St Mirren

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

That's life. That's what all the people say. You're riding high in late September, then Kilmarnock give you a bit of a doing in early October.

Not my words, the words of Francis Albert Sinatra.

Recent cup progress (and a ruthless 5-1 shellacking in Paisley back in March) may have fooled you into thinking St Mirren's Killie curse was a thing of the past. I'll concede it had fooled me.

However, Saturday's clinical home performance by Stuart Kettlewell and Co will haunt Stephen Robinson long beyond Halloween.

Saturday, as painful as this is to admit, was a reminder the Saints can be played and beaten at their own game.

In blustery conditions, Kilmarnock baited the visitors into taking majority custody of the ball and posting a dangerously high defensive line.

In 90 minutes of battling both Storm Amy and a deep Killie backline, St Mirren failed to muster much more than a string of passes and the occasional corner. Killie, however, seized their opportunities for two preventable yet seemingly inevitable goals.

We're supposed to be the ones who win the ball in the centre circle and send a pacy forward rushing behind static defenders, and we're the ones supposed to flash crosses across to waiting target men at the back post.

On Saturday, David Watson and Marcus Dackers took the spoils that Killian Phillips and Mikael Mandron might reasonably have expected to have feasted on.

Robinson, characteristically honest and self-critical after such a performance, summed the game up as: "We passed without purpose, didn't deliver balls. They did the opposite to us and thoroughly deserved to win."

It's hard to argue with that assessment and so it's perhaps best to leave it at that.

The Buddies remain in a reasonable league position and should retain a positive outlook on the season thus far.

Saturday's defeat was painful but dejection should only be fleeting, blustering through for the weekend like a named storm and then fizzling out in time for Sunday dinner. If that can be managed without chucking a bit of patio furniture around the back garden or tipping over your wheelie bins, all the better.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Watch all the highlights from Kilmarnock's 2-0 victory against St Mirren at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership.

Stephen Robinson reveals his "biggest regret" was winning just seven caps for Northern Ireland as the St Mirren boss repeats that he has ambitions to manage his country one day. (Daily Record), external

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "We were poor today, a shadow of ourselves. Everything we're good at, we didn't do.

"We made it clear before the game - the weather was horrendous, the pitch is not great - and we didn't play to the conditions. They got the ball, landed on second balls. We were in possession and gave it away.

"We played without purpose. We had 63% possession and I'd imagine 60% of it was in our own half. We didn't create anything, open anyone up. You earn the right to play football and we didn't earn it today.

"We passed without purpose, didn't deliver balls. They did the opposite to us, and they thoroughly deserved to win.

"I wasn't angry [at the break], more frustrated. I know what we are, I know what we're good at. All the things we get plaudits for, we refused to that in the first half.

"We have three key players missing and that showed today. It showed in leadership, running power, and knowing how to win a game here.

"I made early changes, rightly or wrongly, to try and get a response. We didn't, so I'm as much to blame as the players. It's very rare they have an off day like that."

Kilmarnock made it two consecutive victories in the Scottish Premiership as they overcame St Mirren at Rugby Park to rise to third.

Read the match report.

Have your say here.

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Kilmarnock have lost Marley Watkins to a heel injury. Scott Tiffoney is closing in on a comeback from a calf injury while Jamie Brandon, Matty Kennedy and Tom Lowery remain out.

St Mirren midfielder Keanu Baccus has a chance of shaking off a groin injury but skipper Mark O'Hara (foot) remains out.

Marcus Fraser is back training after an ankle problem but is not ready to play.

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Stephen Robinson may think his new St Mirren defence has hit the ground running, but not everyone is happy.

The Buddies boss revealed that during a fans' forum this week, one supporter told him his side were "leaking goals" - despite the fact only Celtic have a better defensive record this season.

"I wish I had that statistic in front of me before I answered that question!" Robinson joked with journalists.

"Everything's built on solidity. If you're hard to break down and you're hard to beat, then it's a good starting point."

Robinson added a new goalkeeper, right wing-back and two centre-backs to his squad over the summer - and all have made an immediate impact.

"We've made numerous changes," he said. "The goalkeeper, Shamal [George], has come in and been fantastic for us.

"We've created real assets in Jayden Richardson, Richard King – who'll go to the World Cup – Miguel Freckleton, added with the guys who were already there. The new players have settled in really well.

"I believe there's so much more to come from them. They're just getting their confidence."

Robinson has developed a reputation for nurturing talent, and that was to St Mirren's gain last season as they sold striker Toyosi Olusanya to Houston Dynamo in the MLS.

