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.

St Mirren were presented with the 2024 Communities Cup after a 2-0 pre-season victory over Greenock Morton.

Roland Idowu scored a first-half double to give Saints the victory at Cappielow.

The Buddies hit the front with just three minutes on the clock when Idowu netted with a tidy finish. The Saints loanee who turned his way by Kirk Broadfoot before dispatching coolly into the right corner of the net.

Goalscorer Idowu looked to turn provider when his low pass from the left found Mark O'Hara in acres of space inside the Morton box. The skipper's powerful strike was blocked but fell into the path of Jonah Ayunga who rolled the ball to Shaun Rooney. The wing-back also saw his effort blocked by the Ton defence. 

The hosts came close to drawing level on 14 minute when Zak Delaney flashed an effort just over the bar. 

Ellery Balcombe with a strong save to push away a Lamar Reynolds strike after the forward had got in behind the Saints defence. The number one was forced into another good stop when he was down low to push away a low Owen Moffat hit at the near post. 

But it was the Buddies who would strike again with Idowu grabbing his and Saints' second. Mikael Mandron drove forward and rolled the ball into the path of the Irishman who finished with aplomb to double our advantage just after the half hour mark. 

Caolan Boyd-Munce almost added a third for Saints when he curled agonisingly over the bar from the edge of the area. And it was the midfielder's blocked effort two minutes later that presented Idowu with a chance for his hat-trick, but his shot was saved by the legs of Ryan Mullen in the Morton goal.

There were three Saints changes at half-time with goalkeeper Peter Urminsky replaced Balcombe, while our trialist came on for 45 minutes in place of Boyd-Munce and Toyosi Olusanya replaced Mandron. 

Rooney had the first opportunity following the break when Morton goalkeeper Mullen had to get two hands behind his effort as it looked to be heading into the top corner. 

Stephen Robinson freshened things up with five changes around the hour mark with Luke Kenny, Elvis Bwomono, Oisin Smyth, Lewis Jamieson and James Scott introduced in place of Alex Gogic, Richard Taylor, O'Hara, Idowu and Ayunga.

Brown almost made it 3-0 to Saints as the game approached its final 10 minutes or so. The full-back rattled the bar with a fierce strike from range. 

Full-Time: Greenock Morton 0-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe (Urminsky 46), Fraser, Gogic (Kenny 61), R.Taylor (Bwomono 61), Rooney, O'Hara (c) (Smyth 61), Boyd-Munce (Trialist 46), Tanser (Brown 25), Idowu (Scott 61), Mandron (Olusanya 46), Ayunga (Jamieson 61)
Subs Not Used: Foster, Sutherland, F.Taylor

Morton: Mullen, Ballantyne, Delaney, Boyes, Broadfoot (Baird 60), Blues (O'Boy 80), Gillespie (Bearne 65), Lyall (Wilson 60), Reynolds (Garrity 60), Davies, Moffat (Trialist 80)
Subs Not Used: Murdoch

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Assistant Referee: Scott Anderson

Attendance: 2,262

Manager Reaction - "Things we need to work on and happy with lots of good play."

Manager Stephen Robinson's thoughts after our 2-0 win over Morton at Cappielow in the Communities Cup.

St Mirren picked up a victory in our first pre-season fixture with a 1-0 win over Dunfermline.

Toyosi Olusanya's first-half goal was enough for Saints to pick up the win at East End Park in a what was a good workout for Stephen Robinson's men.

New goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe was forced into action early doors when David Wotherspoon got himself in behind the Saints defence but the number one spread himself well to block the shot. 

Olusanya had the first real opportunity for the Buddies on 18 minutes when he made his way into the Dunfermline box but delayed the shot and saw it deflected behind. Captain Mark O'Hara cannoned over from the resulting corner. O'Hara fired over again on 27 minutes after Oisin Smyth's free-kick fell kindly to him 15 yards from goal. 

Saints had taken control of the match and took the lead just before the half-hour mark. Olusanya swept home from close-range after an unselfish pass across the face from Smyth.

Wotherspoon came close to levelling for the hosts with five minutes of the half remaining. He picked the ball up on the turn and lashed a vicious strike inches over the bar. 

