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

An injury-time Chris Kane goal saw St Mirren lose in Perth. Stephen Robinson's men created a host of chances throughout the 90 minutes, but couldn't find the net before Kane - who saw his penalty saved but scored on the follow-up - consigned Saints to defeat. 

Lewis Jamieson made his first start of the season in place of Conor McMenamin, while Charles Dunne replaced the injured Richard Taylor in the only changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday. 

The hosts were forced into an early change with Max Kucheriavyi having to be replaced by Sven Sprangler with just 10 minutes of the clock after failing to shake off the effects of a clash of heads with Scott Tanser in the opening minutes. 

Saints should have taken the lead on 24 minutes when St Johnstone's Daniel Phillips gave the ball away on the edge of his box. The ball was worked through to Jonah Ayunga who was challenged just before he could slot into the net. It did fall to Jamieson whose effort was knocked over the bar by Dimitar Mitov in the St Johnstone goal. 

The home side then had their best chance of the match on the half-hour mark when Matt Smith met a dangerous ball swung in by Graham Carey. The St Johnstone midfielder got his foot on it but sent his side-foot volley straight into the arms of Zach Hemming. Carey had a go from distance a few minutes later but didn't get enough on it to trouble the Saints goalkeeper with Hemming collecting with ease. 

Saints were forced into a first-half change of their own when Ryan Flynn pulled up with an injury and was replaced by McMenamin. Stephen Robinson was forced into another change at the break when Tanser had to come off. He was replaced by James Bolton.

The Buddies should have taken an early second-half lead when Mark O'Hara found Greg Kiltie unmarked in the St Johnstone box. The forward headed into the ground which allowed Mitov to gather comfortably. The hosts then went up the park moments later with Hemming doing well to touch Carey's cross-cum-shot away from the danger area. 

Jamieson did well to pick out a super cross-field ball from McMenamin on the hour mark. The St Mirren Youth Academy graduate brought the ball under control before getting his strike away, but it was straight at Mitov. 

That would be Jamieson's last contribution as he was replaced as part of a double change on 66 minutes. He was replaced by Toyosi Olusanya while Mikael Mandron came on in place of Ayunga. 

The substitutes can agonisingly close to putting us ahead on 72 minutes when Olusanya stole the ball in the St Johnstone half and race forward towards the box. He slid the ball across the face of the area where Mandron was sliding in, but his touch came off the post. That chance had come two minutes after Dunne had almost given us a stunning lead with his effort from 25 yards touched over the bar by Mitov. 

The home side had the best chance on 78 minutes when substitute Kane pounced on a defensive mistake from Alex Gogic to race clear on goal. But the St Johnstone forward couldn't make it count as he dragged his attempt wide. 

It appeared that it would be a share of the spoils for both sides until the hosts were awarded a penalty in the final seconds of the game. Kane saw his spot-kick saved by Hemming, but he followed up to win it for the home side. 

Full-Time: St Johnstone 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, Flynn (McMenamin 45), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce, Tanser (Bolton 46), Jamieson (Olusanya 66), Kiltie (Baccus 76), Ayunga (Mandron 66)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Small, Nahmani, Greive

St Johnstone: Mitov, Gordon, McGowan, Robinson, Brown, Phillips, Smith, Gallacher, Kucheriavyi (Sprangler 10), Carey, Jaiyesimi (Kane 62)
Subs Not Used: Richards, Costelloe, Olufunwa, Jephcott, May, Turner-Cooke

Referee: Kevin Clancy
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: Ross Hardie
VAR: Alan Muir

Attendance: 2449 

Match report image: PPA

Saints were beaten at Ibrox as an Aballdah Sima double gave Rangers a 2-0 win in the cinch Premiership.  

The Buddies had their chances in the first-half, but fell behind to a Sima on the final minute of normal time at the end of the half. And the Rangers forward added his and Rangers' second with 20 minutes remaining to ensure Saints left Govan empty-handed. 

There were four changes from the side that lost at Ross County on Tuesday night. Richard Taylor, Ryan Flynn, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Jonah Ayunga came in for Charles Dunne, Keanu Baccus, Alex Greive and Mikael Mandron. 

The Buddies started fairly brightly with Conor McMenamin curling a dangerous low ball in from the right. Ayunga couldn't get the touch on it that would have surely taken it beyond Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland who managed to gather in the end. 

The hosts had a good opportunity on 19 minutes when a ball swung to the back post met James Tavernier who nodded back across goal for Todd Cantwell. The Rangers midfielder had space but sclaffed his shot. Sima came close five minutes later when he headed a Tavernier cross over the bar. 