"Confidence is everything, an arm around people," Robinson added. "I treat people like human beings instead of pieces of meat that everybody sees them as.

"They never lose ability. Sometimes they lose confidence, they lose their way, they make bad decisions and I try and look for boys with lots of ability, lots of athleticism and you just tell them straight, this is how you can show your talent.

"You get them as fit and strong as you can and believe in people and encourage them, give them the platform and then it's up to the players to take that on.

"And certainly the three, four boys that we've brought in and spoken about previously have taken that opportunity."

Richard Taylor was a stand-out for St Mirren last season and has since moved on to Bolton, while Caolan Boyd-Munce departed for Wycombe.

Ryan Alebiosu, who was on loan at St Mirren last season from Kortrijk, has now moved to Blackburn in the Championship.

"The coaching staff do a brilliant job with them in terms of the small individual detail, but it's the players," the manager said. "The players don't lose their talent. It's about how can we get them back to express that.

"People in life always look at the negatives. They find the negatives in every situation, in every player.

"I try and look at the positives and how we can make their positive attributes be a success for them and put them on to the right track and give them bigger and better opportunities, hopefully."

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• Kilmarnock remain unbeaten in 12 top-flight home games against St Mirren (W8 D4) since a 3-1 defeat in May 2013 under Kenny Shiels.

• After their 5-1 win in March, St Mirren are looking for successive top-flight victories over Kilmarnock for the first time since May 2012 under Danny Lennon.

• Kilmarnock are yet to win a home league game in three attempts this season (D2 L1); Stuart Kettlewell could become the first manager to fail to win each of his first four home top-flight matches in charge of the club since Lee McCulloch didn't win any of his first six from February to May 2017.

• St Mirren have won their past two league games and could win three in a row for only the second time since the start of 2023, after doing so in December 2024.

• Since his debut for the club in August 2023, Mikael Mandron has more goals (16) and more assists (seven) than any other player for St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership. Mandron has scored (one) or assisted (two) in three of his past four league games.

Claire Thomson
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Mirren are one of only two teams - along with Celtic - not to have conceded a first-half goal in the Premiership this season.

In fact, Saints' earliest concession in their six matches came against Hibs in the 70th minute.

The other three goals shipped by Stephen Robinson's men all arrived in the final 15 minutes, hinting at fatigue being a factor as the hard-working Paisley side's relentlessness dips in the closing stages.

Despite that, the Buddies' defensive stats are impressive. They have conceded seven fewer goals than at the same stage last season and only Celtic have a better defensive record this campaign.

And Saints stalwart Alex Gogic has been the heart of the sturdiness, with the Cyprus international ranking sixth of all Premiership players for clearances (47) and is also in the top 10 for interceptions (9).

With Saints occupying third place in the table, solidity is the bedrock of their success. The Buddies are tied with Rangers as the Premiership's second-lowest scorers, netting five in six games. At the same stage last season, Robinson's side were on 10 goals.

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

On Saturday in East Ayrshire, all things going well, Killian Phillips will make his 50th competitive appearance for St Mirren.

The 23-year-old will arrive in Kilmarnock having finally opened his league goal account for the season, and high on confidence that he'll be the difference maker yet again in black and white (or marbled black and red, probably).

The Paisley crowd are often credited with being boo-happy and quick to anger, but if they love you - you'll certainly know about it. Phillips, in his half century of appearances, can be in no doubt of the unanimous esteem he's held in by the Buddies faithful.

The San Diego-born midfield colossus has taken the scenic route to arriving in Paisley and announcing himself as a full Republic of Ireland international.

First starring for Drogheda United as a teenager, Phillips took the invitation of professional development at Crystal Palace shortly before his 20th birthday.

Although only briefly troubling the first-team picture in south London, Phillips did gain diverse experience across the English league system before opting for a loan to the opposite end of this island.

That shortlived spell at Aberdeen, coinciding with the drama and farce of their Robson/Warnock/Leven season, did little to hint at the starring role the boy from Kilbarrack would soon grow into.

Indeed, among a small number of league starts in the north east, the Saints number 88 played the full 90 (and change) of the Buddies' incredible last-minute turnaround against Aberdeen in Paisley. I can't imagine that's a fond memory, but it will certainly have implanted a seed of what to expect in PA3 when magic moments are delivered.

As has so often been the case with his recruitment, Stephen Robinson recognised a spark of something in Phillips and potential significantly outweighing the position he appeared to have found himself in.

I can't pretend to know what went on, but the negotiations that convinced the Eagles to part with the midfielder on loan for his final contracted year - and that convinced Phillips himself to commit to staying here permanently beyond that - should find their place in business textbooks next to Warren Buffett and Steve Jobs quotes.

