Arsenal and Newcastle United are both watching 17-year-old St Mirren winger Evan Mooney, who netted his first goal in the weekend win over St Johnstone. (Record), external
Mark Jardine
Fan writer
I Am The Resurrection by the Stone Roses, the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Saturday's battle of the Saints at McDiarmid Park - what do these almost insultingly long things have in common? That they're absolutely fine as they are. No room for cuts. Perfection.
As the clock struck 102 minutes or so on Saturday and Euan Anderson eventually blew for the final whistle, not a single Buddie was complaining and stayed back even further to celebrate with their side.
Were I to be of a Perth persuasion, I'm sure I'd be delving into the interventions, or lack thereof by the VAR department. But I'm not, so I won't, save for mentioning that if you're hanging your protests on Toyosi Olusanya pushing away a centre-half who has pulled his collar for 10 seconds and 10 yards, I'm sure you know deep down that you're being a bit silly.
Simo Valakari's growing influence on his side is to be commended, twice now they have faced the Saints and shown impressive use of the ball, as well as quality chance creation.
However, they have also ultimately succumbed to bigger, stronger and uglier football on both occasions. There must be middle ground between playing the football they can and not sticking four forwards out there against a team built for the counter.
Evan Mooney was born about a fortnight after I passed my driving test, and that's fine. No existential crisis for me, no sir.
A St Mirren academy product in its clearest sense, Evan joined the Buddies at 12 and has exploded into prominence with the club's under-18s over the past few months. He has scored at the SMISA stadium in youth cup fixtures and blitzed Hearts away with a dazzling hat-trick, before making a first-team bow at Tynecastle, aged only 16.
At 2-1 down on a minging December afternoon, it would have been easy for Stephen Robinson to look to more experienced members of his bench and shoehorn experience into the occasion.
I wonder what the possible butterfly effect could be in time of opting instead to call on young Mooney, and give him the platform to write his name into the senior football headlines for the first time.
It is important to enjoy the moment for what it was, to shower Mooney in well-earned plaudits, and also to retain a sense of perspective. He's a developing prospect and this is but an early step on that path to consistent first-team football and contribution.
Luke Kenny, older and having required more patience for his own debut, stepped into a makeshift backline in the place of Richard Taylor - and earned his own praise.
As the Saints squad looks smaller in the face of a fixture list which looks longer, Kenny, Mooney and others will be hopeful of further opportunities to show their worth.
Evan Mooney: Turned 17 just three days ago before marking his second St Mirren appearance with a cracking equaliser which ultimately proved vital as they secured all three points at McDiarmid Park.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren striker Evan Mooney was "buzzing" to score his first senior goal in Saturday's 3-2 win against St Johnstone, but promised to knuckle down in search of more opportunities.
The 17-year-old made it 2-2 at McDiarmid Park with a calmly taken volley before Mark O'Hara's injury-time penalty earned Stephen Robinson's side all three points.
Before coming off the bench, Mooney says Robinson just told him to try to influence the game.
"I am delighted," Mooney said. "It all came at me so fast, I have just got to be patient for my chance and when my chance came, Killian flicked it on and I managed to put it in the net. It all comes at you so quickly – I am buzzing.
"Massive, it is only my second appearance for the club and being so young I have just had to be patient and take everything on board and take my chance when it comes.
"The gaffer said when I came on, just come on and have an impact and I think all the subs did that.
"It just stands me in good stead going forward and I think the biggest thing is just to keep working hard and keep pushing and keep both feet on the ground."
Watch highlights from St Johnstone's 3-2 defeat by St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Watch Sportscene analysis of Evan Mooney's goal in St Mirren's 3-2 win against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
We asked for your views on St Mirren's 3-2 win against St Johnstone.
Here's what some of you said:
Alistair: That game sums up what it's like supporting the Saints, ups and downs and never a dull moment. Congratulations to Evan Mooney for scoring the first of many, hopefully, in black and white.
Image source, SNSBenjamin Kimpioka has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other St Johnstone player.
St Mirren have won six points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (nine) and Kilmarnock (11) have recovered more.
St Johnstone have conceded eight goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.
St Mirren have scored three goals in a game for the first time since 30 October 2024 against St Johnstone, a game they won 3-1.
Roland Idowu's penalty retake on 99 minutes secured all three points for St Mirren after a dramatic finale at McDiarmid Park.
Mark O'Hara's initial spot-kick was saved but goalkeeper Josh Rae was off his line, allowing Idowu to slam in the second attempt.
Killian Phillips had put the visitors in front after just 10 minutes when he slotted beyond Josh Rae.
St Johnstone equalised in the second period when captain Nicky Clark set up Mackenzie Kirk before Benjamin Kimpioka put the hosts in front.
Youngster Evan Mooney equalised on the 88th minute before St Mirren were awarded a penalty for a handball deep into stoppage time.
St Mirren move into the top six, although Dundee have a game in hand, while the Perth side remain in 10th.
