Oxborough. 

Mikael Mandron was agonisingly close to putting the Buddies 2-1 ahead on 33 minutes. O'Hara's corner to the back post was helped back across goal by Richard Taylor but Mandron just couldn't get the connection required to take the ball over the line.

Motherwell took the lead in the final minute of regulation time at the end of the half when Miller scored his second. Controversy surrounded the goal with the Steelmen midfielder appearing to have handled the ball before finishing low into the net. 

There were eight added minutes at the end of the half and Saints would have gone in level at half-time if not for a top class save from Oxborough as he got a strong hand to claw away Phillips' header in injury-time. 

The drama continued early in the second-half when 'Well defender Dan Casey was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Phillips was poised to equalise from close-range, but saw his effort he blocked by the hand of Casey who was given his marching orders. Saints were awarded a penalty, but O'Hara's spot kick was saved by Oxborough following a lengthy wait as VAR checked on the decision. 

The man advantage would only last around 15 minutes when referee Lloyd Wilson showed Scott Tanser a second yellow card. It looked to be an incredibly harsh decision with questions over whether Tanser had even fouled the Motherwell man. 

Stephen Robinson made five substitutes as Saints tried to find an equaliser. But despite the Buddies seeing almost all of the ball, it was the home side who came close to wrapping things up in the final minute of normal time. Substitute Apostolos Stamatelopoulos met a cross but saw his header brilliantly pushed away by Ellery Balcombe. 

Full-Time: Motherwell 2-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor, Bwomono (Brown 66), Phillips, Boyd-Munce (Idowu 74), O'Hara (c) (Kiltie 85), Tanser, Mandron (Van Veen 66), Olusanya (Scott 74)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Smyth, Ayunga

Motherwell: Oxborough, O'Donnell (Kaleta 71), Casey, Gordon, McGinn, Wilson, Zdravkovski (Sparrow 84), Halliday (Watt 71), Miller, Ebiye  (Balmer 51), Robinson (Stamatelopoulos 71)
Subs Not Used: Hegyi, Seddon, Maswanhise, Tavares

Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan
VAR: Greg Aitken

Manager Reaction

Watch manager Stephen Robinson's reaction to our 2-1 loss to Motherwell. 

Saints got back to winning ways with a fine 2-1 victory over Hearts at The SMiSA Stadium.

Saints led at the break after an action packed first half. The battle of the Taylors was won by Richard, the Buddie getting the better of Gerald to head Saints in front. Craig Halkett's header brought the Jambos the lead before Toyosi Olusanya's rich vein of form continued as he fired Saints back in front.

Alex Gogic went close to extending the lead in the second half with sub Kevin van Veen going close to opening his Saints account on a couple of occasions. In stoppage time, Roland Iodwu could have got the third only to be denied by Craig Gordon, but it proved irrelevant as the Buddies took all three points.

Killian Phillips returned to the Saints line-up as he replaced Roland Idowu. He dropped to the bench, where he was joined by returning Buddie Charles Dunne. Former Saints loanee Lawrence Shankland led the Hearts attack with veteran keeper Craig Gordon in goal.

Marcus Fraser had to block Blair Spittal's efforts after less than 20 seconds as the visitors looked to make a fast start, Spittal then heading over from a Shankland cross. Despite the Jambos making the early inroads, it was Saints who took the lead after just seven minutes when Mark O'Hara delivered a perfect cross and Richard Taylor sent a fine header well beyond the reach of Gordon. Gerald Taylor seemed to have come off worse as he challenged for the ball – and may even have got the final touch for the goal - but for once VAR didn't get involved.

Jorge Grant fired over from the edge of the box as Hearts looked for a quick leveller before tempers began to flare, Toyosi Olusanya being booked after a collision with Gordon. It was another corner that provided the equaliser, James Penrice's cross being met with a wonderful Halkett glancing header that sent the ball spinning across goal into the far corner.

Saints were back in front little more than 10 minutes from the break. Stephen Kinglsey had just been booked for pulling back the forward as he tried to burst forward and when Gogic floated the free-kick into the final third, Phillips flicked it on and Olusanya got past his man before gleefully lashing the ball into the top corner for his sixth goal of the season. Penrice tried to level things up again before the interval but his drive was parried away by Ellery Balcombe.