Only denied himself in recent weeks by incredible Scott Bain and Max Stryjek goalkeeping, Phillips has gained attention for celebrating the goals of his team-mates as if they had left his own right foot from 30 yards and burst the net.

On Saturday, the moment was all his and nothing less than he deserved.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

St Mirren downed Dundee and moved third in the Scottish Premiership thanks to a first-half goal from the "infectious" Killian Phillips, and the goalscorer has made my team of the week.

He is all-action with boundless energy and enthusiasm. He has been a superb signing for St Mirren and was fully deserving of his match-winning goal against Dundee.

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Killian Phillips insists St Mirren would have not been able to secure three points against Dundee last year after his fifth goal of the season sealed a 1-0 win.

The 23-year-old diverted in Jonah Ayunga's low shot in the first half to give the Buddies their second Premiership win of the season and move them up to third in the table.

Phillips now hopes he can continue his scoring form as Stephen Robinson's side travel to Kilmarnock on Saturday, having won on penalties against the same opposition in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup just two weeks prior.

"I've been unlucky the past two weeks with [Falkirk's] Scott Bain's unbelievable save and the Killie keeper's even better save but I'm delighted today," the Republic of Ireland international told club media.

"I was due a goal. Most of my goals have come away so I was delighted to finally get one in the front of the fans.

"It's a huge three points. We probably would have lost or drawn that game last year.

"You can see how much we've came on and they're the type of games we need to win if we want to be successful this year.

"We did excellent in defending set pieces, which has cost us some points. If we defended like that in some other games we would probably be higher up in the table which is mad to say when we're sitting third."

Watch Sportscene analysis as St Mirren beat Dundee to move up to third in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch all the highlights of St Mirren's 1-0 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

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Manager Stephen Robinson is delighted with the quality in his ranks at St Mirren after they edged a 1-0 victory over Dundee while missing some key players.

Starting XI mainstay Keanu Baccus joined captain Mark O'Hara and Marcus Fraser on the injury list before the weekend.

As a result, Liam Donnelly was given his first start and joined Roland Idowu as replacements in the starting line-up.

But Robinson is hoping he can avoid more bad injury news.

"With Mark, we don't know," The Buddies boss said of his captain.

"He's had an injection. We're hopeful he could be fit or at least available for the bench against Kilmarnock [next weekend].

"Marcus is making great progress, defying the odds. Keanu is a worry. He did it right at the last kick of training with his groin. We're not expecting him to be fit next week.

"Liam Donnelly obviously had to play sooner than we wanted him to. I thought he was excellent. Secured the game for us. Ticked it over really, really well. And he's not fully fit yet, he needs minutes.

"Roland came in and replaced Mark and was terrific. So we've got a squad with like-for-like replacements at the minute. But don't have a lot of numbers so we certainly can't afford any other ones.

"We're always walking a tightrope with our squad size. But, certainly, the quality we have in it is top-class."

The victory on Saturday pushed the Buddies up to third in the top flight.

"We're enjoying the momentum," Robinson added.

"We firmly refocused on the league again after the cup.

"We've got a really difficult game away to Killie, who had a tremendous result at Dundee United, so we stay grounded. We know there are always things we can improve at.

"That's the secret to our relative success – keeping pushing, never being happy."

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 1-0 win against Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Iain: Thought we were in control of the game throughout but just needed another goal to make it less stressful for us fans. Lots of good performances, Killian Phillips was man of the match simply for his goal. Good to see Connor McMenamin get some game time.

Alistair: The game showed how we've built a squad with depth. We were missing key players from the last few seasons but the guys who came in will give Stephen Robinson a decision to make.

William: A deserved win and three points, Saints were top for most of the game. Let's hope this showing can continue with another show piece coming up. Please do not have the players wearing away strips at Hampden. Black and white stripes are called for. We are St Mirren!

Alan: Played reasonably well in the first half, where we probably could and should have been further ahead. The second half we were okay but we need to take our chances when they come our way because 1-0 is never comfortable.

Killian Phillips' first-half goal against Dundee secured St Mirren's second Scottish Premiership win of the season and moved Stephen Robinson's side third in the table.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It was a tight game. Dundee started better than us. We started to get opportunities and gain momentum and we scored at a good time.

"We were in control of the game. We had ownership of the game without Dundee really creating a lot of chances in the second half. We're delighted with the result.

"Killian Phillips is infectious - his energy, his quality. He probably doesn't get that credit for how technically good he is. He drives us. He was the one that was leading the press. He triggers everybody else around him."

