St Mirren exited the Viaplay Cup at the Quarter-Final stage after a 4-2 defeat to Hibernian at Easter Road. 

Scott Tanser and Keanu Baccus both scored terrific efforts for Saints, but it wasn't enough to see us book a place at Hampden in the last four of the competition. 

Caolan Boyd-Munce - whose goal against Motherwell in the last round saw Saints progress - came into the starting eleven along with Mikael Mandron as the pair replaced Keanu Baccus and Conor McMenamin in the only changes from the win against Hearts on Saturday. 

The two sides were still feeling the game out in the opening stages, though it was Saints who created the best opportunities in the opening 45 with two half-chances coming in the first 15 minutes, both of which fell to Greg Kiltie. The midfielder first headed an effort at David Marshall before cutting in on his left foot and curling well over a few minutes later. 

Toyosi Olusanya - who scored at Easter Road last month - came close to grabbing the opener for the Buddies on 32 minutes. The forward got himself on the end of a ball over the top and lifted it over Marshall but it went just wide of the target. 

Saints took the lead two minutes before the interval when Tanser slammed home a half-volley to score his second goal in three games. It was a brilliant hit from the Saints left-wing back who was on the end of Mandron's nod down to smash beyond Marshall and put us ahead just before the break.

Saints players celebrate Scott Tanser's opening goal at Easter Road (Image: Craig Brown)

The hosts fired back in the early part of the second-half, scoring two goals in two minutes to take the lead. Elie Youan levelled the game on 52 minutes when he knocked home after getting being quickest to react to Will Fish's header with suggestions it may have unfortunately come off Ryan Strain. And the Hibees would go in-front less than two minutes later when Dylan Vente found time and space in the Saints box to turn and finish beyond Zach Hemming. It was a bitter blow for the Buddies after taking a deserved lead in at half-time.

Saints made a triple substitution a few minutes after the hour mark when he introduced Baccus, McMenamin and Alex Greive in place of Boyd-Munce, Mandron and Kiltie. It would be one of the changes that drew us level with just under 15 minutes remaining when Baccus equalised. The Australian drove forward and it opened up nicely for him to drill into the far corner of the net to make it 2-2. 

But the hosts would re-take the lead just four minutes later. Boyle was the fortunate recipient of a ricochet off Gogic which allowed the Hibs forward to knock home with an effort that went in off the bar. Boyle had a chance to wrap the game up on 87 minutes, but Hemming made a brilliant save to keep it at three. The Hibees forward would, however, seal his side's place at Hampden in injury-time as he raced clear again and made no mistake to make it 4-2. 

Full-Time: Hibernian 4-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic (Small 82), Taylor, Strain, Kiltie (Greive 64), Boyd-Munce (Baccus 64), O'Hara (c), Tanser, Olusanya (Nahmani 82), Mandron (McMenamin 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Small, Flynn

Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Bushiri (Hanlon 74), Obita, Boyle (Delferrière 90), Jeggo, Newell, Youan (Whittaker 75), Vente (Campbell 75), Doidge (LeFondre 56)
Subs Not Used: Boruc, Stevenson, Levitt, Tavares

Referee: David Munro
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Colin Steven

Attendance: 9,982

St Mirren extended the unbeaten run to 10 matches with a 1-0 win over Hearts at The SMiSA Stadium.

Ryan Strain's early goal was enough to secure the points and it could have been even more comfortable if strikes from Greg Kiltie, Mikael Mandron and Alex Greive hadn't been disallowed.

Stephen Robinson made two changes from the side that defeated Motherwell last Saturday at Fir Park. Keanu Baccus and Toyosi Olusanya came into the starting eleven in place of Caolan Boyd-Munce and Mandron. 

Saints got off to a flying start with Strain putting us in front on just seven minutes. After providing for Scott Tanser's winner against Motherwell, Strain was the recipient as Tanser returned the favour with a low ball across the face of the box that was tapped home by the Australian. It was his third goal against the Jambos at the SMiSA Stadium having scored in the two previous encounters with Steven Naismith's side last season. 

