St Mirren made it two wins from two despite being reduced to 10 men in our delayed cinch Premiership match against Dundee.

Kick-off was pushed back to 8:15pm after Dundee arrived late in Paisley and it was late second-half goals from Mikael Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya - either side of a James Bolton sending off - that saw Stephen Robinson's men follow up Saturday's 3-0 win over Hibernian with another important victory. 

The manager named an unchanged starting eleven following Saturday's win at Easter Road. Keanu Baccus was on the bench after returning from the Asian Cup. There were three ex-Saints in the Dundee starting line-up with Trevor Carson, Joe Shaughnessy and Curtis Main all picked by Tony Docherty. 

After a stodgy opening period, the best chance of the first-half came on 25 minutes when Hyeokkyu Kwon played a brilliant pass through the Dundee defence for Mandron to run on to but the forward's strike was well saved by Dundee goalkeeper Carson. 

Alex Gogic went close three minutes later when he got his head on a Caolan Boyd-Munce corner kick but glanced just wide of the far post.

Dundee had their best opportunity of the half in the final few minutes of the opening 45. The Dark Blues looked to hit Saints on the counter with Owen Beck charging clear through the middle of the park. Kwon kept up with the loanee which allowed Saints to get numbers back. Beck still got a shot away but drilled it inches by the right-hand post. 

Saints looked the more likely though and came mightily close to opening the scoring 20 minutes into the second-half through substitute Baccus. The returning Australia midfielder was brought on just before the hour mark and was inches away from breaking the deadlock on 65 minutes with a thundering effort that crashed off the bar and over. Boyd-Munce's clipped ball from just inside the box was palmed out by Carson only as far as Baccus who smashed his volley off the woodwork.

Saints' persistent paid off as we made the breakthrough with less than 20 minutes to go when Mandron made it two goals in two matches. Tanser's cross was headed out by Owen Dodgson only as far as Mandron who brought it down on his chest before lashing home from the edge of the box. Carson got two hands to it but couldn't prevent it hitting the net much to the delight of the 5000+ home support. 

The Buddies searched for more and could have had a second on 80 minutes when substitute Lewis Jamieson saw a shot well saved by Carson. Greg Kiltie should have wrapped the game up two minutes later when he got in behind the Dundee defence but sclaffed his effort wide. 

Saints looked set to be forced into an anxious final few minutes when Bolton was show a straight red card for a challenge on Dodgson. It appeared to be a harsh call from referee Steven McLean, but despite being sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR, the whistler stuck with his original call. 

Far be it from hanging on, Stephen Robinson's side would go on to seal the victory in injury time when they hit Dundee on the counter. Tanser found Olusanya who held his line brilliant - being played onside by Dodgson - before bursting forward with his electric pace and showing composure to slot home into the near post. The offside flag was raised, but any fears of it not counting were soon assuaged when VAR confirmed the forward was onside and the goal stood. That ensured another big three points for the Buddies to move nine points clear of sixth place Dundee. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-0 Dundee

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Fraser (c), Bwomono, Kwon (Baccus 58), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Kiltie, Mandron (Olusanya 87), Scott (Jamieson 68, Dunne 87)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Brown, Flynn, Ayunga

Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Ashcroft (Astley 67), Shaughnessy (c), Dodgson, Beck, Cameron (Bakayoko 77), Boateng (Mulligan 77), McCowan, Mellon (Tiffoney 67), Main (Robinson 59)
Subs Not Used: Sharp, Robertson, Donnelly, Sylla

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Chris Rae
Assistant Referee: Colin Drummond
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: Gavin Duncan

Attendance: 5,737

Three first-half goals saw St Mirren earn a big win away to Hibernian in the cinch Premiership. 

Alex Gogic, Greg Kiltie and Mikael Mandron all netted in a blistering first-half performance that saw Saints leave the capital with all three points. 

Stephen Robinson made three changes as Caolan Boyd-Munce came in for the injured Mark O'Hara. James Scott came in for his first start, while Mandron also started with Lewis Jamieson and Jonah Ayunga on the bench. 

Saints started fast with Greg Kiltie having an opportunity within the first 90 seconds that forced a low save from veteran Hibernian goalkeeper David Marshall. 

The bright opening would be rewarded with Saints taking the lead on eight minutes. It came after a delightful dinked ball from Caolan Boyd-Munce found Gogic got in between two Hibs defenders to bullet home the header. 

