St Mirren

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

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.

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• Václav Černý has scored 4 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Rangers player.

• St. Mirren have lost their last 4 games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 19th March 2022 to 23rd April 2022.

• Ellery Balcombe has made 5 saves, the first time he has made at least 5 saves in a match in the Premiership since facing Celtic on 25th August 2024 (5 saves).

Were you at Ibrox on Sunday or following the game from home? Either way we want your views on St Mirren's narrow defeat to Rangers.

Have your say on the performance here, external.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "We should have done [got a result]. The performance was terrific.

"We asked for a reaction, we said to them don't worry about the result just give us a performance and they gave that.

"If they perform like that in the next two games we'll be ok.

"Sometimes you need to reset, we started the season well had the European adventure and people believed they were a little bit better than what they were and didn't do the simple things but we got back to that [on Sunday].

"I don't think even Rangers fans can deny we deserved something from the game.

"Tough times don't last, tough people do and the lads proved that on Sunday."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Although St Mirren did not take any points, after the 4-0 defeat by Hearts last weekend the Ibrox performance was exactly what Robinson will have been looking for.

There was some solid defending at one end, impressive attacking at the other and on a different day some of the more glaring chances would have found the net.

Toyosi Olusanya put in an immense shift and Alex Gogic's goal proved what a threat St Mirren can be from set pieces.

But, in Simo Valakari's rejuvenated St Johnstone, St Mirren face a tricky task to arrest a three-match losing run on Wednesday evening.

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Toyosi Olusanya put in a really impressive performance on Sunday. He missed a great chance in the first half and was denied by the offside flag in the second. On a different day things maybe go in his favour.

Philippe Clement makes four changes to the team that started Thursday night's 4-0 win over FCSB.

James Tavernier drops to the bench while John Souttar drops out of the squad completely. Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Robin Propper are in from the start.

In midfield, Mohamed Diomande replaces Tom Lawrence and up front Cyriel Dessers is benched in favour of Hamza Igamane.

Stephen Robinson makes four changes to the side that started the 4-0 defeat to Hearts last weekend.

Oisin Smyth drops to the bench while Kevin Van Veen misses out completely.

James Scott and Elvis Bwomono are in for only their second starts of the season.

Forward Conor McMenamin is back on the bench after recovering from a knee injury, as is midfielder Dennis Adeniran after missing out last week with an illness.

• Follow live coverage of Sunday's SPFL action.

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• Rangers have won 22 of their last 24 league meetings with St Mirren (D2), including each of their last six in a row. Their last league defeat to the Buddies came in December 2011 (2-1).

• In all competitions, St Mirren have lost 22 of their last 24 away games at Rangers (D2) since a 1-0 victory in November 1991 under David Hay. They have lost their last 13 such trips in a row, failing to score in 10 of their last 11.

• Rangers have won 17 of their last 19 home league games (D1 L1), including each of their last six in a row. Indeed, of their 16 points in the Scottish Premiership this season, 12 have come at Ibrox (75%).

• St Mirren have lost each of their last three league games, last losing four in a row in April 2022.

• Although only Celtic (20.1) have a higher expected goals total in the Scottish Premiership this season than Rangers (13.8), Philippe Clement's side have underperformed their xG the most of any side in the division this term (-1.8, scoring 12 goals from 13.8 xG).

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Rangers attackers Tom Lawrence (knee) and Cyriel Dessers (eye) will be assessed after picking up injuries in midweek.

Ianis Hagi serves the second of a two-game ban while Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo remain out.

Conor McMenamin is back in contention for St Mirren after recovering from a knee injury. Dennis Adeniran is struggling with illness.

Richard Taylor remains out after hernia surgery and Alex Iacovitti (tendon) is out long term.

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Stephen Robinson insists St Mirren have ‘reset’ after their 4-0 defeat to Hearts as they prepare to face Rangers on Sunday.

The heavy defeat leaves the Paisley side with just one win in 11 games as they prepare to take on a Rangers fired up by their Europa League victory in midweek.

But Robinson – who signed a new contract extending his stay at the club to 2027 this week – believes his side are ready to put their recent form behind them.

“We had a performance that we didn’t like last week as a group,” he admitted.

“We’ve spoken about it, we’ve reset and we will get a better performance. The result will take care of itself, but we will get a lot better performance.

“Big success for St Mirren is top six and Europe. And suddenly you believe that you’re maybe a good team for different reasons.

“We’ve reset that. We’re a good team when we work hard, when we’re organised, when we press people, when we win second balls, and then the good football comes through.

“So we’ve reset our thinking, reset the reasons why we’ve been good over the last three seasons, and we aim to make sure that our performance is looking like we’re a team on Sunday.”

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Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence and striker Cyriel Dessers will be assessed after picking up injuries in midweek.

Midfielder Ianis Hagi serves the second of a two-game ban, while wingers Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo remain out.

Forward Conor McMenamin is back in contention for St Mirren after recovering from a knee injury, but midfielder Dennis Adeniran is struggling with illness.

Richard Taylor is still recovering after hernia surgery and Alex Iacovitti is out long term.