Ryan Strain scores winner against Hearts (Image: Allan Picken)

The Buddies went close to a second just after the 20 minute mark when Olusanya raced on to a ball over the top. The forward probably took one touch too many which narrowed the angle and saw his effort saved by Zander Clark. The ball came back out to Kiltie whose shot was blocked on the line. 

Kiltie thought he had doubled Saints' advantage when he had the ball in the net on 31 minutes but it had been ruled out for a foul. 

Hearts started the second-half brighter and almost equalised just before the hour mark when Kye Rowles met Stephen Kingsley's corner kick. But his header crashed off the bar and was cleared off the line. 

Stephen Robinson responded by making three changes with Boyd-Munce, Greive and Mandron on to replace Baccus, Olusanya and Conor McMenamin. 

It was Mandron who thought he'd made it 2-0 within seven minutes of coming on to the park when he stole the ball off Kent and slotted beyond Clark. But referee Nick Walsh pulled it back for a foul which - despite looking soft - a VAR check confirmed. 

Zach Hemming made a wonderful save with 15 minutes remaining to keep Saints ahead. The goalkeeper was down at full-stretch to tip Cammy Devlin's low strike by the post after the Australian had got in behind the Saints defence. 

Greive looked like he had settled it in the final minutes of normal time when he met a Kiltie nod down and headed home from close range. But a lengthy VAR check eventually ruled the goal out for offside much to the frustration of the Saints crowd.

In the final moments of the match, Hemming made another huge save to deny Lawrence Shankland an equaliser to ensure his own clean sheet and all three points for the Saints. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Hearts 

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 76), Strain, Baccus (Boyd-Munce 60), O'Hara (c), Tanser, Kiltie, Olusanya (Mandron 60), McMenamin (Greive 60)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Small, Flynn, Nahmani

Hearts: Clark, Atkinson (Sibbick 45), Kent, Rowles (Offiah 64), Kingsley, Baningime (Forrest 65), Nieuwenhof, Devlin (Grant 76), Boyce, Vargas, Shankland (c)
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Haring, Denholm, Tait, Lowry

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Ross Nelson
Fourth Official: Alastair Grieve
VAR: David Dickinson

Attendance: 7,537 

Scott Tanser's second-half volley was enough to see St Mirren pick up all three points in a 1-0 win over Motherwell. 

The left-wing back's first goal of the season saw Saints win at Fir Park for the first time in almost three years and extend the current unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Captain Mark O'Hara returned to the starting eleven after weeks of injury, while Mikael Mandron also came back into the starting eleven after missing our 1-1 draw with Livingston at The Tony Macaroni Arena. That saw Keanu Baccus and Toyosi Olusanya drop to the bench in the only changes to the side from last time out. 

The Buddies made a relatively bright start with Tanser and Alex Gogic both firing efforts wide in the opening moments before Conor McMenamin had a big opportunity on 15 minutes. The Northern Irish forward - who impressed for his home nation during the international break - was picked out by Mandron with a nice pass from the left, but McMenamin sclaffed at it which allowed Liam Kelly to comfortably gather in the Motherwell goal. 

Marcus Fraser went into the book five minutes later after he obstructed Harry Paton close to the Saints box. Blair Spittal took the resulting free-kick for the hosts but sent it into the arms of Zach Hemming. 

McMenamin wasn't too far away from his first St Mirren goal when he sent an effort just over the bar from 20 yards after good work from Greg Kiltie saw the forward rob the ball from a Motherwell defender. Less than a minute later the home side came even closer when Theo Bair got in behind the Saints defence. The forward looked odds on to put his side ahead but fired his effort just by the far post as the first-half ended goalless. 

Saints would take the lead 10 minutes after the restart when Tanser scored his first of the season. The 28-year-old ghosted in at the back most to meet a deep Ryan Strain cross and volleyed beyond Kelly to put Stephen Robinson's men ahead. There was a VAR check for offside but the goal stood, much to the delight of the 1000+ travelling support. 

Scott Tanser volleys St Mirren ahead against Motherwell (Image: Vagelis Georgariou) 

The Buddies almost doubled their advantage just four minutes later when Mandron was picked out by Strain this time at the far post. The forward rose to meet the corner, but his header was well saved by the feet of Kelly. 

