St Mirren

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

It could all have been so different.

Following on from consecutive top-half finishes and the bliss of European qualification, St Mirren conducted early transfer business in the summer. The intention, I'm sure, was in improving a very solid foundation and preserving some degree of consistency.

Ellery Balcombe, a goalkeeping prospect fresh from signing a new four-year deal with moneyball proponents Brentford, arrived on loan to replace Zach Hemming.

Hemming, a popular figure during his loan spell last season, had overcome the odd challenging period to play a significant role in Saints' joy - and hopes were high he would be returning.

However, Stephen Robinson opted not to wait while Middlesbrough evaluated their returning man and established Balcombe early and in time for European preparations.

Five months later, that decision has been reversed. Balcombe, building back confidence after some tough moments, has returned to West London and Hemming once more holds the first-choice keeper's jersey in Paisley.

Signing at the tail end of a week and travelling to Celtic Park on the Sunday would probably not be the choice for most seeking a straightforward (re)debut. The platform is there to either quickly establish yourself as the hero, or take some punishment, and unfortunately it was the latter in this case.

At his best last season, Hemming had a flair for making the improbable save and showing up in the big moments. Compared to Balcombe, he can justifiably be said to have a greater command of his area and more composure in his distribution. When confidence appeared high, similarly high performance levels followed.

Sunday was a tougher day. Hemming will probably look at the shot that made its way through the body, the frantic chase out into midfield that led to a needless corner and subsequent goal, and six-yard box confusion with Marcus Fraser as regrettable. In reality, they are probably opportunities for development.

The Saints have managed a meagre two clean sheets this season. Hemming managed 15 in the previous campaign. If the new, old keeper can bring about this level of consistency and strength again, deliverance of a third consecutive top-half finish becomes more likely.

Mark Jardine can be found at the Misery Hunters podcast, external

St Mirren fans, we asked where you'd like to see the Buddies strengthen this month.

Here's what some of you said:

Christopher: Dream signing would be another Toyosi Olusanya so we can have both of them running at defences... we might just win the league!

Eddie: A centre forward to replace Toyosi, a winger who can cross a ball, a midfielder who has a will to win the ball, and a Greg Kiltie type player to give the wee guy a helping hand.

Huey: Saints badly need a goalscorer. I have no idea who we bring in, but it's a position where we are clearly lacking. Our squad was decimated by outside issues with three key players, but the introduction of youth players - Evan Mooney in particular - has paid dividends in recent weeks. Hopefully Stephen Robinson has something up his sleeve in the January transfer window.

Jim: Olusanya needs replacing with two forwards who can play together consistently. We need a playmaker in midfield who can control the play and we need to offload the squad players who just haven't shown up when given their chance.

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Marcus Fraser insists St Mirren must get back to basics to boost their top-six ambitions after a run of three defeats.

Stephen Robinson's men have gone from a three-game winning streak, which culminated in a dramatic home victory over Rangers, to a sequence of defeats which have dropped them to sixth place.

Defender Fraser is looking for a response in Saturday's visit of Dundee United.

The 30-year-old said: "We've got a few games now coming up, the next one being at home, where we want to take the game to the teams coming to our pitch, and we know it's going to be a massive month.

"We need to dust ourselves down, look at what we can improve on as we always do as a team, and try to get back on winning ways and put a run together.

"It's really there (top six) for someone to go and grab and we need to look at what's realistic for us as a team then go and grab that opportunity.

"We've got that in the next few games coming up. I think if we get back to our basics, get back to clean sheets, then we can really put a run together and get success."

Robinson pointed to some costly individual errors in Sunday's 3-0 loss at Celtic and Fraser admits mistakes have to be eradicated.

He added: "It is definitely important. The boys are honest enough, they'll take that on the chin and we'll work hard to stop it."

St Mirren fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what some of you had to say:

James: St. Mirren have a real problem with creating chances, never mind taking them! They have persevered mostly with experienced strikers to no avail - surely it is time for a change. They either need to let youth have its say - or bring in more choice up front - good start with Owen Oseni!

Douglas: A response was expected after their defeat to Rangers. Held them at bay for 32 minutes then crash. Losing too many goals and not scoring is a big concern. Sign forwards to help Toyosi Olusanya.