Stephen Robinson made five changes at the interval with Marcus Fraser, Shaun Rooney, Roland Idowu, Mikael Mandron and Lewis Jamieson coming on for Luke Kenny, Elvis Bwomono, O'Hara, Olusanya and Jonah Ayunga.

The Buddies continued to control the contest and could have added to their single goal lead with James Scott curling just as he looked to find the far corner five minutes after the restart. Substitute Idowu wasn't far away either when he dragged a low strike just by the post two minutes later. 

The manager made another three substitutions just after the hour mark as he brought on Peter Urminsky, Scott Tanser and Fraser Taylor in place of Balcombe, Smyth and Jaden Brown.

Stopper Urminsky was forced into action soon after his introduction with the Slovakian goalkeeper making a terrific one handed save to push away an effort from Dunfermline substitute Taylor Sutherland. That save had come moments after Jamieson had almost added a second for Saints with a shot that came off the post. 

The final Saints subs came with 15 minutes remaining when Alex Gogic, Richard Taylor and Scott made way for Owen Foster, Gallagher Lennon and Ethan Sutherland. 

The final moments played out in typical pre-season fashion with the Buddies picking up the victory.

Full-Time: Dunfermline Athletic 0-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Balcombe (Urminsky 61), Kenny (Fraser 46), Gogic (Foster 75), R.Taylor (Lennon 75), Bwomono (Rooney 46), Smyth (F.Taylor 61), O'Hara (c) (Idowu 46), Brown (Tanser 61), Olusanya (Mandron 46), Ayunga (Jamieson 46), Scott (Sutherland 75)

Dunfermline: Mehmet, Ngwenya (Trialist 68), Benedictus (c) (Young 75), Hamilton, Otoo (T.Sutherland 61), Ritchie-Hosler, Wighton (Chalmers 61), McCann (McLeod 75), Breen, Fisher, Wotherspoon (Comrie 61)
Subs Not Used: Trialist (GK), Tod, O'Halloran

Manager Reaction - "It was a good test for us."

Watch manager Stephen Robinson's reaction to our 1-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic. 

Season 2023/24 drew to a close for Saints with a narrow defeat at Celtic Park. Captain Mark O'Hara scored twice, but the Buddies were edged out 3-2 by cinch Premiership champions Celtic.

Stephen Robinson made four changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Hearts at The SMiSA Stadium on Wednesday night. Goalscorers James Scott and James Bolton came out, as did Jaden Brown and Mikael Mandron. They were replaced by Elvis Bwomono, Marcus Fraser, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Toyosi Olusanya. There was also a final outing for Keanu Baccus from the start with the manager confirming earlier in the week that the midfielder will leave following the expiry of his contract. 

There was a carnival atmosphere inside a sold out Celtic Park on the day that the hosts would receive the cinch Premiership trophy after winning the league. Celtic started quickly and could have taken the lead on just three minutes when Stephen Welsh rose the highest to meet a Luis Palma corner but glanced his header just wide of the far post. 

But Saints would stun the expectant crowd by taking the lead four minutes later when captain O'Hara blasted home from 12 yards out. The hosts' defence couldn't deal with Baccus' long throw with Callum McGregor knocking a header into the path of O'Hara who took it first time to slam into the corner of the net.  

Celtic equalised on 21 minutes when Kyogo Furuhashi beat the offside trap and held off the Richard Taylor. Alex Gogic came across to try and get clear but his header fell to the path of Matt O'Riley who lashed home. 

Saints hit the front again just five minutes later when O'Hara scored from the penalty spot. The Buddies were awarded the spot kick after Olusanya ran through when Welsh misjudged the flight of the ball over the top. The Saints forward was then bundled down by the Celtic defender and referee Matthew MacDermid pointed to the spot. O'Hara put the penalty high into the right-hand corner to score his 20th goal for the Saints, leaving Joe Hart with no chance despite going the right way. The skipper almost had a hat-trick when he met a Caolan Boyd-Munce corner at the back stick and headed off the post. 