The Buddies controlled the first-half and would have a chance to double their lead on 34 minutes when referee Willie Collum awarded a penalty for a handball after Mandron's effort came off the hand Hibs defender Nectarios Triantis. Kiltie stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards as he slammed low into the middle of the net to make it 2-0. 

Saints could have quickly made it 3-0 when Scott Tanser's wicked delivery was helped on by Scott to Elvis Bwomono at the back post. The wing-back was in acres of space but saw his shot blocked well by Marshall. 

The Buddies would add a third before the interval with Mandron netting in the final minutes of normal time in the half. Boyd-Munce's corner floated all the way to the far post where Mandron on hand to sweep home from close range.

Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery made three changes at the break as Hibs looked to find a way back into the match. Dylan Levitt, Jair Tavares and Elie Youan were replaced by Dylan Vente, Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Eliezer Mayenda on. But it was Saints who had the first opportunity of the half when Bwomono dragged an effort wide on 48 minutes.

Stephen Robinson made his first change a little over 10 minutes into the second-half with Jamieson on for Scott. And the 21-year-old had a good opportunity to score within a minute of his introduction but lashed a volley over the bar. Jamieson was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet when a vital intervention saw him denied a tap-in on 63 minutes. 

There wasn't too much in the way of work for either goalkeeper but it was still the Buddies who looked the more likely to add to their tally. Boyd-Munce saw a powerful drive from 25 yards fly just wide as the match headed into its final 15 minutes. The midfielder almost scored directly from a corner in the final 10 minutes with Marshall having to push over. 

The Buddies three first-half goals were enough to earn an important three points in our first away match of 2024. 

Full-Time: Hibernian 0-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Dunne 62), Gogic, Fraser (c), Bwomono (Brown 81), Kwon (Flynn 81), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Kiltie, Mandron (Olusanya 81), Scott (Jamieson 56)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Penman, Ayunga

Hibernian: Marshall, Whittaker (Megwa 65), Triantis, Fish, Obita, Tavares (Moriah-Welsh 46), Newell, Maolida (Le Fondre 69), Marcondes, Levitt (Vente 46), Youan (Mayenda 46)
Subs Not Used: Wollacott, Cadden, Amos, Stevenson

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
VAR: Alan Muir

St Mirren were edged out by Rangers in our first cinch Premiership match since the winter break.

Cyriel Dessers' 14th minute goal was enough to give the visitors the points despite Saints creating a number of chances throughout the match.

Greg Kiltie made his 100th Saints appearance while Mark O'Hara returned to the starting line-up after a calf injury. Lewis Jamieson also started as the manager made two changes from the side that defeated Queen of the South in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup last week.

Rangers took the lead on 14 minutes when Dessers beat the offside trap to run on to a ball over the top from John Lundstram. The forward beat Zach Hemming to the ball and rounded the goalkeeper to roll into the empty net. 

Saints looked for a quick leveller with Elvis Bwomono at the far post reaching a Scott Tanser cross two minutes later. The right-wing-back hit the effort into the ground but Jack Butland in the Rangers net managed to gather. 

Hyeokkyu Kwon had Saints best chance of the first-half when he was found unmmarked in the Rangers area by Kiltie's cross, but the Korean midfielder side-footed high and wide from just inside the box. 

Rangers went close to doubling their lead a minute later when a long-range strike from James Tavernier flew just by the post.

Saints were presented with a good opportunity on 27 minutes when Jonah Ayunga was fouled on the edge of the Rangers D. Jamieson stepped up to take the free-kick but fired well over. The 21-year-old had another big chance three minutes later when he was slipped in but his effort was saved by the feet of Butland with the offside flag raised in any case. 

Kwon forced a good save from Butland in the final minutes of the first-half with an effort from 20 yards that the Rangers goalkeeper had to push wide. 

Despite going in to the break behind, Saints had the better chances in the first 45 and Rangers responded by making two changes at the interval with Tom Lawrence and Ross McCausland replacing Scott Wright and Todd Cantwell.

The visitors quickly looked for a second early in the second-half with Tavernier curling wide from 20 yards before substitute Lawrence did the same from similar range a few minutes later. Dessers went close to his and Rangers' second on 54 minutes when his deflected effort came off the post. 

James Scott made his St Mirren debut as a second-half substitute (Image: Allan Picken)

New signing James Scott was given his debut when he replaced Jamieson on 64 minutes, while Mikael Mandron also came on in place of Ayunga.

VAR checked for a St Mirren penalty as the game approached the final 10 minutes after Marcus Fraser went down in the box, but nothing was given.