Douglas: Initially, reasonably good for the first half hour, but once the dam was broken there was a sense of inevitability. Celtic can be relentless once into their stride and by half time you felt the game was over. Didn't expect much out of Parkhead, and so it proved. Hopefully one or two more additions can freshen up the squad and we can kick on.

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• Nicolas Kuhn has scored nine goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Celtic player.

• Celtic have scored in 18 of their 20 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Celtic have kept a clean sheet in 16 of their 20 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.

• St Mirren have failed to score in eight of their 22 games, only Ross County (nine) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

Nicolas Kuhn scores twice as Celtic beat St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

Nicolas Kuhn added two goals to his impressive tally this season to help Celtic to victory over St Mirren as Brendan Rodgers's side moved 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Kuhn scored either side of the break to take his season's total to 16, with an Auston Trusty headed goal sandwiched in between.

The champions bounced back from their first league defeat of the season against Rangers on Thursday to take advantage of their rivals latest slip up at Easter Road and increase their advantage at the top of the table.

St Mirren made life difficult for a spell, pressing Celtic and not giving up much by way of clear-cut chances.

That resistance was broken by a fabulous opening goal for the hosts.

Saints fans, were you at Parkhead or following the action from home? Either way we want to know what you made of the team's performance.

Have your say, external

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "We went 1-0 down to a very good finish, I never felt like we were under any threat.

"I've been to Celtic many times and it's like you're defending constantly, they're creating chances, your goalkeeper has to make 10-15 saves in the game and none of that really happened today. We got in behind a couple of times as well.

"The second goal, comes from a set play, and the third goal was a bit of a mix up. Zach didn't have loads to do today but ultimately Celtic wear you down and if you make those mistakes you don't win here.

"They never give up, they went right to the end and we had some good opportunities. We created half chances, that's the difference in levels Celtic create half chances and they take them.

"The spirit and desire from the players I have no questions about. The fixtures coming now we believe we can get points out of and I believe we've represented ourselves well but been punished for errors by a very good side."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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For 32 minutes, Stephen Robinson would have been very pleased with how his side were implementing the tactical plan.

They were pressing Celtic and largely nullifying the hosts attacking threats, that was until Nicolas Kuhn's opener.

After that the confidence seemed to drain from the visitors and Robinson will be annoyed at the fashion in which his side conceded the second and third goals.

They never gave up the fight and that will be a crumb of comfort to the manager, but what he would give for a few more clean sheets.

They have managed only two in the league all season and will need to start finding more to maintain their spot in the top six.

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Fleetwood Town have announced the signing of former St Mirren defender Shaun Rooney on a "short-term deal".

Rooney, 28, left St Mirren by "mutual consent" in October having been suspended following an assault charge relating to an incident in a Glasgow takeaway the month before.

The full-back - who won both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup with St Johnstone in the 2020-21 season - made just 10 appearances for St Mirren after joining in the summer under freedom of contract.

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Celtic midfielder Arne Engels could start after illness restricted him to a late appearance against Rangers.

Winger James Forrest remains out through injury.

Goalkeeper Zach Hemming is vying for a start after returning to St Mirren on loan from Middlesbrough, but incumbent Ellery Balcombe himself remains on loan from Brentford.

Forward Conor McMenamin is a doubt, while centre-half Charles Dunne remains out.

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Mark O'Hara says St Mirren will have to perform to their best if they are to get a result against Celtic, despite the league-leaders' slip-up against Rangers last time out.

Brendan Rodgers' side were beaten 3-0 by their Old Firm rivals at Ibrox on Thursday, but O'Hara expects a response on Sunday.

The Buddies go into the contest off the back of successive league defeats by Dundee and Kilmarnock, but can take heart from their last trip to Parkhead. O'Hara scored twice but Celtic eventually came from behind to win 3-2.

"I don't think it will really affect anything too much," O'Hara said of Celtic's first domestic loss of the season.

"To get anything from the game we'll need to be at our best - if it's Celtic at 100 per cent or 80 per cent. So, I don't think we'll take too much from that game but it's one we need to be ready for.

"We've had joy there before and we ran them close a few times recently. It may be a game that takes the pressure off a wee bit and maybe that's what we need after a game like Kilmarnock.

"I don't think many people outside of the changing room will give us much of a chance. It might be a game that suits us.

"In the games where we were the underdog, we went and surprised people. Hopefully Sunday will be more of the same."

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• Celtic have won each of their last six meetings with St Mirren in all competitions, last winning seven in a row over the Buddies in March 2017.

