St Mirren

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It's an opportunity missed. It was different from the last two games, Ross County slowed it down and it looked like they were playing for a point until the very end.

"Overall we looked jaded and tired in the first half, the subs freshened us up. It's an opportunity missed I think we should have won the game. Lessons learned, we remain unbeaten and we go again.

"The subs gave us energy which was the pleasing aspect, chances-wise we have to score one of them. It's one of those games where one goal would win it. We defended well when we need to."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Having ended a four-game losing streak by returning to winning ways in midweek, Robinson will be frustrated his side couldn't make it back-to-back victories.

The goalless draw throws up more worries for Saints. Kiltie's miss raises questions over who will take their penalties from now on, with Mark O'Hara having also struggled from the spot this season.

Of the host' 11 attempts, only three were on target and the likes of Toyosi Olusanya, Mandron and Jonah Ayunga were not clinical.

But after three game in a week, the Paisley men sit sixth in the table and have a much-needed break to prepare for next Saturday's trip to Easter Road.

Stephen Robinson has made just one change from Wednesday night's victory over St Johnstone.

Charles Dunne drops out with an injury and Richard Taylor starts in his place.

Ross County have made three changes from their 0-0 draw with Hibs in midweek.

Ryan Leak misses out completely through illness while Ronan Hale and Aidan Denholm drop to the bench.

Jack Grieves, Josh Nisbet and Josh Reid are in from the start.

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St Mirren pair Jaden Brown and Kevin van Veen are unavailable following court appearances.

Roland Idowu (ankle), Charles Dunne (hamstring) and Conor McMenamin (knee) will be assessed while Alex Iacovitti (tendon) is out long term.

Ross County have Charlie Telfer available after suspension, but Will Nightingale (knee), George Harmon (ankle) and Max Sheaf (thigh) are likely to miss out.

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• St Mirren are unbeaten in seven home games against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership (W5 D2) since a 3-0 reverse in April 2015. The Buddies have kept a clean sheet in their last five such home games against the Staggies, winning the last three.

• The away side has won none of the last eight league meetings between St Mirren and Ross County (six home wins, two draws), with the last away win in this fixture being the Buddies' 3-2 victory in October 2021.

• St Mirren have lost each of their last three league games played on a Saturday, last losing more consecutively in the Scottish Premiership on that specific day in April 2022 (five in a row).

• Ross County are winless in their last 21 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D8 L13), since a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock in September 2023; that is now the outright longest winless streak away from home in the competition this century.

Scott Tanser loops a brilliant finish into the top corner to bring St Mirren level in their 3-1 comeback win over the full-back's former club St Johnstone.

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We asked for your views after St Mirren beat St Johnstone 3-1 to halt a four-match losing streak.

Here's what some of you said:

Paula: Pretty awful start so it was understandable how quickly the supporters around me in the west stand started voicing their frustration, but the focus of that frustration shifted deservedly to the the officials. More VAR interferences than goals. Saints deserved the win and we move on now to Saturday's game. Another three points please.

Alistair: That performance was what we built last season, even when we went one down there was no panic on the pitch or in the stands. A solid team effort, the manager really must have read the riot act after the Hearts game and he's got a reaction.

Douglas: Better than recent stuttering performances, but VAR came to our assistance on this occasion and we could easily have been 3-1 down. We must make pressure count when in control, but we lacked composure. Unconvinced by Mikael Mandron and the Perth defence breathed more easily after Toyosi Olusanya's departure. Better than before, but still much room for improvement.

William: Robinson's recent talk on "reset" appears to have had a good effect on the players. Two excellent performances have given the belief that top six can be achieved.

Ian: We got the job done - but still need to sharpen up defensively. A very welcome three points.

Jim: A game of two halves. St Johnstone passed the ball on the ground and looked like a side full of confidence. St Mirren completely took over in the second half and looked like the team from last year. Great to see the two substitute strikers make an impression. Things could be on the change.

Stuart: Yet another difficult watch, usual poor finishing and headless chickens. Only positives, Greg Kiltie and Scott Tanser. Why can't St Mirren move the ball about like St Johnstone? Game spoiled by half a dozen VARs.

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Michael Stewart examine the St Johnstone goals from Benjamin Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh that were ruled out in the Perth side's 3-1 defeat at St Mirren.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Relieved St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara insisted his side's "trust" in each other was the secret to ending their four-game losing streak with a comeback win over St Johnstone.

O'Hara scored the Buddies' second in Paisley as they rallied from an early deficit to record a crucial 3-1 victory.

"It's massive," the midfielder said. "You feel a bit of relief when you've been in a bit of a rut and things just aren't going your way.

"That first win is a long time coming, but when it does come, it's just relief and it's time we build on it.

"We just trust each other. We started the game well. Maybe they scored against the run of play. We just stuck to the gameplan and no one put their heads down in that changing room the whole time we’ve been in this rut.

"The team spirit is great and the belief is there and I'm sure it will stand us in good stead this season.

After Benjamin Kimpioka flicked St Johnstone in front, Scott Tanser conjured a terrific strike into the top corner to bring the hosts level before O'Hara's header and a late third from substitute Jonah Ayunga completed the fightback.