Kenneth Vargas tried a speculative shot from a tight angle that almost turned into a great cross for Shankland as Hearts threatened early in the second half, Olusanya then firing wide after getting onto Mark O'Hara's flick. The visiting fans appealed for a penalty as Vargas went flying when he tried to get onto the end of a cross but nothing was given before.

Saints fans thought their side had scored a third when Gogic got on the end of Caolan Boyd-Munce's wicked corner but he was narrowly off target. Kevin van Veen, who'd come on for Olusanya during a triple substitution also went close as he volleyed across goal and wide from a narrow angle. The Dutchman should then have wrapped things up when he picked up a misplaced Kingsley pass and headed for goal, doing the hard part by getting the better of Daniel Oyegoke only to drag his shot wide.

Ironically, that chance came while Hearts enjoyed their brightest spell and Shankland went close to equalising when he poked Alan Forrest's cross wide. The Jambos skipper felt he should have had a corner and made his case a little too e enthusiastically for Mr Robertson's liking and he was booked. As the game entered the final minute the ball broke to Hearts sub Yutaro Oda from a corner and hos volley wasn't far from finding the top corner.

Idowu, who'd replaced Boyd-Munce, almost sealed things in injury time as he dribbled into the box before being denied by a great Gordon save but it didn't matter as Saints comfortably saw out the final few minutes.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Hearts

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor, Rooney, Phillips (Smyth 69), Boyd-Munce (Idowu 84), O'Hara (c), Brown (Tanser 46), Mandron (Van Veen 69), Olusanya (Scott 69)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bwomono, Dunne, Ayunga

Hearts: Gordon, Spittal (Dhanda 70), Halkett, Kingsley, Penrice (Forrest 77), Grant (Boyce 76), Baningime, Boateng, G.Taylor (Oyegoke 46), Vargas (Oda 63), Shankland (c)
Subs Not Used: Clark, Devlin, Rowles, Drammeh

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: Peter Stuart
VAR: Steven McLean

Attendance: 7,341 

It was a share of the spoils for St Mirren after a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock at The SMiSA Stadium.

First-half goals from Toyosi Olusanya and Mark O'Hara had Saints 2-1 ahead at the interval, but a Marley Watkins goal with 20 minutes to go saw the visitors pick up a point in Paisley. There was late VAR drama with James Scott having a goal disallowed in added time as Saints had to settle for a point. 

Kilmarnock made a quick start with Richard Taylor having to turn a low cross wide inside the first 30 seconds, while Daniel Armstrong curled an effort over the bar from 20 yards on two minutes. 

But it was Saints who took the lead when Olusanya netted his fifth goal of the season. The forward was on hand to glance home Brown's terrific delivery in from the left to make it three goals in his last four William Hill Premiership matches. 

The lead didn't last though with the visitors levelling just four minutes later. A low corner found Armstrong in space and his deflected strike was turned in by Watkins. A VAR check followed for a potential offside but the forward was found to be onside and the goal stood.

There was a bit of needle in the game in the early goings and that saw Mikael Mandron pick up the first booking on 16 minutes. The forward was then spoken to by the referee for another foul two minutes later and that prompted manager Stephen Robinson to make an early change with Jonah Ayunga replacing the striker on 20 minutes. 

Roland Idowu almost scored a brilliant solo goal just after the half-hour mark when his mazy run saw him work his way into the area, but his eventual shot was blocked. 

Referee Matthew MacDermid was called to the monitor with five minutes of the first-half remaining after Shaun Rooney's shot came off the arm of Joe Wright. The whistler pointed to the spot after the check and captain O'Hara sent his namesake the wrong way to put Saints back in front. 

The VAR drama wasn't over though with MacDermid called over to the screen in added time at the end of the half with Rooney and Wright involved again. This time the Kilmarnock defender appeared to strike the Buddies full-back as they awaited a Killie corner. The referee showed Wright a straight red for violent conduct and the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

The Buddies were forced into a change at the half-time interval with Olusanya unable to continue after a thigh injury. He was replaced by James Scott and the forward nodded into the net early after the restart, but the ball had gone out before Rooney had managed to swing it back into the area.

Kilmarnock drew level with 20 minutes remaining when Watkins got his and the visitors' second of the game. The forward was first to a Kennedy corner and he nodded beyond Ellery Balcombe to equalise. The goal prompted the final changes for the Buddies with Kevin Van Veen on for his St Mirren debut in place of Idowu, while Caolan Boyd-Munce made way for Dennis Adeniran. 

