McInnes dismisses over the top Van Veen offer talk - gossippublished at 09:14 3 February
09:14 3 February
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes dismisses the notion his club beat St Mirren to striker Kevin van Veen's signature with an over the top financial offer. (Herald - subscription required), external
Baccus starts as Australia exit Asian Cuppublished at 19:30 2 February
19:30 2 February
St Mirren midfielder Keanu Baccus started for Australia as they were knocked out of the Asian Cup in the quarter-finals by South Korea.
Australia took the lead in the first half when Nathaniel Atkinson's cross was volleyed home by Craig Goodwin.
However, Hwang Hee-chan scored from the spot in second-half injury time to send the match to extra-time, before Son Heung-min scored a delightful free-kick to send Jurgen Klinsmann's side through.
Nahmani returns to Maccabi Haifapublished at 13:40 2 February
13:40 2 February
St Mirren have confirmed that Stav Nahmani's loan spell at the club has been cut short and the striker has returned to his parent club Maccabi Haifa.
Nahmani signed in the summer and would go on to make 13 appearances for the Paisley side, scoring three times.
St Mirren squad stronger than ever - Robinsonpublished at 13:14 2 February
13:14 2 February
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson believes his squad is "as strong as it's ever been", despite missing out on Kevin van Veen to Kilmarnock on deadline day.
Robinson confirmed his interest in the Dutch striker, who has signed for Killie on loan until the end of the season, but says the loan arrivals of Kwon Hyeok-kyu, James Scott and Jaden Brown in January make the Paisley side stronger.
“I think everybody in Scotland was looking at Kevin," Robinson said. "When he became available it is something that you have to look at as a club but nothing came of it. It was a lead we followed at the last minute.
“Kevin is a player who has done very well in Scottish football so everybody in the league would be interested in him in some form or another but it wasn’t to be.
“We were quite happy with the business we had already done so it was a case of seeing if there was anything that could improve us but nothing came to fruition so we turned our phones off nice and early. I was in bed for 10 o’clock.
“I’m really happy with the signings we made and we have a really strong squad.
“For the resources we have at the club, I believe our squad is as strong as it’s ever been at St Mirren.
“You have to live within your means and we do it diligently. Of course you try to stretch your resources as far as you can to be successful but I am very happy with what we have got.
“There’s no doubt players like Kevin van Veen have done really well in Scottish football before but it is up to us to step up now with the squad that we are very confident in.”
Motherwell want new Spittal deal - gossippublished at 08:15 2 February
08:15 2 February
Motherwell are keen to secure midfielder Blair Spittal, 28, on a new contract to fend off interest from Scottish Premiership rivals amid reported interest from St Mirren. (Herald - subscription required), external
'Break the bank for Van Veen' published at 14:31 1 February
14:31 1 February
We asked what you would like to see happen on deadline day in Paisley. Here's what some of you had to say...
Bradley: We need Kevin van Veen - they have to break the bank. This season is slipping away and we need a goalscorer.
John: We badly need a goalscorer.
'Buddies squad looks healthy with depth all over the park'published at 12:16 1 February
12:16 1 February
David Currie, BBC Sport Scotland
It’s 9:40am on 1 February as I sit down to write this. Transfer deadline day. Deadloan day more like (a terrible pun, but you know what I mean).
St Mirren have actually only signed two straight loan deals this window – midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu from Celtic and left-back Jaden Brown from Lincoln City.
James Scott is on loan from Exeter City but will sign a long-term deal at the end of the season, while Elvis Bwomono was a free agent before he signed in December.
Four new arrivals is possibly more than most supporters expected, and Stephen Robinson says the squad is stronger now than before the window opened, but is it strong enough for a top-six finish, or to earn a European place?
Sorry but I’m not going to answer my own question. As Paul Gascoigne once supposedly said: "I don’t make predictions and I never will".
What I will venture is this. With Keanu Baccus coming back from international duty later this month and Ryan Strain, all being well, back from injury in the spring, the squad looks healthy with competition for places all over the park.