Image source, SNS

Alex Gogic aims to utilise his experience to help steer St Mirren back to form.

Following the "unacceptable" 4-0 defeat at Hearts, the Buddies have one win in 11 games in all competitions and are away to Rangers on Sunday.

Cyprus international Gogic, 30, said: "Now that I am one of the older boys you have to try to guide the young players and motivate them.

"Sometimes they haven't been in this position or played at Ibrox with pressure, or have had a bad game.

"When I was younger the older boys helped me and now it is my time and responsibility to help them.

"No one was happy with the performance on Saturday. It happens, it is one of those games in football sometimes, you can learn from the mistakes and get better because it was unacceptable.

"It is never easy going to Ibrox. At the same time, it is one of the games that if you do get a result it is a big one.

"We can't be anywhere near where we were last Saturday because that will get us an even bigger scoreline."

Gogic is "buzzing" that the club have secured manager Stephen Robinson on a new contract for the next three years.

"He deserves it, I'll be here until 2027, so I'm happy we'll be together," he said.

"You can see from the past what he's done and he's a perfectionist, in a good way and he always demands the best of us and makes the players better."

We asked for your views on manager Stephen Robinson signing a new contract at St Mirren until summer 2027.

Here's what some of you said:

Huey: I'm happy Stephen has signed. The last four games notwithstanding, he's brought renewed energy and vision to St Mirren. We talk about players "giving it everything" on the park, but Stephen also does that from the sidelines! The last manager that galvanised the fans, increased attendances and made us hard to beat was a certain Alex Ferguson.

Ian: Stephen deserves it considering what he has to operate under. It's down to the players to be more professional and mentally strong.

Andy: Robinson has taken the club to a new level and has instilled a belief that we can continue to progress. I am very happy the club has recognised this by offering him a new extended contract. I am positive that he will bring continued success to the club.

Douglas: Robinson signing a contract to 2027 is great news for the club. It shows a sign of ambition and continuity keeping a manager of the calibre of Robinson. He has worked wonders in his two-and-a-half years in Paisley and obviously he sees the vision of the club going forward. A brilliant piece of business by the board.

Anon: Robinson is a super manager who worked wonders at Motherwell on a shoestring budget. He has shown his qualities at St Mirren and will move on yet again to a bigger club in future.

Jim: The manager deserves a new contract based on his last two seasons. What should now be a priority is an established playmaker in midfield and two quality strikers. Where he gets the finances is another question, but he has players in the squad who just haven't stepped up when asked. Time to offload the excess baggage.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson is relishing the challenge of "massively" heightened expectations as he aims to continue the club's "upward trajectory" in the next three years.

Robinson has committed his future in Paisley to summer 2027 after leading the club to sixth and fifth - St Mirren's highest finishes in almost four decades - in his two full seasons in charge, as well as ending their 37-year wait for European football.

"It’s been an upward trajectory at the football club, we hadn't been in the top six for a long time, 37 or 38 years, and hadn't been in Europe for a long time as well," said the 49-year-old Northern Irishman.

"So that is something people have been accustomed to and expectation has risen massively.

"I've said previously that if we can be a top-six side once in every four and five years that's real success. Obviously as a manager I want more than that and I want it every single year.

"But there are always periods where clubs like ourselves are rebuilding, there will be young boys put in to develop, and it goes around in swings and roundabouts where that success comes.

"But we have to try and and make that more often, we have to try and sustain that relative success and continue to build the football club for years to come.

"I'm only here for a short period of time in the grand scheme of things and you have to try and leave things in a really good place for the people that matter most and that's the fans."

St Mirren, having balanced domestic and European football early in the season, are currently eighth in the table after three success Premiership defeats.

"Our results haven’t been good enough if recent weeks, some of the performances have been good," Robinson added.

"Saturday was poor [4-0 defeat at Hearts]. But it's a longer-term approach, it's stability for the football club and I'm grateful for the support the board has given me because they believe in what we are doing.

"I think we have proved that over a period of time that longevity and stability will take the club forward and keep progressing."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Stephen Robinson, whose St Mirren side visit Rangers on Sunday, has been speaking to the media after signing a new contract until summer 2027.

Here are the key lines from the press conference:

• Signing the new contract was a "very easy decision". Robinson been talking to the club for a long time about it and says it was always going to happen.

• He cites "longevity and stability" as the key to taking St Mirren forward.

• A top-six finish every four or five years is "real success" for the club but he wants it every season.

• Results haven't been good enough in the past four or six weeks.

• St Mirren have "reset our thinking" after last weekend's 4-0 defeat by Hearts.

• Robinson adds: "The marker is down now, you have to run to be in this team, you have to press to be in this team, everything else I will forgive."

• Rangers always a tough match but Robinson is focusing on St Mirren and getting a reaction from his players after the Hearts defeat.

St Mirren fans, are you pleased with manager Stephen Robinson new contract?

Having achieved back-to-back top-six finishes in the Scottish Premiership under the Northern Irishman, do you think the club can continue to improve under his guidance?

Have your say here, external.