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

St Mirren B will meet Dumbarton in the Second Round of the SPFL Trust Trophy after victory away to Berwick Rangers.

The Young Buddies ran rampant in the opening period, going 3-0 ahead inside just 14 minutes against the Lowland League side. But Saints failed to extend their lead despite a number of chances and had to hold strong in the second-half after Berwick pulled two goals back. 

Saints hit the front early when Ethan Sutherland volleyed home from 12 yards after meeting a perfect Fraser Taylor corner. That was the first of three goals in a blistering seven minute spell. 

Evan Mooney added the second just three minutes after the opener when he stole in ahead of the Berwick defence and knocked beyond Calum Antell. 

Mooney's strike partner Theo McCormick made it 3-0 on 14 minutes when he was the recipient of a poor back pass from Alfie Robinson and the forward was able to knock into the net from close-range. 

The Young Saints were rampant and could have further extended the lead before the half hour mark. Matthew Turner was inches away from making it four on 21 minutes when he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper but saw it drift agonisingly wide. Mooney was next to go close for the Young Saints when he met a Sutherland cross at the back post, but from an angle he saw his shot pushed away by Antell. Sutherland nearly added his second and Saints' fourth but the Berwick goalkeeper managed to push the effort on to the bar before the defence cleared. 

Despite the dominance, Berwick Rangers pulled a goal back with less than 10 minutes to go before the end of the half. Shay Kelly saved the initial effort before substitute Cai MacNamara knocked home.

Berwick reduced the deficit further five minutes after the restart when Jonathan Devers' deflected shot from the edge of the area looped over Kelly.

Max McGinley came inches away from levelling for the Wee Gers when his long-range hit flew just by the post after the hour mark. Lewis Barr had the ball in the net with just over 20 minutes to go but the offside flag was raised to deny the hosts an equaliser. 

Luke Kenny could have put the game to bed on 83 minutes when he got his head on a Taylor corner, only to knock it over. Taylor himself almost added a fourth a minute after when his powerful strike was pushed away from the top corner by Antell who got two strong hands behind it.

The Young Saints will meet William Hill League One side Dumbarton at The Marbill Coaches Stadium in the Second Round with the match due to take place in the midweek of 13/14th August. 

Full-Time: Berwick Rangers 2-3 St Mirren B

St Mirren B: Kelly, Penman, Kenny (c), Foster, Lennon, Sutherland, Turner, Taylor, Hunter, Mooney, McCormick (Farquhar 77)
Subs: Carey, Mcavoy, Thompson, Marshall, Hutchison

Berwick Rangers: Antell, McGinley, Fellows, Robinson, McCormack, Nelson, Collins, Buchanan, Laidlaw (MacNamara 31), Devers, Barr
Subs: Kay, Carr Brown, Armstrong

It's all to play for in Paisley next week as St Mirren's European return ended goalless in Iceland.

Stephen Robinson's side created a number of chances during an open 90 minutes, but couldn't find the breakthrough goal in Reykjavík. 

In our first competitive match of 2024/25, the manager gave debuts to summer signings Ellery Balcombe and Oisin Smyth as he went with the same starting eleven from last week's pre-season fixture against Carlisle United. 

The open nature of the game was evident from the off with the hosts starting fast. They could have taken the lead inside the first minute when an Elvis Bwomono headed clearance was swung into the back stick by Tryggvi Hrafn Haraldsson. Jonatan Ingi Jonsson managed to stay onside as the Saints backline moved forward, but goalkeeper Balcombe was out quickly to block with his face.

Saints had a big opportunity just minutes later on the counter. It was two-v-one as Mikael Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya broke clear. Mandron fed the ball to Olusanya, but his effort was blocked by a Valur defender. The Saints forward was causing the hosts problems early doors and forced a top class save from Frederik Schram in the Valur net. 

It was Balcombe's turn next to keep the ball out of the net with the loanee down well to push away a low effort from Haraldsson after loose possession from Richard Taylor. 