Saints' best chance of the half came on 37 minutes when Boyd-Munce was within a whisker of putting the Buddies ahead. The midfielder's low curling effort from the edge of the box looked destined for the bottom left-hand corner but was tipped wide in what was a terrific save from Butland. 

Caolan Boyd-Munce came close to an opener for Saints but was denied by a great save from Jack Butland (Image: Allan Picken)

The home side took the lead in the final minute of normal time at the end of the first-half. Sima lashed beyond Zach Hemming, who could do nothing to prevent it, from 12 yards to put the hosts ahead as we headed into the break.  

Saints started brightly at the second-half in search of an equaliser and Butland made another good save to deny Saints a few minutes after the restart. This time it was Ayunga who had a go from range and the Rangers goalkeeper had to scurry across at full-stretch to turn the effort behind. 

It was then Hemming's turn to be called into action on 53 minutes when he had to beat away a strike from Rangers captain Tavernier on the edge of the area. The Saints stopper got two strong hands behind it to push away. 

Saints were still probing and got another opportunity on the hour mark when a Greg Kiltie pass got through the legs of Leon Balogun and fell for Ayunga on the edge of the area. The forward wasn't expecting it but managed to compose himself before getting a tame shot away that was gathered with relative ease by Butland. 

Rangers doubled their advantage with 20 minutes of the match remaining. Cantwell's through pass found Sima in the clear and he used his pace to race through before slotting beyond Hemming to make it 2-0 and secure all the points for the home side. 

Full-Time: Rangers 2-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 72), Flynn, Boyd-Munce (Baccus 78), Tanser, McMenamin (Jamieson 78), Ayunga (Olusanya 72), Kiltie (Greive 78)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Small, Mandron

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (Tavernier 85), Goldson, Balogun, Barisic (Yilmaz 80), Lundstram, McCausland (Matondo 80), Cantwell (Lammers 85), Lawrence, Sima, Dessers (Danilo 62)
Subs Not Used: McCrorie, Souttar, Cifuentes, Davies

Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Peter Stuart
VAR: John Beaton

Attendance: 47,835

St Mirren left Dingwall empty-handed after a late Jordan White header consigned Saints to a 1-0 defeat. 

Stephen Robinson made three changes to the starting eleven that defeated Livingston 1-0 at The SMiSA Stadium on Saturday. Richard Taylor missed out after coming off with an ankle injury and was replaced by Charles Dunne. Keanu Baccus returned from suspension in place of Caolan Boyd-Munce, while Alex Greive started ahead of Jonah Ayunga who played 60 minutes on his return at the weekend. 

White had the game's first opportunity with a strike from the edge of the area into the arms of Zach Hemming on four minutes. The goalkeeper started a quick counter that saw Greg Kiltie deliver a dangerous looking low ball across from the left, but the County defence managed to clear. 

After a scrappy opening half-hour, Saints started to assert themselves more before the break. A terrific ball in from Scott Tanser looked like it might fall for Greive, but he was quickly challenged by a County defender as he looked to pull the trigger.

The Buddies best chance of the half came on 38 minutes when Alex Gogic rose the highest to meet a Kiltie corner at the back post. The Cypriot international wasn't far away from the opener but sent the header into the side net with the first-half ending goalless. 

There was a VAR check for a St Mirren penalty five minutes after the restart when Conor McMenamin went down under a challenge inside the box. But nothing was awarded. 

The hosts came close to opening the scoring on 55 minutes with their best effort of the match. White teed the ball off for Connor Randall who took a touch before cracking an effort off the post from the edge of the area. The County man should have opened the scoring on the hour mark when he was the recipient of a fortunate break of the ball that allowed him to run clear on goal. He got the effort all wrong though as he fired well over. 

Saints made their first change of the game immediately after with Ayunga coming on to replace Mandron while Stav Nahmani was introduced 12 minutes later in place of Greive. 

The home side were denied by a brilliant Zach Hemming save with 12 minutes remaining. White's flick-on saw Simon Murray race into the box. The forward pulled the ball across the area to Ben Purrington who looked to tuck it into the corner of the net but saw his attempt beaten away by the Saints stopper. McMenamin had Saints' best chance of the second-half a few moments when his curling effort from the edge of the box was pushed away by Ross Laidlaw. 

Ross County took the lead with a little over five minutes of the match remaining. White rose the highest to bullet home a header from a corner which would ultimately prove enough for the home side to take the points. 

Full-Time: Ross County 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, McMenamin, Baccus (Boyd-Munce 82), O'Hara (c), Kiltie (Flynn 82), Tanser, Mandron (Ayunga 60), Greive (Nahmani 72)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Small, Jamieson, Olusanya

Ross County: Laidlaw, Nightingale, Baldwin, Leak, Brown, Allardice, Randall, Purrington, Dhanda (Turner 74), Murray (Samuel 83), White
Subs Not Used: Munro, Sheaf, Loturi, Harmon, Smith, Reid

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: 3758 (265 saints)

Saints returned to action and to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Livingston.