Saints kept pressing in search of an equaliser and came agonisingly close when the ball fell kindly for Alex Gogic but his strike was blocked by some brilliant last-ditch defending from John Souttar. From the resulting corner James Bolton headed off the cross bar as it proved not to be St Mirren's day. 

James Bolton came close to an equaliser in the final few minutes (Image: Allan Picken)

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Rangers

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Fraser, Gogic, Bwomono, O'Hara (c) (Dunne 81), Kwon (Boyd-Munce 72), Tanser, Kiltie, Ayunga (Mandron 64), Jamieson (Scott 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Brown, Flynn, Nahmani

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (c), Goldson, Souttar, Ridvan (Barisic 84), Lundstram, Raskin (Jack 58), Sterling (Matondo 88), Cantwell (Lawrence 46), Wright (McCausland 46), Dessers
Subs Not Used: McCrorie, Silva, Balogun, Devine

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Paul McAvinue
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: Don Robertson

Attendance: 6,665

Alex Gogic's second-half header ensured Saints' name in the hat for the Fifth Round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup. 

Stephen Robinson's men dominated the proceedings but missed a number of opportunities before Cypriot defender Gogic nodded home from a corner to secure our place in the draw. 

Hyeokkyu Kwon made his Saints debut after joining on loan from Celtic last week. Elvis Bwomono also came in for his first start, while Conor McMenamin returned to the starting line-up after missing the Celtic game prior to the winter break. St Mirren Youth Academy players Evan Mooney, Callum Penman and Ethan Sutherland were given places on the bench. 

The Buddies started brightly and the visitors had goalkeeper Harry Stone to thank for denying Saints an early lead with the stopper making a terrific save to claw a header over the bar on 12 minutes. 

Saints thought they had the lead on 19 minutes when Greg Kiltie had the ball in the net. Jonah Ayunga's initial strike was saved by Stone but Kiltie was on hand to roll into the empty net only for the linesman's offside flag to deny the forward on his 99th St Mirren appearance. 

The Buddies still had to be wary of Queen of the South's threat on the counter and when ex-Saints Academy graduate Kyle Doherty did well to hold off Alex Gogic, he managed to slide in Lewis Gibson who looked poised to fire the visitors in front only for stand-in captain Marcus Fraser to make a brilliant block. 

Kiltie came close to putting Saints ahead with a strike from 20 yards that flew by the post just before the half hour mark.

Bwomono was denied a goal on his first start when his powerful strike was cleared off the line by Efe Ambrose four minutes after the restart. Four minutes after that Tanser looked like he was about to give us the lead with a sweetly struck volley from the edge of the box. The left-wing-back caught it perfectly and it appeared to be flying into the top corner off the net, but it came crashing off the cross bar. 

Stephen Robinson made his first change just after the hour mark with Lewis Jamieson introduced in place of McMenamin. The 21-year-old sent in a good cross on 67 minutes which met the head of Kiltie, but the forward was leaning back and sent the header over. 

The breakthrough finally came with less than 20 minutes remaining. Kiltie's corner was perfect as it met the head of Gogic who bulleted home to break the deadlock.

Unlucky Kiltie was foiled by the offside flag once again when he smashed home on 77 minutes. 

Substitute Mikael Mandron should have made it two with three minutes of normal time remaining but he fired his header from Boyd-Munce's corner over the bar. Thankfully, one would be enough as Saints put their name in the hat for the Fifth Round draw. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Queen of the South

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Bolton, Gogic, Bwomono, Boyd-Munce, Kwon, Tanser, McMenamin (Jamieson 62), Ayunga (Mandron 71), Kiltie
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Flynn, Sutherland, Mooney, Penman, Nahmani

Queen of the South: Stone, McKay (c), Todd (Hutchinson 76), Connelly, McCelland, Ferguson, Ferguson, Logan, Ambrose, Doherty (McGuffie 88), Gibson (Walker 88), Brydon (McKechnie 46)
Subs Not Used: Botterill, Macintyre, Irving, Ross, Johnstone

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill

Attendance: 3,425 

10-man St Mirren were beaten 3-0 by Celtic in our first match of 2024.

Two goals in the opening six minutes from Daizen Maeda and Matt O'Riley had Celtic 2-0 up and Saints' afternoon was made a lot tougher when a VAR intervention saw Toyosi Olusanya sent off for a foul on Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart. Greg Taylor then added a third for the visitors as they left Paisley with the points. 

