St Mirren

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."

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

There's a particular Scottish tendency to revel in glorious failure, though I wouldn't describe Sunday's loss at Ibrox as glorious and neither would I write it off as a failure.

Taking no points home to Paisley, regardless of opposition, should always be disappointing - it's a credit to the performance from Stephen Robinson's Saints at the weekend that that disappointment leaving Ibrox is somewhat justified.

Humbling losses to Dundee United and Hearts inspired a little fire and fury in the Northern Irishman these past two weeks. Promises were made about getting back to basics and the demand for a minimum standard when it comes to effort, passion and resilience.

Though the scoreline read 2-1 to Rangers by the end, the Saints manager and most other Buddies in attendance will have taken heart from the response to that demand.

Returning to the back five shape this squad was initially assembled for, Robinson also had the opportunity to field both Greg Kiltie and Conor McMenamin for the first time since last season. Talismanic figures in their directness and effort, particularly in Kiltie's case, their return coinciding with that increased level of performance should not come as a surprise.

On another Sunday, if you'll permit me the cliché, it could all have ended so differently. Toyosi Olusanya will look back at his one-on-one first-half strike that was pulled wide, or his potential penalty call that was denied later in the day, and wonder 'what if'?

McMenamin, understandably rusty after five months off the pitch, will likely look to his late left-footed drive over the bar as a golden opportunity to have announced his return.

The Saints backline, generally strong on a day of regular pushing and testing, can both be proud of their efforts and wonder if perhaps they could have prevented both Rangers' opportunities from reaching their men in the Buddies' box.

Most importantly, in this seven day and three-game flurry, the Saints can now welcome St Johnstone and Ross County to the SMISA Stadium with a bit of restored belief.

After 180 minutes of similar urgency, determination and aggressive pressing the Premiership table might look very different through black-and-white tinted specs once again.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson says St Mirren's contract offer to Toyosi Olusanya is "one of the best" the club has ever tabled as they look to secure the striker's future.

Olusanya and defender Richard Taylor, who are due to be out of contract next summer, have both been offered fresh terms.

Olusanya, 27, has netted 13 goals - including six this season - in 62 appearances since joining from Middlesbrough in summer 2022.

Both he and 24-year-old centre-back Taylor - who joined in January 2023, initially on loan - helped Saints finish fifth last season to ensure the club's first European football in 37 years.

Manager Robinson said: "We’ve offered him [Olusanya] a new contract, one of the best the club has offered anybody.

"He has deserved it, he has worked ever so hard, he's a terrific boy and is getting better and better and causing teams massive problems.

"If he took every chance that he had he wouldn't be playing for St Mirren. We wouldn't have been able to recruit him and we wouldn't have been able to keep him, but we are trying to keep him, as we are with Richard Taylor. We are trying to make sure we have a solid base to build on.

"Everyone has got choices in life, they are both very good offers for the level we can pay.

"But they are young men, they have decisions to make. They are both very happy to be at the football club and if they don't sign I know they will give absolutely everything and I hold no grudges, unlike I used to have when I was a younger manager!

"There are riches beyond St Mirren that both boys could be tempted with and I'm sure they are getting a lot of interest with their performances, but we are doing our very best to keep them here and we are desperate to keep them here."

Although Robinson is keen to keep Taylor and Olusanya, he says others may have to move on at the start of the new year.

"When we get to Christmas there will be a little shake-up, we will bring more boys in with pace and energy and some will have to sacrificed as well," he added.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media as St Mirren prepare to face St Johnstone on Wednesday night.

Here are the key lines from the Buddies boss:

• Toyosi Olusanya and Richard Taylor, whose contracts expire next summer, have been offered new deals.

• Robinson reveals the offer to Olusanya is one of the best contracts ever at the club.

• He adds that if the striker scored every chance he had then St Mirren wouldn't be able to keep him.

• Robinson says there will be a "shake-up" at Christmas as he wants to bring more pace and energy to the club.

• Defender Taylor is back in training following a hernia operation. Striker Kevin Van Veen, who missed the trip to Ibrox with a bruised foot, is still a concern for the St Johnstone match.

• Robinson is targeting six points from two the next home games - St Johnstone and Ross County at home - but says St Mirren have no right to expect to beat either side.

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Toyosi Olusanya is convinced St Mirren are ready to ignite their season after the battling performance at Ibrox boosted belief.

Despite the positive display against Rangers on Sunday, the 2-1 defeat leaves Stephen Robinson's side with only one win in 12 games in all competitions and sitting 10th in the table.

However, striker Olusanya said: "I think after a bad run of games, sometimes some people can get too down. You start to think you're not doing well or the squad's not what it is.

"We have to get back to doing what we do best and that is being hard to beat, being hard to break down and pressing with intensity and everything else will come through.

"In the second half of last season, there were a lot of important points to play for and I think we picked up quite a few of them.

"It's not been a great period for us but we know things can change. Maybe a result in the next couple of games takes us from where we are now to potentially the top six and we can just kick on from there."

Robinson noted his side's performance was a huge improvement on last week's 4-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.

"We all looked at ourselves [after Hearts] and know we didn't give our best, we didn't set our press and we didn't play our game," the 27-year-old added.

"Regardless of the result, we said we were going to go to Ibrox and play the way we play, press the way we press and show everyone we can give a reaction.

"There was a belief we could get something and even when we went 2-1 down, there were a few waves of attacks. It was important that there was a reaction and we showed we are a good team."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

After a strong performance from St Mirren, Stephen Robinson's side were narrowly beaten by Rangers at Ibrox and they have two players in my Team of the Week

Ellery Balcombe was on the losing side but looks to have real ability. Made several fine stops to keep his side in the game at Ibrox.

Alex Gogic is a player who appeared consistently in my Teams of the Week last season. He hasn’t featured quite as much this season as St Mirren’s performances overall have generally failed to hit the heights after their European exertions. But his towering header to score at Ibrox gave the Buddies real hope of taking something from the game.

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-1 loss to Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

William: This match was always a hard ask at Ibrox. Great effort from all of the team and would be unfair to suggest any failings. Special thanks to our keeper for keeping us in the game when we could've taken something from it. More performances like this will definitely push us up the table.

Alistair: There are a lot of positives to take from this game, we looked more like our team from last season and had some chances to score more. We need to start winning in the next two games to bring back the feel-good.

Anon: This was more like you Saints, a big improvement which deserved more than you got. Don't let your performance drop and things will get better.