The hosts would start pushing for an equaliser with Hemming equal to a Callum Slattery free-kick, getting two good hands behind the effort to push away on 65 minutes. Motherwell introduced Oli Shaw from the bench with a little over 10 minutes to play and the striker had a chance to make an instant impact when he was found in space inside the box. But Shaw struck a tame effort straight into the hands of Hemming.

As the game ticked towards injury time, Motherwell were inches away from a leveller when substitute Georgie Gent's strike was touched on to the underside of the bar by Hemming before Saints managed to get clear.

The Buddies would stay resilient though to ensure the three points would head back to Paisley. 

Full-Time: Motherwell 0-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 46), Strain (Bolton 83), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Baccus 46), Tanser, Kiltie, Mandron (Greive 83), McMenamin (Olusanya 68)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Small, Jamieson, Nahmani

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell (Gent 84), Mugabi, Blaney (Ferrie 90), Casey, Spencer, Slattery, Miller, Spittal, Paton, Bair (Shaw 78)
Subs Not Used: Oxborough, Zdravovski, McGinley, Wilson, L.Ross, M.Ross

Referee: Matthew MacDermind
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Fourth Official: Graham Grainger
VAR: Don Robertson

Attendance: 5,653 (1013 St Mirren supporters)

Stav Nahmani's injury-time equaliser saw St Mirren extend their unbeaten run to eight matches. 

The Buddies looking to be heading for a first league defeat of the season when a Luiyi de Lucas goal in the 89th minute gave the hosts a late lead at The Tony Macaroni Arena. But substitute Nahmani rescued a point in the SIXTH minute of stoppage time with his first league goal in his first league appearance since signing from Maccabi Tel Aviv on loan in the summer. 

Stephen Robinson named the same starting eleven that drew 2-2 with Aberdeen at The SMiSA Stadium last weekend. Peter Urminsky and Mikael Mandron dropped off the bench after picking up knocks with Shay Kelly and Gallagher Lennon coming in for the pair. 

Saints started brightly with a brilliant run from Keanu Baccus through the centre of the park seeing the Australian midfielder spray the ball wide to Conor McMenamin on the right. McMenamin shifted it on to his left foot and curled in for Baccus, who had continued his run into the box, but he nodded the header wide. 

There was a lengthy delay when Andrew Shinnie landed awkwardly for the hosts after an aerial collision with Baccus. A stretcher was called for immediately but it took almost 10 minutes of treatment before the midfielder was stretchered off the park to be replaced by Mo Sangare. Encouragingly, the Livingston man was spotted at half-time back on his feet.

Greg Kiltie had a good chance in the final minutes of normal time in the first-half when he rose to meet McMenamin's pinpoint cross. Livingston goalkeeper Shamal George was down well to push away the header. 

Saints made a change at the half-time interval with Charles Dunne replacing Richard Taylor who had picked up a booking in the first half. But it was a drab second-half which didn't spark into life until the final 20 minutes of the game. 

The first real chance of the second 45 came on 70 minutes when de Lucas got his head on the end of a good delivery from Sangare, but headed over. Less than five minutes later the hosts would have another big opportunity when Jamie Brandon broke clear of the Saints defence, though Zak Hemming was equal to the full-back's effort with the Buddies goalkeeper blocking at his near post. 

Livingston thought their pressure had told when they had the ball in the net on 76 minutes after substitute Bruce Anderson raced through and slotted through the legs of Hemming. However, a VAR check confirmed the striker was offside and the goal was ruled out. 

The Buddies made three substitutions to try and swing the game back in their favour, with James Bolton, Lewis Jamieson and Stav Nahmani introduced in place of Baccus, McMenamin and Toyosi Olusanya. 

But it was the hosts who looked like they had taken all the points when de Lucas tapped home Sangare's cut-back in the final minute of normal time. It seemed like that may be that, but Saints kept at it and found a dramatic late leveller when Nahmani got on the end of the Gogic's header back across goal to ensure a point came back to Paisley. 