There were three changes to the Saints side that defeated Aberdeen 3-0 on Saturday. Keanu Baccus dropped out after joining up with Australia for their Asian Cup campaign, while Mark O'Hara missed the game after picking up a thigh injury on Saturday. Lewis Jamieson was also benched with the trio replaced by Ryan Flynn, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Olusanya. 

Saints got off to the worst possible start when Maeda put the hosts ahead within the first minute. O'Riley's low pass found Maeda who has got in front of Scott Tanser and managed to slot beyond Zach Hemming. That poor start was compounded five minutes later when O'Riley turned from provider to goalscorer to double Celtic's lead. Bernardo picked up the ball from Luis Palma and spun well to get away from Alex Gogic and tee up O'Riley who took a touch before finishing low through the legs of the goalkeeper. 

It was an uphill task but Saints looked to find a way back into the match with Olusanya looking lively. He managed to get in behind Celtic's centre-half pairing of Liam Scales and Maik Nawrocki on 13 minutes but he lashed his effort well wide under pressure from the latter defender. 

Nawrocki missed a big opportunity to extend Celtic's lead shortly before the half hour mark when he didn't get the right connection on a header after being found unmarked in the Saints box. Kyogo Furuhashi flicked on Palma's free-kick for the Hoops defender but he only got the slightest of touches as he glanced wide of the far post. 

Saints were dealt a huge blow when Olusanya was shown a red card following a VAR check as the game was reaching its interval. The Buddies forward made an honest attempt to reach a cross but caught Celtic number one Hart late and was booked by referee David Munro. But the VAR, Steven McLean, advised the referee to check the monitor and he subsequently withdrew the yellow card and showed Olusanya a straight red to reduce Saints to 10 men.

A VAR intervention saw Toyosi Olusanya sent off and Saints reduced to 10 men (Image: Vagelis Georgariou)

The Buddies were trying their best to make a game of it after the restart despite the disadvantage. Greg Kiltie went on a marauding run into the Celtic half on 58 minutes and worked his way into the box but saw his shot blocked. But in truth it was the visitors who looked more likely and they came close to furthering their lead a minute later only for O'Riley to be thwarted by a terrific save from Hemming who touched over the bar. Celtic would add a third soon after when Greg Taylor got on to a Bernardo ball over the top and volleyed into the net on the hour mark. 

Elvis Bwomono was handed a St Mirren debut when he replaced Ryan Flynn on 65 minutes. He was part of a double substitution that saw Jonah Ayunga also come on in place of Mikael Mandron.

Furuhashi missed a big chance to add a fourth for Celtic as the game reached its final 20 minutes and that would be his last action as he was replaced by Hyeongyu Oh on 71 minutes. Another Celtic substitute - Liel Abada - came close to adding his name to the scoresheet 10 minutes after his introduction, but he was denied by a brilliant stop from Hemming. The Saints number one then made a good double save four minutes later to deny Oh and Hyunjun Yang from adding to Celtic's tally.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-3 Celtic

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Taylor, Fraser, Flynn (Bwomono 65), Boyd-Munce (Greive 77), Kiltie, Tanser, Olusanya, Mandron (Ayunga 65)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Small, McMenamin, Jamieson, Nahmani

Celtic: Hart, A.Johnston, Nawrocki (Lagerbielke 63), Scales, Taylor, O'Riley, McGregor, Bernardo (Hatate 71), Maeda (Abada 63), Furuhashi (Oh 71), Palma (Yang 55)
Subs Not Used: Bain, Ralston, Turnbull, M.Johnston

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Craig Napier
VAR: Steven McLean

Attendance: 6,943

St Mirren ended the year on a high with a brilliant victory away to Aberdeen in the cinch Premiership. Mark O'Hara, Jonah Ayunga and Greg Kiltie all scored as Saints defeated the Dons 3-0 at Pittodrie to secure our biggest league win on the road this season. 

Lewis Jamieson and Mikael Mandron came in from the start in place of Toyosi Olusanya and Ayunga as the manager made two changes from Wednesday night's 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock.  

The two changes looked lively in the opening exchanges and almost linked up to give us a lead inside the opening 10 minutes. A deep cross from Scott Tanser found Jamieson who nodded down for Mandron, but the big forward couldn't get enough on it to divert beyond Aberdeen goalkeeper Kelle Roos who gathered comfortably. 