Alex Gogic was agonisingly close with a header on 81 minutes that came off the post while Adeniran dragged a low shot wide from 20 yards as the game headed to its end. 

Saints thought they'd won it at the death when Scott prodded home from close range. O'Hara's corner met Gogic whose header was forced on by Ayunga and it fell to Scott who knocked into the net. But the joy was short-lived when the referee was called to the VAR monitor for the third time in the game and ruled it out for a foul by Marcus Fraser on David Watson. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor (Bwomono 58), Rooney, Idowu (Van Veen 74), Boyd-Munce (Adeniran 74), O'Hara (c), Brown, Mandron (Ayunga 20), Olusanya (Scott 46)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Tanser, Smyth

Kilmarnock: O'Hara, Burroughs, Wright, Findlay, Ndaba (Deas 89), Armstrong, Watson, Polworth, Kennedy (Murray 85), Vassell (c) (Cameron 89), Watkins
Subs Not Used: McCrorie, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Anderson, Wales, Bainbridge

Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter
Assistant Referee: Scott Anderson
Fourth Official: Don Robertson
VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 6,957

St Mirren picked up a point in Dundee with the spoils shared in an exciting four goal contest. 

Toyosi Olusanya and Mikael Mandron twice had Saints ahead, but goals from Curtis Main and Ziyad Larkeche for the hosts saw the sides share a point. 

There were three changes for the Buddies with Caolan Boyd-Munce returning from injury in place of Alex Iacovitti, with Alex Gogic moving back to centre-half. Scott Tanser and Mandron also came in for Jaden Brown and Jonah Ayunga who dropped to the bench. There was no place for deadline day signing Kevin Van Veen who will join up with the squad next week. 

Stephen Robinson's men started brightly with a dangerous low ball from Rooney falling just behind Olusanya who would have had a tap in. A minute later Olusanya's flick on found Mandron who had beaten the offside trap to get in ahead of the Dundee defence, but goalkeeper Jon McCraken was out quickly to block before gathering the loose ball. 

Olusanya nipped in ahead of the Dundee defender but the referees indicated that the forward handled in the build up so it wouldn't have counted had he scored. Curtis Main came close for the hosts with their first chance just after 20 minutes when he diverted a low Mo Sylla shot just by the post.

Olusanya was causing problems for the Dundee defence and it was his determination that would see him open the scoring on 26 minutes. Marcus Fraser hooked a ball over the top and the forward's strength got him ahead of Antonio Portales to run through on goal. Olusanya composed himself before slotting through the legs of McCracken.

Saints lead was short-lived though when Main levelled four minutes later. The ex-Saints striker beat Richard Taylor to reach a long ball over the top and he fired beyond Ellery Balcombe to level. Still Saints were forcing the issues with Olusanya a particular nuisance and he could have given the Buddies the lead for a second time when he raced on to a lovely low pass from Taylor, but McCracken was out well to block. 

The Buddies would go back in front though with Mandron scoring from distance to restore our advantage on 36 minutes. It was a terrific strike from the number nine as he lashed a half volley into the net from 20 yards. 

Dundee came close to levelling early in the second-half when Portales headed a Sammy Braybrooke free-kick just wide of the right-hand post. The hosts would equalise for a second time nine minutes after the restart when Ziyad Larkeche finished off a nice passing move from the hosts. Lyall Cameron threaded the ball through for the wing-back who finished low into the far corner.

Simon Murray almost put the home side ahead on 66 minutes when he managed to race clear on goal, but goalkeeper Balcombe made a wonderful one-handed save to block. Balcombe's task was easier 10 minutes later when Main's header was put straight into his arms. 

After a spell of Dundee pressure, Stephen Robinson made changes with Brown, Dennis Adeniran, Elvis Bwomono and Ayunga all introduced. The substitutions helped give Saints more impetus and with seven minutes added it was the Buddies who arguably looked more likely to snatch a winner. There were appeals for a penalty when Bwomono went down after trying to meet Iacovitti's header on, but the referee and VAR both said no as the points were shared heading into the international break. 