Unless of course a deadline day bid comes in for one of this season’s standout players, or Aberdeen are tempted to try and lure the manager to Pittodrie.
If that vacancy had arisen at the end of September when the Paisley Saints were seven matches unbeaten in the Premiership, there would be serious grounds for concern. As it is, there’s maybe just ‘grounds for concern'.
I’ve just done a quick survey of the odds for the next Aberdeen boss, and Stephen Robinson is on every list as you’d expect, with one bookmakers offering odds as short as 4/1.
I’m trying to convince myself that’s down to a couple of gamblers with more money than sense taking a punt on Robinson.
But hey it’s 11:15 now and Stephen Robinson is still the manager, so that’s something. But my nagging anxiety will linger until the Dons make an appointment.
Hibs v St Mirren: Pick of the statspublished at 09:37 1 February
09:37 1 February
St. Mirren have won two of their last four top-flight away games against Hibernian (L2), as many as their previous 17 beforehand (W2 D6 L9).
Hibernian are winless in their last five league matches, losing three of those games (D2) while failing to score in all three defeats.
St. Mirren put an end to a six-match losing streak away from home in the Scottish Premiership in their last such outing with a 3-0 win against Aberdeen. The Buddies are looking to win back-to-back league matches on the road for the first time since February 2022 – when the second win was at Hibernian.
Hibernian’s Élie Youan has attempted a league-high 62 take-ons following a carry (moving 5+ metres with the ball) in the Scottish Premiership this season, while the Frenchman has also had 20 shots following a carry in the division this term, a figure only Danny Armstrong (22) tops.
What do you want to see from St Mirren on deadline day?published at 21:13 31 January
21:13 31 January
St Mirren fans, what positions do you think need to be targeted before the January transfer window slams shut on Thursday, and how many incomings would you like to see?
Also, how would you rate the business done to this point?
A lapse in concentration aside, St Mirren held Rangers largely at arm's length on a blustery Saturday lunchtime and should have made more of their own chances.
Philippe Clement described the conditions and surface as a "pity for football", though the same conditions and surface failed to stop the Saints from registering the same number of shots on target from close to half the possession of their Govan neighbours.
With a potential England keeper in fine form between the sticks and millions of pounds worth of talent to call on, the Rangers gaffer might be better served focusing on shooting drills than weather reports.
The Buddies can certainly be proud of aspects of their performance, though the culture building in Paisley in recent seasons is not content to settle for hard luck stories and plaudits. Points are the point, so to speak, and it'll be next Saturday that matters most now.
New signing James Scott joins Mark O'Hara, Jonah Ayunga and Charles Dunne as options for Stephen Robinson to call upon that he has worked with at previous clubs.
Setting the Lanarkshire heather alight as a teenager, Scott moved to Hull City for a seven-figure fee in early 2020. By way of a loan spell to Hibs and a year with Exeter City, the still-young striker returns to his home league with a point to prove at a critical stage in his career.
Understandably, Robinson feels that his prodigy is something of a coup to pick up on a loan which will turn permanent in the summer. If there is a leader who can recapture that lightning in a bottle for a second time, Scott would appear to believe it's his former manager.
The Saints' January transfer business would appear to come to a close with the further addition of Jaden Brown, a Spurs product - like his new manager - and much-needed cover for Scott Tanser on the left flank.
Reportedly sold on a switch to Paisley by Lincoln teammate and former Buddie Ethan Erhahon, Brown arrives in Scotland with the aim of playing more games. However, he'll need to unseat Tanser in order to do so, and that should be no easy task.
I say 'would appear to come to a close'... I'll still be up at midnight on deadline day, nae danger.
Highlights: St Mirren 0-1 Rangerspublished at 18:19 28 January
18:19 28 January
Baccus helps Australia progress to Asian Cup quarter-finalspublished at 13:44 28 January
13:44 28 January
Keanu Baccus made his fourth Asian Cup appearance as he helped Australia dispatch Indonesia to progress to the quarter-finals.
Starting his third game of the tournament so far, he picked up his 16th cap in the process and played 87 minutes in the last 16 game.