But the Buddies would take the lead just three minutes later when O'Hara fired us ahead from the edge of the area. It was a terrific strike from the skipper after Mandron's initial 

The captain had a chance to double his and St Mirren's tally when Saints were awarded a penalty on 19 minutes following a VAR check. Jamieson's shot was blocked by the hand of Richard Jensen and referee Grant Irvine was sent to the pitchside monitor to check. The spot-kick was awarded, but O'Hara dragged wide of the target. 

The home side looked to find their way back into it before the interval and in-form striker Bojan Miovski wasn't too far away with a volley that went wide of the left-hand post near the half hour mark. Zach Hemming was then called into action when he got down well to push away a powerful Clarkson strike at his near post on 32 minutes. 

Saints started the second-half brightly and came close when Kiltie's low cross almost found Jamieson, but the youngster just couldn't connect and Aberdeen would eventually deal with the danger. The 21-year-old had another good opportunity to double Saints advantage when he was sent clear on a fast counter. Jamieson skipped by the challenge of Richard Jensen but his low shot was tame and allowed Roos to gather with relative ease. 

A one-goal lead is always precarious and Hemming had to make a terrific save on 54 minutes when he got both hands behind a James McGarry strike to turn it wide as the Dons looked to pull themselves level.

Saints were dealt a blow just before the hour mark when goalscorer O'Hara pulled up with an injury. The skipper was checked out by St Mirren physio Gerry Docherty but had to come off with Caolan Boyd-Munce his replacement. Stephen Robinson made two further changes five minutes later when he introduced Olusanya and Ayunga in place of Jamieson and Mandron. 

Aberdeen tried to find a leveller and came close with less than 20 minutes remaining when substitute Dante Polvara headed just wide of the target. But it was Saints who would go on to seal the win when Ayunga was on hand at the back post to meet a brilliant Tanser cross and slam into the net to double our lead.

The cherry on top of the cake was added when the Buddies were awarded a stoppage time penalty after a VAR intervention following a foul on Olusanya. Kiltie fired high into the net to make it 3-0 and send the delighted travelling support back to Paisley with all three points. 

Greg Kiltie scores our final goal of 2023 to secure our win in Aberdeen

Full-Time: Aberdeen 0-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Taylor, Fraser, Baccus, O'Hara (c) (Boyd-Munce 59), Tanser, Kiltie, Mandron (Ayunga 64), Jamieson (Olusanya 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Small, Flynn, Greive, Nahmani

Aberdeen: Roos, Gartenmann, Rubezic, Jensen (Morris 60), Devlin (Milne 61), McGrath, Clarkson, Shinnie (Polvara 60), McGarry (Hayes 81), Miovski, Duk (Sokler 72)
Subs Not Used: Doohan, Barron, Duncan, MacDonald

Referee: Grant Irvine
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: Dan McFarlane
VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 17,029

St Mirren were defeated at The SMiSA Stadium in league action for just a second time this season as the Buddies lost 1-0 to Kilmarnock.

Marley Watkins' first-half strike was enough to secure the points for the Ayrshire side and see them move four points clear of the Buddies in the cinch Premiership and consign Saints to just a second loss in 10 home league matches this season.

There were two changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday. James Bolton came in from the start as did Toyosi Olusanya in place of Thierry Small and the injured Alex Greive. 

Saints started brightly and thought they had taken a 14th minute lead when Jonah Ayunga stuck the ball in the net. The forward reacted quickest to Will Dennis' save from Olusanya's strike, but the offside flag was raised. A VAR check confirmed that Olusanya was narrowly offside in the build up to the goal. 

Jonah Ayunga's early goal was disallowed for an offside in the build-up (Image: Allan Picken)

But it was the away side that took the lead when Marley Watkins fired them ahead on 25 minutes. The Killie forward peeled away from the Saints defence and slammed high into the net after being slipped in by Matthew Kennedy.

The visitors were in the ascendancy and came close to adding a second when Brad Lyons' good delivery had to be headed clear by Marcus Fraser with Kyle Vassell lurking at the far post. Kilmarnock were then awarded a free-kick in a decent area just outside the Saints box after loose possession saw the Buddies lose the ball and Richard Taylor booked for hauling down Daniel Armstrong. The Killie winger took the free-kick but it deflected wide. VAR checked for a possible penalty for handball, but the check ruled no handball and no penalty. 

Saints looked to try and find their way back into the match but all the Buddies could muster before the interval was a Scott Tanser volley from 25 yard that was pushed away by Dennis.