Full-Time: Dundee 2-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 46), Rooney (Bwomono 81), Phillips (Idowu 60), Boyd-Munce (Adeniran 74), O'Hara (c), Tanser (Brown 74), Mandron, Olusanya (Ayunga 81)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Smyth

Dundee: McCracken, Koumetio (Ingram 50), McGhee, Portales, Tiffoney (Palmer-Houlden 90), Cameron, Sylla, Braybrooke (Mulligan 62), Larkeche, Murray (c), Main
Subs Not Used: Sharp, Carson, Astley, Robertson, Graham, Vetro

Referee: Lloyd Wilson
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Matthew MacDermid
VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 5,779 (572 St Mirren supporters)

St Mirren exited the Premier Sports Cup after a narrow defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice.

A first-half header from Ross Graham was enough to see the Terrors progress to the quarter-finals at the expense of Saints.

Dennis Adeniran and Caolan Boyd-Munce missed out with injuries picked up on Thursday night, while captain Mark O'Hara was still unavailable. St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Fraser Taylor made his first start for Saints, while Thursday's goalscorer Alex Iacovitti also came in. Scott Tanser, Oisin Smyth and Mikael Mandron made up the five changes with Richard Taylor, Jaden Brown and Jonah Ayunga dropping to the bench. 

Saints made a bright start with Iacovitti forcing a good save from United goalkeeper David Walton. The defender was first on to a flick from Toyosi Olusanya and he powered an effort into the ground that Walton did well to push wide. 

United had their first opportunity on 10 minutes with Craig Sibbald coming close with a strike from distance. Ellery Balcombe couldn't gather a cross which fell to the feet of a United player whose shot was well blocked by Tanser. But the ball came back to Sibbald who cracked a shot off the bar from 25 yards. 

Mandron came close three minutes later when he met a terrific cross from Taylor. The striker craned his neck to get to it and Walton was at full-stretch to tip over the bar. 

The hosts took the lead with a little over 10 minutes of the first-half remaining when Ross Graham headed home from a Will Ferry corner. Ferry stuck the ball to the near post and defender Graham got himself ahead of Balcombe to nod into the net. Balcombe had to pull off a big save on 40 minutes to deny Luca Stephenson the chance to double United's advantage. 

Saints won a free-kick in a good area around 20 yards from the United goal quickly after the half-time interval. Olusanya was brought down by Graham who was subsequently shown a yellow card. Smyth took the free-kick but sent it well over. Ferry joined Graham in the book three minutes later when he took out Olusanya as the forward looked to race forward. Olusanya himself was booked a few minutes later for what referee John Beaton deemed to be simulation in the box. Mandron was quickly on to the loose ball but saw his shot blocked. 

Stephen Robinson was forced into a change when Fraser Taylor went down and was replaced by Richard Taylor. That saw Gogic move into midfield. Three minutes later, on the hour mark, the manager made a triple change as he introduced Brown, James Scott and Ayunga in place of Tanser, Idowu and Mandron. 

United could have killed the game off on 73 minutes when substitute Louis Moult ran on to a pass from Trapanovski. He twisted and turned before getting his shot away but smacked his strike off the bar. Taylor did brilliantly to block on the follow up to deny David Babunski the chance to roll into the net. 

Brown came agonisingly close to grabbing an equaliser in injury time with his effort deflected just by the post. 

Full-Time: Dundee United 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c) (Sutherland 82), Gogic, Iacovitti, Rooney, Idowu (Scott 60), Smyth, F.Taylor (R.Taylor 57), Tanser (Brown 61), Olusanya, Mandron (Ayunga 61)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bwomono, Kenny, Mooney

Dundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Gallagher, Graham, Ferry, Stephenson, Holt, Sibbald, Trapanovski (Middleton 86), Babunski (c) (Docherty 78), van der Sande (Moult 68)
Subs Not Used: Richards, Odada, Fotheringham, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Ubochioma

Attendance: 4,285 (568 St Mirren supporters)

Manager Reaction

Stephen Robinson gave his reaction to our defeat to Dundee United in the Premier Sports Cup.

St Mirren's European journey came to an end with defeat in Norway against SK Brann. 

The Buddies fell behind early to a Joachim Soltvedt goal inside five minutes, but Stephen Robinson's men looked to be taking the match to extra-time when substitute Alex Iacovitti equalised with a little over 15 minutes remaining. But SK Brann scored two goals in three minutes in the final moments of the game to secure their place in the UEFA Conference League Play-Off Round. 