Celtic levelled for a second time on 37 minutes when Furuhashi slid in at the near post to turn Reo Hatate's low cross from the right beyond Zach Hemming. They came inches away from taking the lead just a minute later when Furuhashi's cross was met by Palma but the unmarked winger somehow headed wide from close-range. 

Hemming made a good block to deny Furuhashi early in the second-half and followed up with a good save from Hatate's effort from the resultant corner. 

Baccus' long throw-ins continued to cause the Celtic defence problems in the second-half with Olusanya pouncing on hesitant defending to bring the ball down on his chest, but he slammed wide of target. Two minutes later, on the hour mark, the Saints forward looked poised to put us ahead for a third time only for Hoops defender Maik Nawrocki to slide in and block the attempt. 

Stephen Robinson made two changes with Charles Dunne and Ryan Strain coming on for what is likely their last appearances for the club. The pair replaced Taylor and Bwomono on 66 minutes. 

Olusanya was a nuisance for the Celtic defence with his pace and he had another opportunity with just under 20 minutes remaining when he raced on to a ball over the top but he just couldn't quite shake off Liam Scales to open up and smashed his effort high and wide. That was his final contribution as he was replaced by Mandron on 75 minutes. 

Celtic took the lead in the final minutes of time when Anthony Ralston's cross found Palma who tapped home at the back post to win it for Celtic.

Saints can look back on 2023/24 with immense pride after securing a second successive top six finish, as well as European football for the first time since 1987.

Full-Time: Celtic 3-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 66), Bwomono (Strain 66), Baccus, Boyd-Munce (Flynn 80), O'Hara (c), Tanser, McMenamin (Jamieson 80), Olusanya (Mandron 75)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Scott, Brown

Celtic: Hart (Bain 88), Ralston, Welsh (Scales 65), Nawrocki, Taylor, O'Riley, McGregor (c) (Bernardo 77), Hatate (Iwata 65), Kuhn, Kyogo (Idah 65), Palma
Subs Not Used: Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Maeda, Forrest

Referee: Matthew MacDermid 
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Steven Traynor
Fourth Official: Alan Muir
VAR: Kevin Clancy

The points were shared in St Mirren's final home match of the 2023/24 season ended in a 2-2 draw.

Stephen Robinson made a with Jaden Brown, Richard Taylor, Keanu Baccus and James Scott all starting while Ryan Strain, Marcus Fraser, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Toyosi Olusanya dropped to the bench. 

The Buddies started brightly and threatened in the early stages with Scott seeing an effort saved well by Craig Gordon, before the Hearts defence managed to block Mikael Mandron on the follow-up. 

That early Saints pressure would tell when Stephen Robinson's men took the lead with just eight minutes on the clock. A cross into the box was headed back across the face of goal by a Hearts defender straight to Scott who swept home from close range to score his first St Mirren goal.

The Buddies pushed for a second with Jaden Brown curling a low effort into the arms of Gordon on 13 minutes before Scott Tanser struck just over from the edge of the area after meeting a Scott nod down. 

But the visitors drew level on 20 minutes when Kyosuke Tagawa got in front of Richard Taylor to knock home a low Cammy Devlin ball in from the left. Tagawa missed a huge chance for his and Hearts' second just at the end of the first-half when he got on the end of a cross but somehow fired over. It was Tagawa that would threaten again after the break with Taylor making a brilliant block to the strike. 

Stephen Robinson made two changes just before the hour mark with Boyd-Munce and Olusanya introduced in place of Scott and Brown. And it was Boyd-Munce's brilliant ball that yielded Saints' second goal as he put it straight on to the head of James Bolton who sent the header beyond Gordon. 

Hearts equalised for the second time on 73 minutes and it was a quality finish from their substitute Lawrence Shankland who was first to react to Mandron's headed clearance. He hooked the ball over his shoulder into the far corner of the net. The forward should have put the visitors ahead just two minutes later after getting in behind the Saints defence to go clear on goal but his effort was well saved by Zach Hemming.