After a fairly uneventful start to the second-half, Saints boss Stephen Robinson made two changes on 64 minutes when he introduced Conor McMenamin and Mikael Mandron for Marcus Fraser and Olusanya. McMenamin almost made an instant impact when he flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal but there were no takers in black and white to force home. 

Stav Nahmani then came on with 15 minutes remaining to replace Ayunga and he too wasn't far away from making a quick impact when he found himself in good space inside the box. He twisted to try and get the shot away but his attempt was well blocked by Corrie Ndaba. Moments later Bolton came agonisingly close to the equaliser when he rose the highest to meet a cross but his header was brilliant saved by Dennis who got a fingertip to it to touch over. 

The visitors almost doubled their lead with 10 minutes to go when Brad Lyons' header had to be cleared off the line before Hemming got two powerful hands behind a powerful drive from the edge of the area.

Saints continued to put pressure on in search of a leveller and it looked like it may come six minutes from time when a ball to the back post from McMenamin found Tanser but he somehow couldn't force the ball over the line as the Buddies were beaten. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser (McMenamin 64), Gogic, Taylor, Bolton, Baccus, O'Hara (c), Kiltie, Ayunga (Nahmani 75), Olusanya (Mandron 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Small, Flynn, Boyd-Munce, Jamieson

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Findlay, Deas, Ndaba, Armstrong (Wright 87), Kennedy (McKenzie 72), Watson, Lyons, Watkins (Dallas 75), Vassell (c)
Subs Not Used: O'Hara, Sanders, Davies, Polworth, Warnock, Mackay-Steven

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Ross Hardie
VAR: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 7,534

St Mirren were defeated by Hearts in the cinch Premiership as a Lawrence Shankland double either side of half-time saw the Buddies beaten in Gorgie. 

Shankland opened the scoring not long after the half-hour mark when he headed home unmarked at the far post. He added a second quickly after the break with a stunning strike to give the hosts all the points.

Stephen Robinson made one change from the side that drew with Motherwell at The SMiSA Stadium last weekend. Alex Greive came in from the start in place of Stav Nahmani who dropped to the bench. Ryan Flynn returned to the squad after a hamstring injury and he took his place among the substitutes in place of Conor McMenamin who missed out due to illness. 

The hosts were presented a decent opportunity in the opening moments of the game after breaking forward immediately after kick-off and seeing Aidan Denholm fouled by Alex Gogic. The Cypriot international was booked and Hearts awarded a free-kick in a good area 20 yards from goal. Alex Cochrane took but fired his low effort well wide of the left-hand post. 

There was little between the sides in the opening exchanges and Saints look to profit from slack play in the Hearts defence on 12 minutes, Jonah Ayunga got a shot away but saw his deflected effort spin into the hands of Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark. The forward won a free-kick 15 minutes later around 25 yards from the Hearts goal after being pulled back. Scott Tanser stepped up but sent his attempt wide. 

Hearts drew first blood on 33 minutes when Shankland headed home from close-range at the far post. Saints failed to clear their lines at a corner and that allowed Cochrane to swing the ball to the back stick where the unmarked Shankland was alone in plenty of space to meet it and force over the line despite Zach Hemming getting two hands on it. 

Shankland scored his and Hearts' second early into the second-half with a stunning effort from the edge of the box just four minutes after the restart. The forward picked the ball up just outside the area, spun round and sent a brilliant finish into the top corner to double the home side's advantage. He could have had his hat-trick on 57 minutes when Beni Baningime robbed Richard Taylor off the ball near the penalty area and threaded the ball through to the Hearts number nine. But Shankland poked at the effort and Hemming blocked. 

The Buddies came close to pulling a goal back twice within the space of a minute just after the hour mark. Gogic saw a header well saved by Clark who, at full-stretch, managed to claw the ball behind. A scramble from the resultant corner almost saw Thierry Small force home but his effort was cleared off the line by Kye Rowles. 

Saints made three changes soon after with Nahmani, Toyosi Olusanya and Lewis Jamieson introduced in place of Greg Kiltie, Ayunga and Greive. Mikael Mandron and Caolan Boyd-Munce were also brought on 10 minutes later as Small and Mark O'Hara made way. But the changes couldn't see the Buddies force a way back into the match and it was Hearts who almost rounded off their afternoon with a third when a rare Hemming mistake saw the goalkeeper pass the ball straight to Jambos substitute Macaulay Tait inside the box, but the Saints number one made amends with a good save to deny the youngster. 