Image source, SNSEvan Mooney, who turned 17 on Wednesday netted his first senior goal for St Mirren in their 3-2 win over St Johnstone.
Stephen Robinson's side were trailing 2-1 at McDiarmid Park when Mooney volleyed home the equaliser on just his second senior appearance.
"I am delighted," the winger said.
"It all came at me so fast, I'm just buzzing. It's only my second appearance for the club, being so young I've had to be patient and take my chance when it comes.
"The gaffer said when I came on just have an impact and try and affect the game and I think all the subs did that.
"It stands me in good stead going forward. I'll just keep working hard, pushing and keep both feet on the ground.
"It's a dream come true."
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSThe reaction from Stephen Robinson at the full-time whistle proved just how crucial this victory could prove to be in deciding whether or not St Mirren finish in the top six.
They sit in sixth spot for now, two points ahead of Dundee who travel to Ibrox next weekend.
The first half performance will have been exactly what Robinson wanted, attacking intent, creating chances but just unable to turn them in - and that was punished by Kirk's second-half equaliser.
It looked to be even worse for Robinson's men when Kimpioka struck.
But they rallied impressively and when Mooney made sure it would be a day to remember St Mirren did not stop, pushing all the way to the whistle.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I thought we were outstanding in the first half, it was probably our best away performance of the season.
"We started the second half completely different, credit to St Johnstone as well they started brightly.
"I have to credit the players because after the second goal it's easy to crumble. Last week we questioned the organisation and the desire to defend the box and be clinical at the other end. We proved that today and got a little bit of luck with the penalty having to be re-taken.
"We deserved a little bit of luck today with our first half performance and our response to going 2-1 down.
"We don't feel Richard Taylor's injury is quite as bad as it appeared, it looked like Mark O'Hara tore his thigh as he took the penalty.
"We've been on the end of some strange decisions but I think the handball was the clearest decision you could see. I didn't watch either of the penalties so I didn't see if Josh Rae was off his line or not.
"I thought we were very good first half and should have been more up. But ultimately we showed great character to come back. for the younger kids to come on and shine today, I'm absolutely delighted."
Image source, SNSEvan Mooney, who turned 17 just three days ago, marked his second St Mirren appearance with a cracking equaliser which ultimately proved vital as they secured all three points at McDiarmid Park.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone have Andre Raymond and Bozo Mikulic back but Barry Douglas remains out along with long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee), Cammy MacPherson (hip) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).
The suspended Alex Gogic drops out for St Mirren but Alex Iacovitti could return. Charles Dunne remains out with a hamstring problem.
Image source, SNSStephen Robinson admits he doesn't have the luxury of time on Alex Iacovitti's return as he prepares to fast-track the St Mirren defender back into action.
The Buddies are without the suspended Alex Gogic for Saturday's game with St Johnstone and Charles Dunne is out due to a hamstring injury.
Iacovitti has not played since August 31 but has now recovered from a hamstring tendon injury and could provide the "leadership and aggression" Robinson is seeking after St Mirren conceded costly set-piece goals two weeks in a row.
"Alex is very close to full fitness. We haven't had the luxury of getting a game into him. He was on the bench last week, but sometimes needs must, and he's a very professional boy, and he provides that for us," said the Buddies boss.
"He might have to be thrown in long before he's firing on all cylinders, with our injury situations and suspensions.
"Alex gives you that aggression and leadership. A real organiser, a guy who doesn't want goals to go in the back of the net.
"Sometimes you get modern defenders who are more interested on the ball, but he's a wee bit old-school, which we like. You need variation. We feel when he's fully fit, he'll provide that.
"We've lost two games now where we should have had points from last-minute goals and last-minute set plays.
"You can do all the work in the world, but you have to have people that want to go and head the ball and dominate and do the dirty bits of football to gain them points, and we have to be better at that.
"Alex Iacovitti can give us that when he's fully fit. We believe he can go and dominate that six-yard box, Mika Mandron when he's on the pitch as well."
David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Stephen Robinson turned 50 this week. Happy (belated) birthday! According to my calculations that makes his star sign Sagittarius.
I did a quick search on the internet – and apparently Sagittarians are passionate, curious, intense and adaptable.
If you watch Robinson on the sidelines on any given Saturday afternoon there's definitely passion and intensity in spades.
As for adaptability, well, the Buddies boss has had a lot to cope with this season. The club 'parting company' with three new first-team players early in the season because of separate legal issues isn't the sort of thing you can prepare for.
Then there's the European hangover. It's hard to deny the adventures in Iceland and Norway had an impact on the early-season form and I won't mention one or two (or three or four) refereeing decisions that even non-Sagittarians might consider curious.
And yet St Mirren are just a point and a few goals outside the top six. So I guess that's proof of adapting to whatever slings and arrows outrageous fortune can fire at a football manager.
If you're a pessimist, or a Capricorn maybe, you could say the Buddies are six points and a few goals off the bottom. True.