The manager spoke pre-match about the need for Saints to perform better than the first leg tie against Brann in Paisley and his side got off to a bright start with Shaun Rooney volleying over from inside the box on four minutes. The summer signing got himself on the end of a Richard Taylor cross which evaded the home defence, but he fired over the bar. 

That miss would be punished almost instantly a SK Brann took an early lead. Felix Myhre got the better of Alex Gogic, with the Cypriot defender slipping on the sodden pitch. Myhre slid the ball back to Soltvedt who tucked an effort low into the left-hand corner to give the hosts the perfect start. 

But Saints weren't deterred by the set back and pushed for a way back into the match. Taylor sent a header into the arms of Brann goalkeeper Dyngeland just two minutes later after meeting a Caolan Boyd-Munce free-kick, while Rooney sent a wonderful cross into a dangerous area but there were no takers to meet his teasing delivery. 

The Buddies had to be alert at the start of the second-half as Brann looked for a second that might have put the game beyond doubt. Taylor made a brilliant last-gasp defensive block to turn Bård Finne's strike wide. 

Manager Stephen Robinson made the game's first change on 54 minutes when he introduced Oisin Smyth in place of his compatriot Boyd-Munce. The Northern Irish midfielder was so close to making an instant impact with a low volley that was saved by Dyngeland. It was a terrific save from the Brann goalkeeper as he pushed it wide after Smyth had caught it sweetly on the edge of the area. 

Saints were continuing the search for an equaliser and came close again on 67 minutes when Rooney's corner was headed wide by Taylor who just got too much on it. 

The Buddies made a triple substitution on 71 minutes and it would pay dividends with two of the changes combining for the leveller. St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Fraser Taylor's corner was perfect as it met the head of Iacovitti who bulleted home a header to send the 750+ travelling support into raptures.

It could have got even better for Saints just a few minutes later when Mandron robbed the ball from a Brann defender deep in their half. He drove into the box and looked to pick out Olusanya, but the forward had slipped on the rain soaked pitch and was denied what would have been a tap in.

SK Brann re-took the lead with just five minutes remaining. Myhre nodded home from close range and substitute Aune Heggebø sealed the Norwegian's place in the play-offs just three minutes later when he finished beyond Ellery Balcombe from a tight angle. 

For St Mirren it was heartbreak, but supporters are bound to take a lot of pride in what Stephen Robinson, his staff and the players gave them, not only on the night, but during this first European adventure since 1987.

Full-Time: SK Brann 3-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 71), Rooney, Adeniran, Boyd-Munce (Smyth 54), Idowu (F.Taylor 71), Brown, Olusanya (Scott 79), Ayunga (Mandron 71)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kelly, Kenny, Bwomono, Tanser, Sutherland, Mooney

SK Brann: Dyngeland, Pedersen, Knudsen, Kristiansen, Soltvedt, Kartum (Sande 73), Kornvig, Myhre, Blomberg, Finne (Heggebø 78), Castro
Subs Not Used: Børsheim, Johansen, Opsahl, Sery Larsen, Warming, Mathisem, Helland, Holten

Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov
Assistant Referee: Georgi Todorov
Assistant Referee: Petar Mitrev
Fourth Official: Kristiyan Kolev
VAR: Nikola Popov

Attendance: 14,500

St Mirren were beaten for the first time this season after falling to a 3-1 defeat away to Aberdeen.

Toyosi Olusanya scored his third goal of the season to draw us level heading into half-time after Pape Habib Guèye had put the hosts ahead. But second-half goals from Jamie McGrath and Vicente Besuijen saw the points stay at Pittodrie.

There were five changes from Thursday night's draw with SK Brann in the UEFA Conference League. Olusanya came in from the start after his equaliser against the Norwegians, while Alex Iacovitti made first St Mirren start. Scott Tanser, Dennis Adeniran and James Scott also came in with Richard Taylor, Jaden Brown, Oisin Smyth, Jonah Ayunga and Mikael Mandron dropping to the bench. 

Shayden Morris slid the ball through for Ester Sokler who looked for a clear run on goal. Alex Gogic tracked the striker well and put in a brilliant challenge to deny him the chance to go one-on-one with Ellery Balcombe. 