Full-Time: Hearts 2-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Small (Mandron 73), O'Hara (c) (Boyd-Munce 74), Baccus, Tanser, Kiltie (Nahmani 63), Ayunga (Olusanya 63), Greive (Jamieson 63)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Flynn

Hearts: Clark, Kent, Halkett, Rowles, Atkinson (Sibbick 74), Cochrane, Denholm (Tait 84), Oda (Forrest 66), Baningime, McKay (Nieuwenhof 66), Shankland
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Kingsley, Haring, Tagawa, Vargas

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Fourth Official: Calum Scott
VAR: Euan Anderson

Attendance: 18,717 

Saints and Motherwell played out a goalless draw in a wet and windy Paisley.

After a forgettable first half, Saints were given the perfect chance to take the lead early in the second when Stephen O'Donnell handled Jonah Ayunga's cross, but Liam Kelly saved Mark O'Hara's effort.

Kelly also did well to turn away Thierry Small's shot but it was the visitors who had the better chances, a combination of poor finishing and great goalkeeping from Zach Hemming meaning Blair Spittal, Mika Biereth and Theo Bair failed to get on the scoresheet.

The only change to the Saints side that had started against Ross County was little surprise, Keanu Baccus replacing the injured Caolan Boyd-Munce in midfield. The in-form Biereth started for the visitors, with former Buddies Jon Obika and Paul McGinn on the bench. 

Saints could have taken an early lead in slightly bizarre circumstances when skipper Mark O'Hara released Thierry Small down the right. His cross with his weaker foot was poor, Jonah Ayunga and Stav Nahmani effectively getting in each other's way as they came to meet it. Instead, it ran through to Greg Kiltie only for him to loose his balance as he took his shot – which still threatened to loop under the Motherwell bar. Small's next cross moments later was better, Ayunga sending a header towards goal that Liam Kelly tipped over. That proved to be the extent of the excitement in a first half played with the wind causing havoc for both sides.

Things livened up early in the second half. Ayunga burst forward and then crossed, the ball hitting the arm of the sliding Stephen O'Donnell as he tried to block the delivery. For once, VAR wasn't needed to tell whether it was a penalty, ref Craig Napier pointing straight to the spot. 'Well goalie Kelly indulged in some gamesmanship before he parried away the penalty from the usually reliable O'Hara, the skipper unable to force home the rebound.

Unsurprisingly, the save gave Motherwell a boost and they finally managed their first effort of note when Harry Paton's shot from the edge of the box flashed wide. Georgie Gent then headed a free-kick straight at Zach Hemming before Keanu Baccus shot just wide at the other end. The Aussie midfielder curled his next effort from a short corner over the bar, with Small going close when he cut inside and sent a shot towards the bottom corner that Kelly tipped it away.  

When Motherwell countered from the Saints corner that followed, they should have been front. The ball found Blair Spittal in acres of space and he reacted quickly to avoid Alex Gogic's lunge but didn't even test Hemming as he somehow shot wide. The visitors were screaming for a penalty moments later when Callum Slattery got in behind Gogic and then went to ground in the box. Play raged on, with Mr Napier not even invited to look at the VAR monitor when the ball went out. 

There was another penalty appeal when the ball may have hit Richard Taylor's arm but that also fell on deaf ears before Biereth squandered a glorious chance, getting goalside of the Saints defence before scuffing his shot at Hemming. As the game entered the final few minutes, Motherwell had another chance to score when sub Theo Bair was sent through but Hemming pulled off a great save. Deep into stoppage time, the Motherwell defence left a Saints cross and it bounced through to Conor McMenamin, however it rose too high for the Saints sub and was only able to head over as the points were shared.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-0 Motherwell

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Small (McMenamin 68), O'Hara (c), Baccus, Kiltie (Greive 82), Tanser, Nahmani (Mandron 68), Ayunga (Olusanya 78)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Sutherland, Jamieson

Motherwell: Kelly (c), O'Donnell, Mugabi, Blayney, Spencer, Slattery (Shaw 87), Zdravkovski, Paton, Gent (McGinn 90), Spittal, Biereth (Bair 87)
Subs Not Used: Oxborough, Wells, L.Ross, M.Ross, Wilkinson, Obika

Referee: Craig Napier
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Fourth Official: Alastair Grieve
VAR: Alan Muir

Attendance: 5,837

Saints ended their three game losing streak with a comfortable win over Ross County in a rainy Paisley.