The Buddies led after an unspectacular first half, the combined efforts of Mikael Mandron and unfortunate Livingston defender Sean Kelly resulting in the bull trundling into the away net as the opening 45 minutes drew to a close.

It looked as if Saints had sealed the win late on when Tom Parkes put the ball into his own net while trying to clear a free-kick, however his blushes were spared when VAR ruled it out for offside. In stoppage time a tremendous save from Zach Hemming kept out Joel Nouble and ensured the points stayed in Paisley.

Jonah Ayunga made his much anticipated return to the first team squad after 11 months away, the forward coming straight into the team to join Mandron up front. Mark O'Hara also returned, with the suspended Keanu Baccus and the injured Ryan Strain the pair dropping out as Conor McMenamin started at wingback. Former Buddie Sean Kelly started for Livingston, with Bruce Anderson leading the visiting attack alongside Nouble.

O'Hara headed Scott Tanser's cross past the post before Anderson smashed a shot well over from the edge of the box as the two sides tried to suss each other out early on. It was a drab first half, Richard Taylor scooping a shot wide after a neat turn following a Saints corner proving to be the last moment of note for the best part of 20 minutes until Livi's Michael Nottingham headed against the bar. Anderson then fizzed a ball across goal with no takers as the visitors threatened again but just as they were gaining some impetus they fell behind.

Greg Kiltie latched onto a ball behind the visiting defence and raced into the box before taking a shot that Shamal George was unable to hold, Mandron and Kelly both sliding in to help the ball trickle across the line. It was hard to tell who got the final touch, although the striker was more than happy to claim the credit, but the main thing was Saints were in front.

An own goal from ex-Saint Sean Kelly gave us the points (Image: Allan Picken)

Saints looked to add a quick second, George watching as Ayunga's header hit the bar and bounced behind after Livingston failed to deal with a corner. Alex Gogic headed well over from another corner in stoppage time before, at the other end, James Penrice sent in a teasing ball that Scott Pitman slid in to meet at the front post, only to send it spinning up into the air for Zach Hemming to catch.

Taylor seemed to fancy his chances of a goal as early in the second half he strolled forward before playing the ball out wide, being ready to collect the it when the Livingston defence tried to clear the resultant cross, however his shot was well off target. There were a few half-hearted penalty appeals after the Saints attack felt stymied in their efforts to reach Kiltie's inviting cross before Caolan Boyd-Munce's low effort from 20 yards had a worried George scrambling across his goal as it went narrowly wide.

Ayunga's first appearance for 300 days was brought to an end after a productive hour when he was replaced by Alex Greive, Taylor then having to hook a goal-bound Kurtis Guthrie effort clear as a Livi corner caused a bit of panic in the Saints box. Taylor's day came to a premature end when he seemed to land badly and eventually needed the help of a stretcher, Charles Dunne taking his place. The frost had never properly left the final third that Saints were attacking and some slipping and sliding eventually saw the ball trundle past after Mandron had tried to get onto the end of a cross. From the following corner, Boyd-Munce's delivery found Tanser, who turned and shot well wide.

A few moments later it looked as if Saints had wrapped up the three points. Boyd-Munce's free-kick caused chaos in the box and when Parkes tried to clear it he could only smash the ball into the roof of the net. The Saints players and fans celebrated and everyone was ready to resume before the dreaded letters VAR were mentioned. A lengthy wait ensued as the officials checked for offside, eventually ruling it out.

The delay, combined with previous injuries, meant eight minutes were added on and they started with Gogic picking up the game's first booking. Kiltie was alert to pressure George when he tried to deal with a passback, the goalie whacking the ball off the onrushing Saints player before it spun safely behind. With three minutes left Hemming produced a great save to keep out Nouble's shot after great work from Anderson. From the corner, McMenamin broke down the right and charged into the box, his shot being blocked and the ball breaking for O'Hara who fired just over. After that, the Buddies were able to see out the remaining few minutes relatively comfortable to take all three points.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Livingston

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 72), McMenamin, Boyd-Munce (Bolton 87), O'Hara (c), Kiltie, Tanser, Mandron (Nahmani 87), Ayunga (Greive 60)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Small, Lennon, Flynn, Jamieson

Livingston: George, Devlin, Nottingham, Kelly (Parkes 64), Nouble, Holt, Pittman (Kelly 82), Shinnie (Sangare 64), Penrice (Brandon 90), Guthrie, Anderson
Subs Not Used: Hamilton, Welch-Hayes, Bradley, de Lucas, Lloyd

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Matthew MacDermid
VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 5,632