Full-Time: Livingston 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor (Dunne 46), Strain, Baccus (Jamieson 80), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Kiltie (Greive 67), Olusanya (Nahmani 80), McMenamin (Bolton 80)
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Small, Lennon, Flynn

Livingston: George, Devlin, Obileye, de Lucas, Penrice, Holt, Shinnie (Sangare 25), Brandon, Pittman (Kelly 82), Guthrie (Anderson 67), Nouble (Mackay 90)
Subs Not Used: Hamilton, Parkes, Lawal, Lloyd, Bradley

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: John Stewart
Fourth Official: Dan McFarlane
VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 2,075

Saints had to settle for a point after a dramatic VAR-filled afternoon at The SMiSA Stadium. 

The Buddies had two goals disallowed and conceded a penalty in the 100th minute as Aberdeen snatched a point at death. Stephen Robinson took great pride in his team's performance as they dominated the proceedings, but just couldn't hold on to the three points.

The manager made one change to the side that defeated Motherwell in the Viaplay Cup last weekend with Toyosi Olusanya coming into the starting eleven in place of Mikael Mandron who dropped to the bench.  

After a bright start, The Buddies had the ball in the net on 22 minutes when Ryan Strain's deflected effort fell to the feet of Keanu Baccus who knocked beyond Kelle Roos in the Aberdeen goal. But the linesman flagged for offside and a quick VAR check confirmed the Australian midfielder was indeed offside. 

Keanu Baccus found the net in the first-half but the goal was disallowed for offside (Image: Jeff Holmes)

Saints were well on top and their best chance of the opening 45 came with just over 10 minutes of the half remaining when Roos made a wonderful save to tip Greg Kiltie's header over the bar. That came just two minutes after the Dutch goalkeeper saved another header from Olusanya. 

But Saints were hit with a sucker punch on 42 minutes when Aberdeen took the lead. Jonny Hayes' free-kick from the right evaded everyone and sneaked in at the back post to give the visitors the opener. 

Despite the first-half setback, Saints were right at it after the restart and thought they had drawn level when Kiltie knocked home from close range after Roos spilled Baccus' shot at the midfielder's feet. A lengthy VAR check ensued and the goal was disallowed with Olusanya seemingly offside during the phase of play.

Olusanya had a glorious chance to equalise just a few minutes later when he broke forward and strode clear of the Aberdeen defence from his own half. But as he bore down on goal, his effort was blocked by Roos. 

Saints were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark when Strain's cross came off the hand of Dons defender Angus MacDonald. VAR checked, but the penalty stood and Kiltie would get his goal as he sent Roos the wrong way to make it 1-1.

Greg Kiltie nets from the penalty spot to draw us level (Image: Allan Picken)

Stephen Robinson made two changes with 20 minutes to go as Alex Greive and Mikael Mandron replaced Kiltie and Olusanya. And the subs combined soon after their introduction to put us ahead. Mandron's brilliant driving run saw him pick out Greive with a wonderful pass through the Aberdeen defence. The New Zealand forward made his way into the box and slammed into the near post to give Saints a well deserved lead. 

Even though eight minutes were added it looked like the Buddies would see the game out, only for VAR to intervene yet again. This time Alex Gogic was penalised for a handball in the box. Bojan Miovski stepped up and scored despite seeming to take two touches. The protestations from the Saints players fell on deaf ears as we had to settle for just a point that keeps us joint top of the cinch Premiership after matchday three. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 Aberdeen

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor, Strain, Baccus, Boyd-Munce (Bolton 81), Tanser, Kiltie (Greive 70), Olusanya (Mandron 70), McMenamin (Flynn 87)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Small, Jamieson, Nahmani 

Aberdeen: Roos, Rubezic, MacDonald, MacKenzie (Jensen 56), Devlin, Clarkson, Shinnie (c), Hayes (McGarry 52), Polvara (McGrath 56), Miovski, Duk (Morris 77)
Subs Not Used: Doohan, Barron, Sokler, Duncan, Dadia

Referee: John Beaton
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross
Assistant Referee: Ross Nelson
Fourth Official: Stewart Luke
VAR: Euan Anderson

Attendance: 7,492 

Saints made it through to the quarter-finals of the Viaplay Cup with a well-deserved win over Motherwell in Paisley.

The only goal came inside the first 10 minutes and was a screamer, Caolan Boyd-Munce running onto the ball and thundering it into the top corner from a good 20 yards.