The Buddies should have been in front at the break, Greg Kiltie hitting the bar before Jonah Ayunga was denied by Ross Laidlaw. When the Buddies did take the lead shortly after the interval, it was after a lengthy wait as VAR checked to ensure the ball had indeed crossed the line following some penalty box pinball.

That pause was nothing like as long as Ayunga had waited for the moment that came a few minutes later. The forward had spent 300 days out injured before returning to first team action last month and thumped home his first goal since his comeback just before the hour mark to ensure the points stayed at Greenhill Road.

Saints boss Stephen Robinson made three changes to the side that lost in Perth midweek. Thierry Small made his first start of the season in place of the injured Ryan Flynn, with Richard Taylor replacing Charles Dunne and Stav Nahmani taking over from Lewis Jamieson up front. The visitors had hit good form since Derek Adams returned to the dugout and had two familiar faces in their squad, with Jay Henderson and Eamonn Brophy both on the bench.

Ayunga went close to opening the scoring early on, bustling forward before unleashing a shot that stung the palms of Ross Laidlaw. At the other end, a dangerous looking ball across the Saints goal was knocked behind by Marcus Fraser for a corner, which Jordan White – who scored the winner when the two sides met last month - headed narrowly wide. With little more than a quarter of an hour on the clock Caolan Boyd-Munce's afternoon was ended by injury, Keanu Baccus replacing him in midfield.

Saints should have been in front midway through the half after some terrific football. Greg Kiltie played the ball out wide to Nahmani before charging into the box to meet the return cross, lifting the ball over Laidlaw only for it to hit the bar and be cleared. County looked set to take advantage of that let-off as Simon Murray raced onto White's flick-on but his shot was beyond both Zach Hemming and the far post.

The Buddies were looking the more likely to open the scoring, Nahmani getting behind the County defence before being denied by Laidlaw. The Israeli then sent Ayunga through on goal but his low, hard shot was kept out by the Staggies goalie, Baccus volleying well over after the resultant corner was knocked out to the edge of the box.

It was from another corner that Saints took the lead in bizarre circumstances early in the second half. The ball bounced about the six yard box before there were claims from both the players and fans behind the goal that it had crossed the line. Play raged on and County got the ball clear before ref Calum Scott stopped play for a VAR check. After what seemed like an eternity, it was eventually agreed that the ball had indeed crossed the line – although who helped it get there is anyone's guess, County's Ryan Leak 'credited' with the goal.

If that goal was shrouded in mystery, there was no doubt who scored moments later. Seconds after Nahmani's effort from Ayunga's pass was blocked, the latter charged down the left before thumping in a shot that got the better of Laidlaw and flew into the net to double Saints' lead. It was a huge milestone in Jonah's recovery from injury as it was his first goal since he found the net against Rangers in the final game before last year's World Cup. 

Jonah Ayunga celebrates his first goal since returning from injury (Image: Allan Picken)

The Buddies looked rampant, penalty claims waved away when Nahmani appeared to have been barged over in the box, but the visitors weren't finished with Hemming having to stretch to gather Murray's header. Nahmani then tried his luck from the edge of the box, Laidlaw needing two attempts to hold it in the slippy conditions. Alex Gogic was close to finishing things off 15 minutes from the end, heading wide as he met Kiltie's corner at the front post.

Hemming had had a fairly quiet afternoon but produced a brilliant save to turn County sub Alex Samuel's header over the bar as the visitors looked for a way back into the match. Mark O'Hara then had an effort deflected behind off Mikael Mandron after some uncertain Staggies defending, the sub then heading wide from the skipper's fine cross. As the clock ticked down, Kyle Turner was allowed to run forward from midfield but his shot from the edge of the D was always trickling wide before Toyosi Olusanya sent an inviting ball across the face of goal with none of his team-mates able to add the final touch that really would have been the icing on the cake.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-0 Ross County

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 64), Small (Bolton 78), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Baccus 18), Tanser, Kiltie, Nahmani (Olusanya 77), Ayunga (Mandron 77)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, McMenamin, Jamieson, Greive

Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall (Sims 71), Purrington, Brown, Baldwin, Allardice, Dhanda (Harmon 60), Murray, White (Samuel 71), Smith (Turner 50), Leak
Subs Not Used: Munro, Sheaf, Loturi, Henderson, Brophy

Referee: Calum Scott
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Assistant Referee: Alastair Mather
Fourth Official: Steven McLean
VAR: John Beaton

Attendance: 5402