Olusanya showed a great burst of pace to beat Slobodan Rubežić to the ball as he raced on to a Scott ball down the right channel. The forward broke into the box but fired wide from the angle. 

Aberdeen came close to breaking the deadlock on 22 minutes when Guèye got in down Saints' right side and made his way into the box. He was closely marshalled by Shaun Rooney who did enough to put him off as he smashed into the side net. 

Guèye would redeem himself when he post the hosts ahead with just over five minutes of the first-half remaining. Balcombe's attempted clearance was charged down by Sokler and Aberdeen won a corner. McGrath swung the ball in where Guèye got his head on it to knock into the net. 

Saints levelled in additional time at the end of the half. Fraser clipped the ball down the line and Olusanya showed great persistence to outmuscle both Jack MacKenzie and Rubežić to get on to the ball. He knocked it beyond Dimitar Mitov before forcing it over the line. 

Ex-Saint Jamie McGrath gave the home side the lead for a second time 10 minutes after the restart. The Buddies were slack in possession and that allow Aberdeen to make their way into the box. Sokler's ball across was miss hit by Morris but fell kindly to McGrath who smashed into the far corner.

The Buddies looked for a quick response with Scott having a go from the edge of the area. His powerful strike was gathered by Mitov at the second attempt. With 15 minutes remaining, space opened up for Caolan Boyd-Munce to have a go from range. He caught it well but it was straight down the throat of Mitov who held. 

But Aberdeen would a third with 10 minutes remaining to secure the points when substitute Besuijen headed home at the back post after a brilliant cross from Graeme Shinnie. 

Full-Time: Aberdeen 3-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c), Gogic, Iacovitti, Rooney (Bwomono 76), Adeniran, Boyd-Munce, Idowu (Smyth 46), Tanser (Brown 64), Olusanya (Ayunga 75), Scott (Mandron 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, R.Taylor, F.Taylor

Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Molloy, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Heltne Nilsen (Jensen 90), Shinnie, Guèye (Ambrose 67), McGrath, Morris (Besuijen 67), Sokler (Miovski 90)
Subs Not Used: Doohan, McGarry, Milne, Boyd

Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Alastair Taylor
Fourth Official: Alastair Greive
VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 17,057

Toyosi Olusanya's last-minute leveller saw Saints rescue a draw and keep our UEFA Conference League hopes alive ahead of our Third Qualifying Round second leg in Bergen next week. 

SK Brann arguably had the better of the game and got themselves in front with 15 minutes to go when Felix Myhre fired home. But substitute Olusanya fired home in the final minute of normal to leave it all to play for in Norway.

There were three changes to the side that defeated Hibernian 3-0 in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday. Oisin Smyth came in after his brace against the Hibees in place of Dennis Adeniran, while Jaden Brown and Mikael Mandron returned to the starting eleven for Scott Tanser and Olusanya. Captain Mark O'Hara remained out with thigh injury so Marcus Fraser took the armband. 

The visitors looked slick in the early goings and Fraser was drawn into an early yellow card when he was booked on seven minutes for a late sliding challenge on Myhre. The away side started well and they had the first early opportunity when a ball over the top caught out Alex Gogic which allowed Bård Finne to get in behind the defender. He attempted to lob the ball over Ellery Balcombe but Saints 'keeper managed to gather. 

The Saints goalkeeper was called in to action again on 22 minutes. He was out quickly to block Ole Blomberg's effort after a ball over the top and he had to get quickly back into position to push away Sander Kartum's follow up strike. SK Brann were continuing to threaten and Balcombe was forced to make another big save five minutes later to deny Myhre after a nice bit of play from the Norwegian side. 

The Buddies should have taken the lead with three minutes of the half remaining with our only real chance of the first 45. Caolan Boyd-Munce swung in a beautiful free-kick from the left which met the head of Mikael Mandron, but he headed by the left-hand post. 

There was just time at the end of the half for Balcombe to pull off another big save to keep it goalless as he got two big hands behind Kartum's strike. The Saints goalkeeper did well to deny the Brann midfielder again five minutes after the restart when he pushed the midfielder's low hit over. 

Saints hadn't really got going after the break and the manager made a triple substitution a little after the hour mark. Tanser, Adeniran and Olusanya came on with Brown, Roland Idowu and Mandron making way. Seven minutes later, Alex Iacovitti and James Scott also made their way on to the pitch to replace Richard Taylor and Jonah Ayunga.

