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

Toyosi Olusanya's 95th minute goal gave St Mirren a dramatic late win at Cowdenbeath and kept the Buddies hopes of topping Group H alive. 

Saints created a host of chances, but couldn't find a way past Cowdenbeath goalkeeper Craig Hepburn until deep into stoppage time when Olusanya followed up on a save from the Blue Brazil stopper and slammed into the net. 

Stav Nahmani was given his first start after scoring a brace on his debut in Saturday's 4-0 win against Arbroath. Stephen Robinson was also able to welcome Keanu Baccus into the starting line-up for his first appearance of the new season, while Richard Taylor came in with Mark O'Hara suspended, Greg Kiltie injured and Olusanya dropped to the bench. 

Saints had controlled the opening half but had little to show for it. Nahmani had a close-range header blocked early into the match before seeing a tame effort held by Hepburn on 28 minutes. 

The manager made two changes at the interval with Alex Greive and Lewis Jamieson introduced in place of Baccus and Nahmani. 

Scott Tanser had a good chance to put us ahead on 52 minutes when the ball fell nicely inside the area, but the defender screwed the effort wide. 

Three minutes later it was Caolan Boyd-Munce who came closest to breaking the deadlock with a powerful drive from distance. Hepburn was down quickly to push away the Northern Irishman's strike. 

The goalkeeper made another good save with 20 minutes remaining to deny Greive. The New Zealand forward was quickest to react to Boyd-Munce's cross, but the Blue Brazil goalkeeper spread himself well to keep it goalless. Five minutes later it was Jamieson who the ball fell for kindly, but he struck straight at the goalkeeper. 

Hepburn - who was named as Cowdenbeath's official man of the match - again foiled Saints with less than five minutes remaining. The Buddies won a free-kick in a good area around 25 yards from goal. Strain curled low towards the right-hand corner, but Hepburn was down well to save.

Cowdenbeath were reduced to 10 men in the final minute when Kevin Smith was given his marching orders after a second yellow card for a foul on Luke Kenny. It looked like it would be Saints' night when another free-kick opportunity for Strain in stoppage time saw the Australian's effort tipped onto the bar with Saints unable to force home the loose ball. 

But the Buddies were able to make the man advantage count when Olusanya's reacted quickest to Hepburn's save from Jamieson's strike to slam into the net and give us three points. 

It sets up Saints up for Saturday's clash against Forfar Athletic at The SMiSA Stadium. The Buddies know a win would be enough to secure top spot and a place in the last 16 of the Viaplay Cup.

Toyosi Olusanya celebrates his winner with Alex Greive (Image: Craig Brown)

Full-Time: Cowdenbeath 0-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser (c), Dunne (Kenny 78), R.Taylor (Olusanya 63), Strain, Baccus (Greive 46), Gogic, Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Mandron, Nahmani (Jamieson 46)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Sutherland, Penman, Offord

Cowdenbeath: Hepburn, Walker, Rodden, Jordan, Hill (Duncan 67), McNab, Butterworth (Jack 67), McDonald (Berry 71), MacPherson (Smith 79), Chalmers, Docherty (Tait 79)
Subs Not Used: Blair, Murray

Referee: Ross Hardie
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford

Attendance: 859

St Mirren eased to victory over Arbroath in the Viaplay Cup with a strong performance at The SMiSA Stadium. 

First-half goals from Mikael Mandron and Mark O'Hara had us two to the good at the interval before debutant Stav Nahmani scored twice from the bench in the second-half to secure an emphatic 4-0 victory.  

Buddies boss Stephen Robinson made three changes from the side that lost to Montrose last week. Scott Tanser, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Toyosi Olusanya came in for Declan Gallagher, Conor McMenamin and Alex Greive. 

Saints hit the front with just 10 minutes on the clock when Mandron scored his first Saints goal - heading Ryan Strain's cross from the right into the net. 

Strain should have gone from provider to goalscorer five minutes later but he fluffed his lines after Toyosi Olusanya's effort was parried into this path. Greg Kiltie had an opportunity on the follow-up, but his effort was headed off the line. 

Mandron's powerful header on 18 minutes drew a terrific save from Arbroath goalkeeper Derek Gaston. And the French forward wasn't far away again on 25 minutes after he slipped in by Olusanya and lifted his effort over Gaston but just wide of the post. The Arbroath stopper denied Mandron again 10 minutes later with another good save as Saints ramped up the pressure. 

The Buddies would get their second on the stroke of half-time as captain O'Hara broke through and finished beyond Gaston to make it 2-0. 

Captain Mark O'Hara - our top goalscorer with 12 last season - got his first in 2023/24 to put us 2-0 up (Image: Allan Picken)

A quiet opening to the second-half saw the visitors have their best change of the match when Craig Slater hit the post just after the hour mark. 

Saints fans got their first glimpse of new signing Stav Nahmani as he came on for Caolan Boyd-Munce, while Lewis Jamieson also replaced Olusanya. And what an impression the Israeli forward made as he netted two goals in eight minutes. The first saw him burst to on a brilliantly placed Strain through ball and he scored with a neat first time finish.

The 20-year-old would grab his second with 11 minutes of normal time remaining when he raced on to a lovely low pass from Jamieson, rounded Gaston and slotted into the net. 