Saints were dealt an early blow when Caolan Boyd-Munce had to be replaced on 15 minutes. The midfielder has gone down earlier in the match but managed to continue on for a bit before having to be replaced by Dennis Adeniran for his St Mirren debut.

The Buddies were pressing for an opener and had two decent chances within the space of two minutes to break the deadlock. Olusanya came close to turning a low Jaden Brown ball into the net on 34 minutes but stuck it wide. It was then Brown's turn to almost put us in front when he had a header saved after Mandron had forced on a Marcus Fraser cross. 

Loose possession from Saints gifted the home side a big opportunity as we headed into the final five minutes of the half. Sigurdur Egill Larusson let fly from 20 yards on the angle but his strike cannoned off the side net. 

It was an open first 45 and it was the Buddies who would have the final real chance of the half when captain Mark O'Hara's brilliant pass picked out Smyth. The debutant shuffled to create the space to get his shot away on the edge of the area but sent it over the bar. 

The hosts could have found themselves in front a little over five minutes after the restart when their record goalscorer Patrick Pedersen got in behind the Saints defence only to see his effort blocked by Balcombe. 

After a decent opening 45, Saints hadn't really got going in the second-half and that forced manager Stephen Robinson to make a change. He introduced Roland Idowu in place of Smyth. And it was a substitution that almost paid dividends a minute later. Idowu found himself in space at the far post and cut the ball back searching for Olusanya. It didn't find the forward did fall to the feet of his strike partner Mandron at the far post. He didn't get the connection he'd have wanted on the first effort before his follow-up was blocked. 

Balcombe was called into action again just after the hour mark and it was perhaps his best save of the game when he was at full-stretch and got two strong hands to turn behind a header from Haraldsson. 

Stephen Robinson made a double substitution when he brought James Scott and Jonah Ayunga on in place of Olusanya and Mandron. It came just seconds after the latter had seen his turn and shot goes agonisingly just by the far post. 

With 15 minutes remaining, Valur goalkeeper Schram made a good save to turn away a strike from Idowu before Scott fired a cross over the bar. The game continued to ebb and flow and Balcombe was called into action once again when he brilliantly tipped a Gylfi Sigurdsson strike over.

The home side were reduced to 10 men with 10 minutes remaining when substitute Aron Jóhannsson was shown a straight for hauling down Ayunga as he looked to race clear on goal. Idowu sent the resulting free-kick into the arms of Schram. That was to be the last of the action with Saints ready to return to a sold out SMiSA Stadium with everything to play for.

Full-Time: Valur 0-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Bwomono, Smyth (Idowu 57), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Adeniran 15), Brown, Olusanya (Scott 67), Mandron (Ayunga 67)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kelly, Kenny, Sutherland, Tanser, F.Taylor, Mooney, Jamieson

Valur: Schram, Gunnarsson (Saevarsson 62), Pálsson, Helgason, Larusson, G. Sigurdsson, Antonsson, K Sigurdsson (c) (Jóhannsson 73), Haraldsson (Heimisson 73), Pedersen (Unnarsson 84), Jonsson
Subs Not Used: Ágústsson, Kristinsson, Tryggvason, Eyjólfsson, Ómarsson, Stephensen, Finsen

Referee: Damian Kos
Assistant Referee: Bartosz Heinig
Assistant Referee: Marek Arys
Fourth Official: Lukasz Kuzma

Manager Reaction - "We wanted to be in the tie and we certainly are."

The manager gave his thoughts following our First Leg draw with Valur in the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round.

It was another 2-2 draw with English opposition as Saints drew with Carlisle United at The SMiSA Stadium in our final pre-season friendly. 

After the same result against Fleetwood Town on Saturday, the Buddies were held by the Cumbrians ahead of our UEFA Conference League tie against Valur in Iceland on Thursday. 

Saints fell behind on 30 minutes, but drew level early in the second-half through Toyosi Olusanya. James Scott headed us in front with 10 minutes remaining only for the visitors to equalise five minutes later. 