Motherwell fought back after the break, Zach Hemming producing a great save from Theo Bair, but the better chances came at the other end with Conor McMenamin and Toyosi Olusanya to getting Saints' second. It never came but it didn't matter as Saints held out to make the last eight.

Stephen Robinson took the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach and stuck with the side that had started the previous week's win over Dundee, with Mikael Mandron leading the attack against his old club. Former Buddie Paul McGinn started for the visitors, who handed Davor Zdravkovski his first start.

The Buddies have been making quick starts to their games this season and did so once more against the Steelmen. As Ryan Strain tried to force his way through the Motherwell defence, the ball wouldn't quite sit up for him on his right foot and eventually trickled away from him. However, it sat up perfectly for Caolan Boyd-Munce, who ran onto it and thumped a tremendous shot into the top corner. It was the midfielder's first goal since his arrival in March and put Saints in front with less than nine minutes on the clock.

Keanu Baccus tried from a similar position midway through the half as the Motherwell defence backed off Saints' World Cup star, who fired just over the bar from distance. The Aussie then had a shot deflected wide as the hosts tried to crank up the pressure against a Motherwell side who hadn't threatened. Their first corner caused a bit of chaos and uncertainty in the Saints box before it was eventually dealt with and when the visitors finally did have a shot, Callum Slattery's ambitious effort was always going high and wide.

Mandron sent a volley trickling wide early in the second half before Saints goalie Zach Hemming was called into action for the first time, producing a superb finger tip save to keep out a great effort from Theo Bair, Dan Casey heading wide from the resultant corner. For the first time the visitors were beginning to ask questions of the Saints rearguard but the Buddies were still capable of causing problems at the other end, Mandron having a shot blocked after he did well to get on the end of Greg Kiltie's pass.

The home side – and some players were screaming for a penalty when Richard Taylor's header from Boyd-Munce's corner seemed to hit a Motherwell arm, however ref Willie Collum was unmoved – and with VAR not in operation the decision stood. McMenamin had a great chance to double Saints' lead when Mandron's flick at the half way line sent him charging towards the 'Well goal, however the visiting defence was able to get back just in time to crowd him out and his shot was blocked. Motherwell could then have been level, Stephen O'Donnell finding Mika Biereth and the sub slid the ball across goal only for it to be just beyond the reach of Conor Wilkinson at the back post.

As the game approached the final 10 minutes, Mandron was booked for barging into the back of Shane Blaney, giving the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position, however Slattery sent it well over. A couple of minutes from the end Olusanya, who had replaced Boyd-Munce, was sent through on goal only to be pulled back by Bevis Mugabi. The defender escaped with a booking and the free-kick came to nothing. Some neat passing gave Olusanya the chance to finish things in stoppage time but Motherwell keeper Liam Kelly kept out his shot to ensure a tense final few minutes.

Tackles and bodies seemed to be flying everywhere as Saints tried to snuff out the danger, Charles Dunne booked for flattening Biereth and Paul McGinn cautioned for fouling Strain at the same incident. Strain was replaced by James Bolton as Saints tried to tighten up for the free-kick, which was easily dealt with.

In the final minute of added time Olusanya almost finished things off only to see his shot hit the post, Kiltie then putting the rebound over. It didn't matter as Saints were able to comfortably see out what little time remained to make it through to the draw with the quarter-finals. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-0 Motherwell

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor, Strain (Bolton 90), Baccus, Boyd-Munce (Dunne 82), Tanser, Kiltie, McMenamin (Olusanya 82), Mandron
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Flynn, Lennon, Greive, Nahmani

Motherwell: Kelly, McGinn, Mugabi, Casey, O'Donnell (Ferrie 76), Blaney, Slattery, Spittal, Zdravkovski (Miller 55), Wilkinson (Efford 76), Bair (Biereth 67)
Subs Not Used: Oxborough, Lamie, McGinley, Wilson, Garcia

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson
Fourth Official: Lloyd Wilson

Attendance: 5,249

St Mirren made it two wins from two at the start of the cinch Premiership season after a 2-1 victory over Dundee at The SMiSA Stadium.