• St Mirren have won just one of their last 36 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D3 L32), a 2-1 victory in January 2021.

• Celtic have lost just one of their last 72 home league matches (W61 D10), winning 17 of their last 19 (D2) since a 0-2 defeat to Hearts in December 2023.

• Only Dundee (one) have kept fewer clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership this season than St Mirren (two), who have recorded just one shutout in their last 20 league games (0-0 v Ross County in November).

• Celtic are looking to win six successive home league games while also keeping a clean sheet each time for the first time since February 2019.

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St Mirren have signed goalkeeper Zach Hemming on loan from Middlesbrough until the end of the season, with manager Stephen Robinson hinting he would like to make the addition permanent.

Hemming spent the first half of this season at League One side Leyton Orient, but returned to his parent club on 1 January and now heads north to a club he is familiar with.

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan in Paisley, making 33 league appearances as Robinson's side finished fifth.

"We're delighted to have Zach back," Robinson said. "We all know what he can do. He was very successful last season and we will be in discussions with Middlesbrough as we look at the potential of making it permanent at the end of the season.

"My job is to make the squad as strong as we possibly can in every position. I believe bringing Zach in strengthens the squad and gives us another percentage in trying to stay in the top six."

Robinson says Hemming's arrival will likely mean a loan exit for goalkeeper Peter Urminsky, while the Northern Irishman also revealed Brentford could recall current number one Ellery Balcombe during the January window.

"It allows us to look for a loan option for Peter [Urminsky]," Robinson added. "We believe Peter will be a top-class goalkeeper but he needs games.

"Brentford also have a call-back option with Ellery [Balcombe] and that's up to Brentford what they do with that situation. But at the minute, we've got very good competition for goalkeepers."

Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith on the costly lapse from Alex Gogic that led to St Mirren conceding the opener in their defeat at Kilmarnock.

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-0 defeat against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Douglas M: Another ragged performance with little creativity, which mirrored the performance against Dundee. We miss a good creative player who can beat a player and pick out a decisive pass. That aside Killie continue to be a bogey team for us, and playing on a plastic pitch doesn't help!

Ian: Very disappointing. The opposition don't do much to win games against Saints we conspire to lose games - plain and simple. Two avoidable penalties. Back to square one and not looking likely to win any of our next few games.

Douglas S: Absolutely a dire performance today and Stephen Robinson must take some of the blame. The team selection was wrong. When I saw Jonah Ayunga in the starting XI I feared the worst and when he started the second half I couldn't believe it. Then Mikael Mandron comes on.

Eddie: We were very poor over the whole game. Poor decisions, passing, and general play. Once again the ref was awful. We need to get back to basics. Celtic next.

Watch the best of the action from Rugby Park as Kilmarnock beat St Mirren 2-0 in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only)

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• St Mirren have failed to score in seven of their 21 games, only Ross County (nine) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

• Bruce Anderson has scored eight goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Kilmarnock player.

• St Mirren have conceded six penalties in the Premiership this season, no team has conceded more.

• Kilmarnock registereed five shots on target in this match, higher than their season average of 3.6 in the Premiership.

Arsenal and Newcastle United have submitted official notes of interest in St Mirren striker Evan Mooney, but neither Premier League club has tabled an offer for the 17-year-old who is under contract until 2028. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "We only have ourselves to blame. We showed a real lack of quality with our passing – we had 58% possession and one shot on target.

"We have to get back to the basics again. We've shown on the recent run we've had to climb the table that we're a good side, but not with performances like that. That wasn't acceptable

"Killie didn't beat us, we beat ourselves. They didn't have to work too hard.

"Our decision-making for the goals is really poor and we gave the ref the option to make decisions, right or wrong, for both penalties.

"We made bad decisions at both of them and you won't win games playing like that."

Were you at Rugby Park to see St Mirren beaten by Kilmarnock, or were you following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren packed their team with big, powerful players and Stephen Robinson was perhaps thinking that to get the better of Killie on their own patch you first need to win the physical battle.

However, his team was lacking in creativity and struggled to generate meaningful chances.

Toyosi Olusanya was unable to make any sort of impact on the game, getting little change out the Killie defence.

Roland Idowu had a couple of nice touches early on without creating anything clear cut before fading and being hooked early in the second half.

We know how tough a proposition St Mirren are at their best, but here they fell well short of their own standards.