Saints had the first real opportunity in the opening 20 minutes when Mikael Mandron saw a shot blocked by a Carlisle United defender.

The visitors took the lead on the half-hour mark when Harrison Neal fired low into the bottom corner of the net after a nice one-two with Charlie Wyke. 

The Buddies levelled quickly after restart when Olusanya glanced home a wonderful cross from Jaden Brown on 50 minutes. 

New signing Alex Iacovitti got his first taste of action as a Saints player when he came on for Richard Taylor on 61 minutes, but his game would only last seven minutes when he pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury and he had to be replaced by Shaun Rooney.

Freddie O'Donoghue almost put Carlisle back in front but his header came off the bar. And it was Saints who would go ahead when an Ethan Sutherland corner wasn't cleared properly which allowed fellow substitute James Scott to flick a neat backward header into the net. 

But Carlisle equalised with five minutes remaining when Terell Thomas bulleted home a header from a Dan Butterworth corner. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 Carlisle United

St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor (Iacovitti 61, Rooney 68), Bwomono, Smyth (F.Taylor 84), Boyd-Munce (Adeniran 68), O'Hara (c) (Idowu 46), Brown (Sutherland 75), Olusanya (Ayunga 65), Mandron (Scott 68)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Jamieson

Carlisle United: Lewis, Davies (Butterworth 61), Thomas, Lavelle, Hayden (McGeouch 61), Robson (Allan 75), Wyke (Fitzpatrick 61), Charters (Ellis 61), Vela (c) (Barclay 61), Neal (O'Donoghue 61), Armstrong (Kelly 75)
Subs Not Used: Breeze, Smith

Attendance: 2,011 

St Mirren drew with Fleetwood Town in a pre-season friendly at The SMiSA Stadium. The Buddies came from behind twice thanks to goals from Oisin Smyth and Lewis Jamieson to draw 2-2 with the English League Two side.

The visitors struck first as they took an early lead when Ronan Coughlan got himself on the end of a Carl Johnston cross from the right and prodded into the net from close-range.  

Mikael Mandron had Saints' best chance in the first-half after 25 minutes when he raced on to a Roland Idowu pass. The forward outmuscled his former Saints teammate James Bolton but lashed his effort into the side net. 

There was just one change for the Buddies after the break with Richard Taylor coming on for Shaun Rooney before a further three substitutes just before the hour with Smyth, new signing Dennis Adeniran and Jonah Ayunga replacing Caolan Boyd-Munce, Mark O'Hara and Mandron.

It was one of the changes that drew us level when Smyth levelled the scores from a free-kick 25 yards from goal. A foul on Toyosi Olusanya saw Saints awarded the free-kick and the Northern Ireland midfielder dispatched into the right-hand corner of the net to equalise.

But the visitors managed to re-take the lead a few minutes later when their substitute Junior Quitirna headed home a pinpoint cross from Phoenix Patterson. 

It looked like Fleetwood would take a pre-season with them back to England, but Jamieson found the net to equalise for Saints in the final few minutes when he met a low cross from fellow substitute Ethan Sutherland at the back post to ensure a share of the spoils. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 Fleetwood Town

St Mirren: Urminsky, Rooney (R.Taylor 46), Gogic, Fraser, Bwomono, O'Hara (c) (Adeniran 57), Boyd-Munce (Smyth 57), Brown (Sutherland 83), Idowu, Mandron (Ayunga 57), Olusanya (Jamieson 77)
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Kenny, F.Taylor

Fleetwood: Harrington (Lynch 46), Johnston (Broom 46), Hunt (Patterson 46), Wiredu (Holgate 61), Bolton (Graydon 61), Medley (Hughes 61), Mayor (Dolan 61), Coughlan (Potter 61), Lonergan (Quitirna 61), Bonds (Morrison 61), Virtue (Trialist 61)

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr

Attendance: 1,699

Manager Reaction - "Another chance to look at things."

Stephen Robinson gave his thoughts after a 2-2 draw with Fleetwood Town at The SMiSA Stadium.