"Even to go 1-0 down it's not ideal, but we've shown a bit of character to come back from the last games, and the setback tonight, and we never doubted each other," O'Hara added.

"We just keep trusting each other and and our time will come. Hopefully now we’ll go on a similar run with wins."

Stephen Robinson didn't pull any punches during his side's losing run, and O'Hara explained what the manager demanded.

"When he says back to basics, it's simplifying the game and playing more in the opponent's half than we have been, and not inviting pressure on ourselves and limiting the number of mistakes," he added.

"That's what we've done in the last couple of games, and it's been successful for us."

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• Jonah Ayunga has scored his first goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 30 December 2023 against Aberdeen.

• St Johnstone have conceded six goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half in matches this season, only Hibernian (eight) and Ross County (seven) have conceded more in the Premiership.

• St Johnstone have conceded five goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• St Mirren scored three goals in a game for the first time since 4 August 2024 against Hibernian (W3-0).

Were you at the SMiSA Stadium or following the game from home?

Either way we want your thoughts as St Mirren ended their four-game winless league run with a win over St Johnstone.

Have your say here, external.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "When you are not winning games, you’ll take anything. We should’ve won by more. We dominated, especially in the second half, we were camped in their half.

"Greg Kiltie epitomised St Mirren tonight. We’ve missed him and his footballing intelligence. I’m singling him out but there were a lot of positive performances.

"We’re playing less around at the back and playing exciting, penetrating football. People running about until they can’t run anymore. It is basic but we play a lot of good football around that. We got away from that but we won’t get away from that again.

"It’s easy for the crowd to get on your back but they didn’t because they could see the effort and energy from the players."

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Stephen Robinson’s men were limited to just 31.4% possession, but took more than three times as many shots as their opposition.

Despite going behind early on, St Mirren continued with their game plan and found themselves on level terms heading into the break.

The home side picked up the intensity in the second 45 and it showed. A barrage of shots peppered Ross Sinclair’s goal and Robinson must be credited for his approach.

While St Johnstone dominated possession and racked up passes, the St Mirren boss brought on two strikers - who would both combine for the third goal - in a successful attempt to keep threatening the Perth club’s goal.

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Stephen Robinson opts to go unchanged following St Mirren's narrow defeat to Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

English defender Richard Taylor and 16-year-old attacker Evan Mooney return to the bench.

Follow our live coverage here.

St Mirren: Balcombe, Dunne, Gogic, Fraser, Tanser, O'Hara, Phillips, Bwomono, Kiltie, Olusanya, Scott.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Penman, Taylor, Boyd-Munce, Smyth, Mooney, McMenamin, Ayunga, Mandron.

St Johnstone: Sinclair, Sanders, Neilson, Cameron, Smith, Sprangler, Holt, Wright, Clark, Kimpioka, Sidibeh.

Substitutes: Rae, Carey, Essel, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Kirk, Douglas, Keltjens, Franczak.

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• St Mirren are unbeaten in nine home league games against St Johnstone (W5 D4), winning both of their last two by an aggregate score of 6-0.

• Each of St Johnstone's last five Scottish Premiership wins over St Mirren have come at home, with the Perth team's last such win at St Mirren Park coming in December 2018 (1-0) under Tommy Wright.

• Since winning three successive home league games from February to March, St Mirren have won just two of their last nine on home soil in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L5).

• St Johnstone have only lost two of their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W4 D5), winning their last such away match 2-0 at Aberdeen in February.

• Mikael Mandron has scored four goals in four Scottish Premiership appearances against St Johnstone, including three in three for St Mirren.

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St Mirren striker Kevin van Veen is struggling with a bruised foot but Richard Taylor returns after hernia surgery. Fellow centre-back Alex Iacovitti (tendon) is out long term.

St Johnstone's Andre Raymond drops out with a knock but new signing Barry Douglas could make the squad.

Uche Ikpeazu is back in training following knee surgery but still short of fitness while Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) remain out. Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic is still waiting on a work permit.

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Defender Marcus Fraser insists there is "more to come" from St Mirren after extending his stay in Paisley until 2027.

Fraser, 30, moved to the Buddies in 2020 and has made 191 appearances for the club so far.

"I've been here a few years and it’s been great so I'm looking forward to a few more," the right-back said.

"You can see the direction the club is wanting to go in and the team they've got and that was a big part of being involved in.

"Each year the team has been progressed and so has the club off the park, I want to be a part of that.

"The manager has been brilliant for me, I try to repay the trust he puts in me by working hard and trying to perform on the pitch and I feel as if there's more to come from this team."

Manager Stephen Robinson, who has also offered new contracts to striker Toyosi Olusanya and defender Richard Taylor, described Fraser as a model professional.

"I think it's important that people that have been a big part of the journey are recognised," said Robinson.

"Marcus has been that, he's been very, very good for me. He's one of these players you can play anywhere on the pitch and never complains, gets on with it, touch wood, doesn't miss a day's training.

"And I think he thoroughly deserves a contract and epitomises what we're about - hard work, energy and a brilliant attitude."