Saints came agonisingly close to a winner when Olusanya's strike from the edge of the area was deflected inches by the post after taking a nick off Kye Rowles. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 Hearts

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Dunne 84), Gogic, Taylor (Fraser 70), Brown (Olusanya 59), O'Hara (c), Baccus, Tanser (Bwomono 70), Scott (Boyd-Munce 59), Mandron, McMenamin
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Strain, Mooney, Jamieson

Hearts: Gordon, Kent, Sibbick, Rowles, Cochrane, Lembikisa (Oda 78), Devlin (Tait 59), Denholm (Wilson 71), Fraser, Tagawa (Boyce 71), Forrest (Shankland 59)
Subs Not Used: Clark, Atkinson, McKay, Vargas

Referee: John Beaton 
Assistant Referee: Alastair Mather
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
VAR: Grant Irvine

Attendance: 7,222

Europe remains so close yet so far for Saints after they lost to Kilmarnock in Paisley.

The only goal came in the first-half, good work from Marley Watkins setting up Kyle Vassell to smash home from close range.

Watkins and Robbie Deas were denied by Zach Hemming as the visitors looked to extend their lead after the break. Saints' best chance came when Conor McMenamin slid the ball round the Killie defence for Toyosi Olusanya and he thumped a fantastic shot that rattled the woodwork with goalie Will Dennis beaten. There was late pressure from the home side but Killie stood firm to secure fourth place in the cinch Premiership, while Saints remain five points clear of Dundee with each side having just two games to go.

Stephen Robinson named an unchanged starting eleven from the one that defeated Dundee last week.

On a glorious day in front of a packed crowd, the early excitement came when Hemming misjudged his kick out and the ball thumped off Vassell before flying back over the bar. Olusanya lashed one over at the other end before Scott Tanser's spectacular effort was kept out by Dennis, however it was irrelevant as the flag then went up for offside. Such was the temperature that ref Euan Anderson stopped play midway through the half for a water break.

A tame Mikael Mandron header was saved by Dennis before a mistake from Alex Gogic gave Watkins a sight of goal but he dragged his shot wide. Mark O'Hara's header looked to have sent Mandron through on goal but a fantastic tackle from Robbie Deas allowed Dennis to gather the loose ball. Watkins then found himself in plenty of space on the right and made full use of it to slide a ball across goal that the Saints defence couldn't stop getting to Vassell. The striker took a touch and it looked as if a home player would be able to block any shot only for him to then thump it into the roof of the net to put the visitors in front at the interval.

Caloan Boyd-Munce's optimistic shot was well wide as hostilities resumed after the break, Dennis reacting quickly to stop Stuart Findlay unintentionally heading McMenamin's cross into his own net. A bit of a stramash at a corner saw Tanser denied by Dennis and Gogic put the loose ball wide before Ryan Strain's burst down the right saw allowed him to put in an inviting cross that Olusanya volleyed wide.

Watkins had a great chance to put Killie out of sight when he pounced on an error from Gogic, however Hemming blocked the shot with his legs at the expense of a corner. The delivery was cleared back to Matty Kennedy and his cross was headed towards goal by Deas, Hemming producing a great save to tip it over. Watkins headed wide as Killie threatened again, Saints making a triple sub with Boyd-Munce, Strain and Tanser being replaced by James Scott, Lewis Jamieson and Keanu Baccus respectively.

Findlay continued to threaten his own goal, Dennis grabbing his sliced clearance, before Saints went desperately close to drawing level. McMenamin sent a wonderful ball down the left that curled in behind the Killie defence for Olusanya and his first time shot beat Dennis but not the bar, the ball rattling the woodwork before bouncing to safety. He had another chance at a late corner as the Killie defence stood firm to confirm fourth place in the league.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Taylor 83), Gogic, Fraser, Strain (Jamieson 67), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Baccus 67), Tanser (Scott 67), McMenamin, Mandron, Olusanya
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Brown, Bwomono, Mooney

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Ndaba, Mayo, Findlay, Deas, Kennedy, Watson, Donnelly, Armstrong (McKenzie 80), Vassell (Cameron 76), Watkins (Stewart 90)
Subs Not Used: O'Hara, Murray, Davies, Stewart, Polworth, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Ross Hardie
VAR: 

Attendance: 7,645 

Match Report by Stuart Gillespie