One of the substitutes came close to breaking the deadlock when Adeniran drove forward and had a go from 25 yards. It took a deflection which forced Brann goalkeeper Mathias Dyngeland to push over. 

But two minutes later, SK Brann would take the lead, just seconds after an outstanding block from Gogic that denied Finne. From the resulting corner, Blomberg's low cross bounced up off Iacovitti and fell to the feet of Myhre who angled a low drive beyond Balcombe to break Saints' resistance. 

But the Buddies showed their never die spirit and rescued a draw in the final minute of normal time. A Saints corner was headed clear but Tanser floated it back in where Scott was first on to it. He rolled across the face where Olusanya reacted quickest to prod home to the delight of the Paisley crowd. All to play for in Bergen next Thursday! 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 SK Brann

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 70), Rooney, Smyth, Boyd-Munce, Idowu (Adeniran 63), Brown (Tanser 63), Ayunga (Scott 70), Mandron (Olusanya 63)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kelly, Bwomono, Kenny, Sutherland, F.Taylor, Mooney

SK Brann: Dyngeland, Pedersen, Knudsen (c), Kristiansen, Soltveldt, Kartum (Opsahl 89), Kornvig, Myhre, Blomberg (Mathisen 89), Finne (Heggebø 79), Castro (Sande 76)
Subs Not Used: Børsheim, Johansen, Warming, Helland, Holten

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referee: Jurgen Spiteri
Assistant Referee: Mitchell Scerri 
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia
VAR: Peter Bankes

Attendance: 7,023 (185 away supporters)

St Mirren's 2024/25 got off to the perfect start with a brilliant opening day victory over Hibernian. 

An early second-half goal from Roland Idowu was followed up by two goals in two minutes for substitute Oisin Smyth as Stephen Robinson's men won 3-0. 

The manager made two changes from the side that defeated Valur 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night. Captain Mark O'Hara missed out with a knock and was replaced by the returning Caolan Boyd-Munce. Scott Tanser also came in for Jaden Brown to make his first competitive start of the new season.

The Buddies had a good early opportunity when Jonah Ayunga flashed an effort just by the far post on six minutes. But in truth it was Hibernian who would have the better of the opening 45. Dylan Vente will feel he should have put the visitors ahead when he failed to get the proper connection on a ball to the back post. The Hibees forward passed up another good chance when he prodded an Obita cross wide. 

Toyosi Olusanya did brilliantly on 35 minutes to shake off a foul in the middle of the park to burst forward. He slid the ball out to Idowu who saw his strike deflected just by the post. 

Saints goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe made a brilliant save to keep the scores level heading into the half-time break. Alex Gogic sliced his attempted clearance and almost turned it into the net, but Balcombe was alert and down quickly to push away. 

The Buddies got off to the ideal start to the second-half when Idowu netted three minutes after the restart. The loanee played a nice one-two with half-time substitute Jaden Brown before making his way into the box. He cut by Nathan Moriah-Welsh and fired a beautiful strike into the far corner of the net. 

A lengthy delay ensued shortly after the goal when VAR became non-operational. VAR would become partially operational around 10 minutes later after Saints had introduced Mikael Mandron and James Scott in place of Ayunga and Toyosi Olusanya.

Hibernian passed up a huge chance to equalise on 74 minutes when Richard Taylor misjudged the flight of the ball which allowed Martin Boyle to get in behind the Saints defence. The Australian international's shot at Balcombe was weak though and the Buddies managed to get clear. Just a minute later, Saints almost killed the game off when Idowu was agonisingly close to scoring his second with a similar strike to his first. This time, on his left foot, Idowu cracked his effort off the post and substitute Smyth knocked over on the follow up. 

Smyth wouldn't have to wait too long to make amends when he headed home our second. It was great work from James Scott who slid in to steal a poor back pass from Ekpiteta before sending back in to the area for Smyth to head into the net. The midfielder scored just a minute later to extend our advantage when he was once again the recipient of a Scott assist. Smyth swept home the forward's perfect pick out to ensure a brilliant opening day win at The SMiSA Stadium. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 3-0 Hibernian

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 87), Rooney, Adeniran (Smyth 71), Boyd-Munce, Idowu, Tanser (Brown 46), Olusanya (Scott 62), Ayunga (Mandron 62)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Bwomono, F.Taylor

Hibernian: Bursik, Obita, O'Hora, Ekpiteta, Miller, Campbell, Newell (c), Moriah-Welsh (Amos 73), Molotnikov (Cadden 62), Vente (Kukharevych 73), Boyle
Subs Not Used: Smith, Bushiri, Megwa, Levitt, Tavares, McKirdy

Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: Colin Whyte
VAR: Alan Mulvanny

Attendance: 6,171

Manager Reaction - "It's always to good to get started with a win."