After a four-game unbeaten streak they've lost two on the spin without scoring. To make sure that losing streak isn't extended further, Robinson might tweak St Mirren's style a bit, maybe he'll just try to get his team to be better at being St Mirren.
Evidence from earlier in the season indicates the latter is more likely. I'll cite the manner in which they bounced back from the 4-0 defeat by Hearts to run Rangers close at Ibrox then go four games unbeaten as evidence.
The Buddies will have to adapt to playing without Alex Gogic this weekend against St Johnstone after his red card in defeat by Motherwell.
The Cyrpus international has been the backbone of the defence in the past couple of seasons and could be sorely missed.
St Mirren have four matches before the transfer window opens in the new year – and they all look tough. Away trips to Perth and Dingwall this side of Christmas Day, then home games against Rangers and Dundee.
After that we might get an idea how realistic another top-six finish is – or how close a fight for Premiership survival might be.
Reinforcements will be on the way in January, the manager has already drawn up a longlist of potential recruits. He wants more pace and energy in the team to shake things up a bit.
Look, I know astrology is a load of unscientific rubbish, but that's typical Sagittarian behaviour.
Image source, SNSSt Johnstone have only lost one of their last 11 home league meetings with St Mirren (W7 D3), going down 1-0 in April 2022. The Perth side have kept nine clean sheets in this spell.
St Mirren have won three of their last four top-flight meetings with St Johnstone (L1), as many as their previous 12 beforehand (D6 L3).
In 2024, St Johnstone have picked up fewer home points (10) and lost more home matches (10) in the Scottish Premiership than any other side.
Only Ross County (3) have earned fewer away points in the Premiership this season than St Mirren (4), who have lost six of their last eight on the road in the competition (W1 D1).
Both of St Johnstone's last two league goals have been scored by 20-year-old Makenzie Kirk. A goal against St Mirren will see Kirk become the youngest player to score in successive league appearances for the Perth club (20 years, 312 days) since Ali McCann in February 2020 (20y 63d).
Andrew Christie
Fan writer
At its best, football is a fine wine. At its worst, it's the gin I made in my bath that one Christmas that "ruined the holidays for everyone".
Games have started to drift towards the latter in the past month of St Mirren. Inclement Scottish winter, an excess of tactically similar neutralising teams and an outbreak of main character syndrome among the country's officials have contributed to a series of dour spectacles.
The 0-0 draw with Ross County, the 2-0 defeat to Dundee United, and most recently Saturday's 1-0 loss to Motherwell – these aren't just results, they're a diagnostic report on our current footballing malaise.
Take the weekend's defeat to Motherwell; Tony Watt's 94th-minute headed winner a vindictive full stop on a grammatical error of a football match.
The game was turgid and attritional. It was bad. Made worse by referee Dan McFarlane switching between overly officious prefect and a bird that thinks it is night when you put a sheet over its cage.
As the Motherwell celebrations filled the SMISA, one fundamental truth became inescapable: good teams find ways to win these games. Sometimes football is about industrial persistence, about being more streetwise than your opponent, about understanding that beauty is occasionally found in pure, unadulterated pragmatism.
Right now, St Mirren are drinking 15% hazy craft IPAs out of a cracked Tennent's glass. We're overthinking when we should be overwhelming, analysing when we should be action taking. Games like these are so often won in moments of stubborn determination.
Motherwell knew this. They played a canny game, understanding precisely what was required. They were trying to win a football match with the tools available to them - however blunt they may be. And win it they did.
For St Mirren, the message is clear: it's time to get ugly. Not metaphorically - literally. We need to develop a tactical personality that can turn these cold, grey, sodden Scottish afternoons into points on the board. Less philosophy, more function. Less contemplation, more confrontation.
No points for style. In football, only the result matters.
Andrew Christie can be found at Misery Hunters, external
Sportscene analysis: 'Great assist by Miller but harsh sending off for Gogic'
Watch highlights of St Mirren's 1-0 defeat against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. (UK only)
We asked for your views on St Mirren's 1-0 defeat against Motherwell.
Here's what some of you said:
Eddie: Too many players not performing. Confidence seems low. Players don't have the confidence to try something different. Manager needs to give some of our youngsters a chance.
Craig: St Mirren should be walking away with three points, the only team who tried to play football. Seen some awful football from away sides at our ground over the course of the season so far, but Motherwell have to be the worst side I've seen in terms of attractive football. The ball was played in the air for most of the match from them. I'm very disappointed in the Saints.
James: St Mirren were blunt up front despite looking the better team. They currently create very few actual chances and, unless that changes, they will always be open to losing games by conceding a late goal. They need to look for another striker in January to complement Toyosi Olusanya.
Ian: Poor yet again from St Mirren. Couldn't manage to see the game out. Needless foul to give away and now a man down for the next game. Sorry but I can't see any wins coming in the next few games. We are on the slide, hard times ahead.