An own goal from ex-Saint Joe Shaughnessy had the Buddies ahead early on before Zach Hemming saved a Dundee penalty. Mikael Mandron headed home at the end of the first-half to have us two to the good at the interval. The visitors pulled one back in the second-half, but Stephen Robinson's men held on to claim all three points. 

There were two changes to the side that defeated Hibernian at Easter Road on the opening day. Skipper Mark O'Hara missed out after a thigh injury in training on Friday. That meant Marcus Fraser captained the side with Caolan Boyd-Munce replacing the 27-year-old in the starting eleven. Mandron returned from his injury in place of Toyosi Olusanya. 

The Buddies hit the front with just seven minutes on the clock. Conor McMenamin's dangerous cross from the right was nodded beyond Trevor Carson by ex-Saints captain Shaughnessy on his return to The SMiSA Stadium. It had come after an early penalty shout when Greg Kiltie's volley from the edge of the area looked like it may have come off the hand of a Dundee defender a few moments earlier. 

McMenamin came close to putting Saints 2-0 ahead on 21 minutes. The Northern Irish winger met Scott Tanser's cross and his header crashed off the bar before Kiltie's follow-up overhead drifted well wide. 

Dundee had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot on 35 minutes after a VAR intervention saw the Dark Blues awarded a spot kick. Mandron was penalised form a pull in the box and despite referee Colin Steven missing it initially, he was advised by VAR Nick Walsh to take a look at the pitch-side monitor where he subsequently awarded the penalty. Zach Robinson stepped up for the Dee but was denied by Hemming who went the right way and pushed away with his feet. 

Zach Hemming made a big save to deny Dundee from the penalty spot (Image: Allan Picken)

It would be a costly miss for the visitors as the Buddies would double their advantage in added on time at the end of the first-half. It was Mandron with the goal as he headed home Boyd-Munce's brilliant delivery to score his fourth goal in five starts for Saints. 

Dundee pulled a goal back just after the hour mark when Josh Mulligan nodded home a cross from the left. There was a lengthy VAR check for handball, however the goal stood. The visitors had a big chance to draw level minutes later when McCowan got in behind the Saints defence, but his strike was well saved by Hemming. 

Saints boss Stephen Robinson responded by making a double substitution with Toyosi Olusanya and Alex Greive introduced in place of Kiltie and Mandron. Greive almost made an instant impact when he swung a foot on Tanser's clipped ball in, but Shaughnessy was on the line to clear for the visitors with a VAR check saying the ball didn't cross the line. Fellow substitution Olusanya had a big opportunity to make it 3-1 on 76 minutes when he was found by McMenamin's cross. The forward had a free header from close-range, but nodded over. 

Saints had to deal with pressure from the away side with seven added minutes at the end of the game, but held firm to claim the three points. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Dundee

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser (c), Gogic, R.Taylor, Strain, Baccus, Boyd-Munce (Bolton 68), Tanser, Kiltie (Olusanya 71), McMenamin (Flynn 87), Mandron (Greive 71)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Kenny, Jamieson, Nahmani

Dundee: Carson, McGhee (Kerr 84), Shaughnessy (c), Ashcroft, McCowan, Mulligan, Cameron (Tiffoney 57), Boateng, Beck, Bakayoko, Robinson (Rudden 76)
Subs Not Used: Legzdins, McCracken, Pineda, Robertson, Anderson, Graham

Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Grant Irvine
VAR: Nick Walsh

Attendance: 6,581  

 A dramatic late Alex Greive header saw St Mirren win 3-2 against Hibernian on the opening day of the 2023/24 cinch Premiership season.

The Buddies had been in control at half-time with two goals in two minutes from Mark O'Hara and Toyosi Olusanya seeing us 2-0 up inside 17 minutes. But the hosts hit back in the second-half with Adam Le Fondre and Christian Doidge levelling the scores in the final 10 minutes. The drama didn't end there though with New Zealand striker Greive heading home the winner on 89 minutes to give Saints an opening day three points. 

Manager Stephen Robinson had originally made one change from the side that defeated Forfar Athletic 4-0 in the Viaplay Cup last weekend with Greg Kiltie returning from injury in place of Stav Nahmani. But Saints would be forced into another change before kick-off when Mikael Mandron dropped out with an injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Olusanya.  