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St Mirren striker Mikael Mandron will have a toe injury assessed. Captain Mark O'Hara has had an injection in a foot injury after scans and is unlikely to be involved but should be back next week, while Marcus Fraser is working his way back from an ankle injury.

Yan Dhanda is still suspended for Dundee, who have Paul Digby back in training after a calf injury. Mexico Under-20 international Cesar Garza is on international duty.

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Three successive top-six finishes, European football for the first time in a generation, and a trip to Hampden for the first time in four years - but what's been the key to Stephen Robinson's success at St Mirren?

The Northern Irishman reckons it is competition for every place throughout his squad that keeps his players at their best.

Saints got their first Premiership win of the season a fortnight ago against Falkirk, before their League Cup quarter-final win over Kilmarnock, and next host Dundee on Saturday afternoon.

"I've got a group of boys that I rarely need to motivate," Robinson said.

"They come here with different motivations, whether it be money, whether it's pushing a career on or lengthening their career, whatever it may be, they've all got their own individual motivations.

"So it's rare that I have to motivate them. They're motivated to be the best they can be every day in training, and the competitiveness here is incredible.

"Everybody knows they are one place away from starting.

"So the competition never dies and that's probably been the secret to our success."

The Buddies were drawn against Motherwell in the League Cup semi-finals - the Old Firm meet in the other tie - but Robinson says thoughts of reaching the final have to be put on the backburner for now.

"Both teams will think they've got an opportunity to get to the final. Motherwell will think exactly the same as us. It's nice to play against my old club as well," he said.

"So it's one we're looking forward to, but one also that we need to put at the back of our mind.

"We've got a lot of important league games coming up. We enjoyed the night, we enjoyed the celebrations, and we were back on it again on Monday fully focused and in the meantime, the league is our priority."

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• Cameron Congreve has recorded three assists in Dundee's past two league games, while an assist against St Mirren would make him only the second player aged 21 or younger to assist a goal in three successive Scottish Premiership appearances since the start of 2021-22, after 20-year-old Oluwaseun Adewumi also did so for Dundee in March/April last season – when his third match came against St Mirren.

• St Mirren have lost their past two league meetings with Dundee, as many as their previous 13 against them in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W8 D3 L2).

• Having won 2-1 on their last league visit to St Mirren last December, Dundee could win back-to-back away games at the Buddies in the top flight for the first time since January 2015 (three in a row).

• St Mirren have only lost one of their past 11 league games (W4 D6), a 1-0 defeat to Celtic on matchday one this season. At home, the Buddies are unbeaten in seven league matches (W3 D4) since a 5-2 loss to Celtic in March.

• After their 3-2 win over Livingston, Dundee could pick up back-to-back league victories for the first time since March 2024. The Dark Blues have, though, failed to win their past 12 Scottish Premiership games that have come after a win (D3 L9), and have followed up each of their last four victories with a defeat in their next league game.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Buddies I speak to really hope Aberdeen's form picks up. Sure Jimmy Thelin seems like a nice fella and all that, but I'm there are ulterior motives.

As long as his stock is low and Stephen Robinson's continues to rise, they've got reason to worry.

The Dons' Premier Sports Cup exit followed by another Premiership defeat through the week cranks up the pressure on their Scottish Cup-winning manager.

At the same time Robinson has led the Paisley Saints to a League Cup semi-final. And let's be honest here, the Dons have a habit of hiring St Mirren managers.

But those (perhaps ill-founded) fears can be easily banished to the back of the mind when there is a big date at Hampden to look forward to.

The dream draw pairs St Mirren Robinson's former employers Motherwell. A club he took to the League Cup and Scottish Cup finals in the same season.

So what's not to like?

The teams have already met this season in the league, sharing a 0-0 draw at the SMISA in the Buddies' first home game.

Given St Mirren's record in penalty shootouts this season, rattling in five out of five against Kilmarnock and Hearts (forget about the 5-3 spot-kicks loss to Arbroath) maybe a repeat of that scoreline would do nicely at the national stadium on 1 November.

St Mirren have shown they can find the net since then, some of them in the sort of style that even Chris Sutton would enjoy.

So they'll fancy their chances of beating Motherwell at Hampden, although the Steelmen will have plenty to say and do about that.

Back in 2021Jim Goodwin's St Mirren reached the last four in both cup competitions, losing to Livingston and eventual double winners St Johnstone.

Covid was rife and Hampden was empty. This time round Paisley Buddies will be there in number hoping to cheer St Mirren to victory.

I dare say some of them will want Motherwell to lose this weekend too. They are playing Aberdeen after all.