Stephen Robinson gives his reaction to today's 3-0 victory at home to Hibernian on the opening day.

St Mirren scored four as we defeated Valur to progress to the Third Qualifying Round in the UEFA Conference League.

A special night in Paisley saw the Buddies victorious thanks to goals from Shaun Rooney, Toyosi Olusanya, Mark O'Hara and Alex Iacovitti. Saints will face Norwegian side SK Brann next week in the Third Qualifying Round. 

The manager made four changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Valur in Reykjavík last week. In came Rooney for his debut, while Roland Idowu, Dennis Adeniran and Jonah Ayunga also started. Caolan Boyd-Munce and Mikael Mandron were unavailable due to injury while Elvis Bwomono and Oisin Smyth dropped to the bench. 

Saints started brightly on the hunt for a first European goal in 37 years. It almost came on just six minutes when Jaden Brown's ball in from the left found Ayunga but the forward didn't get the connection required to turn it beyond Frederik Schram in the Valur goal. 

The Buddies would only have to wait a further 10 minutes for the breakthrough with Rooney's head sending the Paisley crowd into raptures. The defender got on the end of a perfect delivery from captain O'Hara to bullet home a debut goal. 

But no sooner than Saints had gone ahead, the visitors were denied an instant equaliser by Ellery Balcombe. Jonatan Ingi Jonsson's exquisite reverse pass found Tryggvi Hrafn Haraldsson in acres of space inside the penalty area. He looked poised to level but Balcombe spread himself well and knocked the effort over. 

Idowu - who looked a big threat for the Buddies in Iceland last week - was inches away from doubling our advantage on 21 minutes when he saw a strike from 20 yards fizz just over the bar. Five minutes later, Ayunga passed up a huge chance after meeting a cross from the right, but he got the header wrong and glanced well wide. 

Saints started with the same intensity at the beginning of the second-half. Marcus Fraser rose the highest to meet another brilliant O'Hara corner but he nodded just by the right-hand post.

Stephen Robinson's men would add the second they deserved when Olusanya opened his account for the season. Ayunga won his header and flicked on for Idowu who unselfishly rolled into the path of Olusanya. The forward rolled into the empty net to double our advantage. 

The Buddies continued to press for more goals and Ayunga was denied by a terrific save from Schram when the Valur goalkeeper touched over. The third goal would come on 65 minutes with Ayunga playing his part in what was a stunning goal. The forward headed on Rooney's throw-in and skipper O'Hara swept a beautiful volley that flew into the top corner of the net - shades of Zinedine Zidane at Hampden in 2002!

Valur pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining when Haraldsson scored from the penalty spot. Jaden Brown was penalised for a foul in the box and Haraldsson rolled it into the right-hand corner. It was nothing more than a consolation for the Icelandic side as Saints would have the final say when debutant Iacovitti scored from close-range on 87 minutes to round off a wonderful night in Paisley that will be sure to live long in the memory.

Full-Time: St Mirren 4-1 Valur

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 71), Rooney (Bwomono 71), Idowu (F.Taylor 89), Adeniran (Smyth 71), O'Hara (c), Brown, Olusanya (Scott 71), Ayunga
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kelly, Kenny, Tanser, Sutherland, Mooney, Jamieson

Valur: Schram, Gunnarsson, Pálsson, Antonsson, Larusson (Eyjólfsson 62), Jonsson, Heimisson, Sigurdsson, Tryggvason (Saevarsson 32), Pedersen (Finsen 81), Haraldsson
Subs Not Used: Agustsson, Kristinsson, Helgason, Unnarsson, Ómarsson, Stephensen, Finsen

Referee: Mikkel Redder
Assistant Referee: René Risum
Assistant Referee: Martin Markus
Fourth Official: Michael Tykgaard

Attendance: 6,715