The Buddies started brightly and were awarded a penalty on 13 minutes after a VAR check. Kiltie was tripped in the box by Joe Newell and the Buddies midfielder was incredulous no spot-kick was initially forthcoming. But VAR advised referee Euan Anderson to take a look at the monitor and he pointed to the spot after his check. Saints captain O'Hara sent David Marshall the wrong way as he rolled into the net from 12 yards to score his third goal of the season already. 

Less than two minutes later the skipper turned provider as he set up Olusanya to double Saints' advantage. The forward burst ahead of Hibees defender Will Fish to reach O'Hara's pass and slotted through the legs of Marshall to make it 2-0. 

Toyosi Olusanya doubled our lead with his first league goal for the Buddies (Image: Craig Brown)

The hosts responded by making two changes before the half hour mark with Jordan Obita and Dylan Levitt introduced in place of Allan Delferriere and Josh Campbell. But still Saints were controlling the match and Ryan Strain almost added a third in the final few minutes of the first-half. Newell fouled Keanu Baccus 25 yards from goal and his Australian teammate stepped up to take the free-kick, but flashed the effort just over the bar.

The home side began to exert more pressure as the game headed towards the hour mark and almost pulled one back when Elie Youan managed to get in behind the Saints defence. The Hibs winger bore down on goal but saw his effort well blocked by Zach Hemming at the near post with Will Fish heading the resulting corner over. 

Hibs would pull one back with less than 20 minutes remaining after hitting Saints on the counter. Substitution Le Fondre knocked the ball down the line for Doidge and burst forward into the box to receive the return pass from his strike partner before sliding into the far corner of the net to reduce the deficit. 

It was Doidge who would draw the hosts level on 82 minutes when he turned in Youan's low ball across from the right to equalise much to the delight of the previously frustrated home support. 

The Buddies dug deep though and showed terrific character to find a winner seven minutes later. Kiltie's cross was perfect for Greive who glanced beyond Marshall to win it in front of the nearly 1000 strong travelling Saints support. 

Full-Time: Hibernian 2-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor, Strain (Bolton 90), Baccus, O'Hara (c), Tanser, Kiltie, Olusanya (Greive 68), McMenamin (Boyd-Munce 77)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, Dunne, Flynn, Jamieson, Nahmani

Hibernian: Marshall, Delferriere (Obita 29), Fish, Hanlon, Stevenson, Doyle-Hayes (Jeggo 81), Newell, Campbell (Levitt 29), Boyle (Le Fondre 63), Doidge, Youan
Subs Not Used: Boruc, Miller, Melkersen, Harbottle, McAllister

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland 
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan
VAR: Kevin Clancy
Assistant VAR: Andrew McWilliam

St Mirren B exited the SPFL Trust Trophy despite coming back from 2-0 down to force the game to penalties. 

Niyah Joseph and Sean Fagan had the visitors in control at half-time. But goals from Matthew Turner and Ethan Sutherland took the game to spot kicks. Aiden Gilmartin and Gallagher Lennon saw their efforts saved for Saints, while Albion scored all four of theirs to progress. 

The Buddies started brightly with Gilmartin knocking Callum Penman's deep cross just wide on 10 minutes, while Kieran Offord had a strike well saved by Rovers goalkeeper Ross Connelly six minutes later. 

But it was the visitors who took the lead on 27 minutes when a Saints defender was robbed of possession by Callum Wilson deep in the Saints half. He slipped the ball through to Joseph who ran clear and slotted beyond Shay Kelly. 

Rovers doubled their advantage on with four minutes of the first-half remaining when Fagan rose the highest to head home a second and leave the Buddies with it all to do. 

There was a double change at the break as James Bolton and Stav Nahmani were replaced by Owen Foster and Carrick McEvoy.

Saints started the second-half sharper and took advantage of their bright start by pulling a goal back just six minutes after the break when Matthew Turner managed to prod home from close-range. 

There was plenty of endeavour from the Buddies in the second-half, but it looked like Saints were heading for the exit when Andrew Gaffney curled wide in the final few minutes from the edge of the area. 