It was the perfect first impression as Saints got off and running in Group H of the Viaplay Cup. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 4-0 Arbroath 

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, Strain, Kiltie (Gallagher 44), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Nahmani 63), Tanser, Olusanya (Jamieson 63), Mandron
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, R.Taylor, Kenny, Sutherland, Penman, Jamieson, Greive, Nahmani

Arbroath: Gaston, Steele (Gold 23), Stewart, Little, O'Brien (c), Slater, Balde, Stowe, McKenna (McIntosh 70), Bird (Turan 70), Dow
Subs Not Used: Adams, Jacobs, Allan

Referee: Graham Grainger
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe

Attendance: 2,059 (139 away) 

St Mirren were defeated in their opening Viaplay Cup match at Montrose. Rory McAllister's second-half goal was enough to give the hosts a 1-0 win in the opening Group H match. 

Saints had chances to level, but ultimately weren't good enough to take anything from the game and will now be aiming for three wins in the remaining three matches to have a chance of qualifying for the next round. 

Manager Stephen Robinson handed competitive debuts to summer signings Zach Hemming, Conor McMenamin and Mikael Mandron. 

But it was the hosts who had the first real opportunity of the match when a header from the half-way line caught out the Saints defence and allowed Kane Hester the opportunity to run clear on goal. Charles Dunne did well to use his pace to catch up with the Montrose forward and did enough to put him off as he shot into the arms of Hemming. 

Hester was then denied by Dunne just before the half-hour mark after the forward was found inside the six-yard box by Rory McAllister. Hester, Montrose's record signing when he signed this summer, got a flick on the ball in from the left, but the Saints defender was there to turn it behind. 

Saints' best chance to open the scoring came with five minutes remaining in the first-half. A corner kick was headed out only as far as Kiltie on the edge of the area and his strike was pushed away by Gill. The Gable Endies goalkeeper was up quick to gather the rebound to deny Kiltie and Mandron as both charged in. 

The home side hit the front on 58 minutes after catching Saints on the break. It came after Montrose goalkeeper Gill gathered a corner and launched the ball forward for Mateus Machado. He fed the ball for Hester inside the area before the forward turned and found strike partner McAllister alone at the back post with the experienced frontman firing into the net from close-range. 

Despite the set back, the Buddies had an immediate opportunity to equalise when a long throw from Declan Gallagher broke inside the area with Kiltie and Alex Gogic in the immediate vicinity. One of them got a foot on it but knocked over the bar. 

Saints had another big chance to level on 65 minutes when Kiltie's brilliant low ball across the face had beaten Gill. Mandron and Greive were sliding in but neither could get the touch it needed to be turned in to the net. 

Saints were agonisingly close to the equaliser with less than 15 minutes remaining. Kiltie's strike was saved by Gill but he could only push it into the air and it looked like it may fall into net. Mandron was ready to nod into the empty net, but Montrose's veteran defender Sean Dillon managed to get there first and head over. 

Substitute Toyosi Olusanya's trickery won the Buddies a free-kick on the edge of the box in the final moments of the match. To the frustration of the away support, the referee's whistle denied advantage when Mark O'Hara finished into the bottom corner from 20 yards. It was then Caolan Boyd-Munce who stepped up to take the free-kick, but Montrose managed to block and then clear to hold on and claim the win in Group H. 

Full-Time: Montrose 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gallagher, Dunne (Sutherland 90), Strain, Kiltie, O'Hara (c), Gogic (Boyd-Munce 69), McMenamin (Jamieson 90), Greive (Olusanya 69), Mandron
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, R.Taylor, Kenny, Flynn, F.Taylor

Montrose: Gill, Williamson, Steeves (Machado 21), Quinn, Dillon, Masson, Webster, Brown (Shrive 83), McAllister, Gardyne, Hester (Batchelor 83)
Subs Not Used: Matthews, Grant, Giacomini, Lyons

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Assistant Referee: Scott Anderson

Attendance: 1,618

St Mirren's final pre-season match ended in defeat as two late goals gave Morton victory. 

The Buddies dominated the opening hour or so but couldn't find the net. And two goals in two minutes late in the half saw the hosts win. 

Saints first real chance came on 12 minutes with Alex Gogic rose the highest to meet Ryan Strain's corner only for the header to be brilliantly saved by Morton stopper Ryan Mullen. 

Ethan Sutherland forced the Morton goalkeeper into another good stop with his half-volley from inside the area tipped over the bar on 30 minutes. Saints should have scored three minutes later but Toyosi Olusanya crashed his close-range header off the bar. 

The home side's best chance of the half came three minutes before the interval when Robbie Muirhead's bullet free-kick from distance flew just over the bar from around 30 yards from goal. 

Stephen Robinson made a triple change at the interval with new boy Conor McMenamin on for his first taste of Saints action as well as Richard Taylor and Caolan Boyd-Munce. They replaced Marcus Fraser, Ethan Sutherland and Alex Greive. 

Morton were inches away from taking the lead a little over 10 minutes into the second-half when Robbie Crawford flicked an effort just by the post. 

O'Hara came closest to finding our opener not long after the hour mark, but his strike was blocked by the face of the Morton goalkeeper. 

The hosts would take the lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the match after they were awarded a spot-kick. A long ball over the top caught out the Saints defence and Zach Hemming clashed with a Morton forward which saw referee David Munro point to the spot. Muirhead stepped up and fired home. Morton added a quickfire second with McGrattan slotting home less than two minutes after the opener. 

Full-Time: Morton 2-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser (Boyd-Munce 46), Gallagher, Dunne, Strain (Flynn 67), Kiltie, Gogic, O'Hara (c), Sutherland (R.Taylor 46), Olusanya (Mandron 59), Greive (McMenamin 46)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Kenny, F.Taylor, Jamieson