But there was still time for drama when visitors were reduced to 10 men as Bright Prince was shown a second yellow card on 88 minutes. And within a minute, Saints made the man advantage count when Ethan Sutherland slammed home an equaliser to force the game to penalties. 

The Buddies missed twice from the spot and the visitors netted all four of theirs to progress to the second round of the competition. 

Ethan Sutherland celebrates his equaliser with Gallagher Lennon (Image: Allan Picken)

Full-Time: St Mirren B 2-2 Albion Rovers (Albion Rovers win 4-2 on penalties)

St Mirren B: Kelly, Kenny, Bolton (Foster 46), Lennon, Penman, Turner, Gaffney, Sutherland, Offord (Keegan 84), Nahmani (McEvoy 46), Gilmartin
Subs Not Used: McLelland, Porter, Grady, Sambi 

Albion Rovers: Connelly, Fernie, Fagan, Wilson, McMahon, Joseph, McCaw, Duncan, Paterson (Henderson 86), Tran, Prince
Subs Not Used: Semirimu, Bevan, Walker, McMeneny

Attendance: 363

St Mirren finished top of Group H and qualified for the next round of the Viaplay Cup with a first-half blitz of Forfar Athletic at The SMiSA Stadium.

Mikael Mandron scored two goals in five early first-half minutes before Mark O'Hara and Alex Gogic added to the score in the final minutes of the half to put Stephen Robinson's men in the hat for tomorrow's last 16 draw. 

Conor McMenamin made his first start at The SMiSA Stadium as he returned from injury in place of injured Charles Dunne, while Mark O'Hara returned from suspension in place of Caolan Boyd-Munce as the manager made two changes from Tuesday night's win at Cowdenbeath. 

Saints hit the front on 14 minutes when Mandron was in ahead of a ruck of bodies to bullet home Ryan Strain's corner on 14 minutes.

The Frenchman scored his second of the afternoon five minutes later after a lovely bit of football from the Buddies. Strain's wonderful flick saw him burst away from a Forfar player before a neat interchange with McMenamin allowed the Australian to lay the ball on a plate for Mandron to knock into the net from six yards out. 

Mikael Mandron scores his second of the afternoon after some neat play from Strain and McMenamin (Image: Allan Picken)

Strain almost turned goalscorer a few minutes later after a mazy run gave him the chance to poke just wide of the target. 

Forfar tested Zach Hemming for the first time on 22 minutes after winning a free-kick on the edge of the Saints area. Josh Skelly took it but the Saints goalkeeper got two hands behind it to push away. 

But it was Saints who were in control and Keanu Baccus came close to adding a third when he volleyed inches wide on 33 minutes. The Australian midfielder won a penalty kick after being fouled in the box in the final few minutes of the first-half. Captain Mark O'Hara stepped up and the skipper sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 3-0.

There was time for one more before the interval when Gogic forced home from close range in the final act of the first 45. A corner deep into the box was met by Scott Tanser who headed back across goal with Gogic getting in ahead of the Forfar defence to net. 

Manager Stephen Robinson made three changes at half-time with James Bolton on for his debut in place of Gogic, while Lewis Jamieson and Toyosi Olusanya replaced Stav Nahmani and Mandron. 

The Buddies could have added a fifth just four minutes into the second-half when Lewis Jamieson broke forward at speed and found McMenamin in acres of space. The Northern Irishman took a touch, but had his low shot saved by Marc McCallum who was out quickly to block.  

Jamieson should have scored his first Saints goal with a little over 20 minutes of the match remaining. Tanser's cross from the left found the forward in plenty of space, but he headed wide from close range. 

Four first-half goals were enough for the hosts as we go into tomorrow's last 16 draw. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 4-0 Forfar Athletic 

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic (Bolton 46), R.Taylor, Strain (Kenny 63), Baccus, O'Hara (c) (Boyd-Munce 62), Tanser, Nahmani (Jamieson 46), Mandron (Olusanya 46), McMenamin
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Sutherland, Offord, Greive

Forfar: McCallum, Allan, Hutchison (Thomson 46), Morrison, Nditi, Robson (Paterson 62), Whatley, Brindley (Munro 75), Ross, Skelly (Watson 68), Inglis
Subs Not Used: Paris, Whyte

Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie 

Attendance: 2,380