Saints need to be more clinical, says Gogicpublished at 10:41 28 January
10:41 28 January
Martin Dowden, BBC Sport Scotland
Defender Alex Gogic has called for St Mirren “to do what we did in the beginning of the season” in the next few games as they look to retain their top-six place.
After pushing Rangers close at home in Saturday's 1-0 defeat, Stephen Robinson's men visit Hibs next weekend then host Dundee four days later.
“These games are vital, the next couple of games,” Gogic told BBC Scotland.
“It’s too many times we play good against Rangers and we don’t get anything. Just a ‘well done’ which feels worse.
“We’ve got to take our chances more. I had a great chance, (John) Souttar did amazing to block it. We hit the post. We’ve just got to be more clinical and keeping a clean sheet will always help."
Gogic believes the squad is in good shape for the final months of the season with new additions bolstering Robinson’s options.
“The gaffer has done a great job recruiting great players from the beginning of the season and now as well, just topping it up,” said the Cyprus international.
“It’s healthy competition for us as players and Iwe’ve just got to kick on and keep going. It’s a great group, the best I’ve been in."
Manager Robinson confirmed there will be no more signings with a departure more likely.
St Mirren 0-1 Rangers: Have your saypublished at 15:49 27 January
15:49 27 January
Were you at the SMiSA Stadium on Saturday or following the match elsewhere?
Either way, want your views on the game – have your say here.
St Mirren 0-1 Rangers: What Robinson saidpublished at 15:45 27 January
15:45 27 January
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: “Overriding emotion is frustration. I can’t ask much more in terms of application. We showed good quality when we won the ball, we didn’t panic.
“Ultimately a super goal beat us. We still had the belief to keep going. I don’t take pleasure from losing games but I take positives from the performance.”
Robinson added St Mirren currently “haven’t got any more resources” to add to their squad in the final week of the transfer window.
St Mirren 0-1 Rangers: Who impressed?published at 15:42 27 January
15:42 27 January
St Mirren 0-1 Rangers: Analysispublished at 15:35 27 January
15:35 27 January
Nick McPheat, BBC Scotland
Far from vintage from Rangers - just two shots on target, both of which came in the first half.
But three wins from three games on the road in the space of a week will be the big takeaway for Philippe Clement, whose side are turning up the heat on their city rivals.
The manager's decision to stick with John Souttar over Leon Balogun after the return of the suspended Connor Goldson paid off, with the Scotland defender delivering a flawless performance.
But the Belgian will surely want to be reinforced at the other end by the time the transfer window shuts next week. Despite Cyriel Dessers' upturn in form, full-back Dujon Sterling starting on the left of his attack stresses the lack of options Clement has.
On another day, this could have been a point for St Mirren, who look to have the makings of a strong midfield pairing in captain Mark O'Hara and January signing Kwon Hyeok-kyu.
A lack of ruthlessness means the Paisley side have now only won four league games in four months. However, they still remain in the hunt for a European place despite a sketchy run of form.
O'Hara returns for St Mirrenpublished at 11:47 27 January
11:47 27 January
St Mirren are boosted by the return of Mark O'Hara and the captain is one of two changes following last weekend's cup win over Queen of the South.
Lewis Jamieson also comes in and replaces Conor McMenamin, whose knee injury will keep him out for a few weeks, while Caolan Boyd-Munce drops to the bench.
New signings James Scott and Jaden Brown are on the bench.
Team news: St Mirren v Rangerspublished at 20:18 26 January
20:18 26 January
St Mirren could hand debuts to new signings Jaden Brown and James Scott but injured duo Conor McMenamin and Ryan Strain are out and Keanu Baccus is on international duty with Australia. James Bolton and Greg Kiltie are doubts with knocks.
Rangers defender Connor Goldson returns from suspension. New midfield signing Mohamed Diomande is awaiting a work permit. The Ibrox side remain without Danilo, Ben Davies, Kieran Dowell, Kemar Roofe and Abdallah Sima while Alex Lowry is added to that list after returning from his loan spell at Heart of Midlothian injured.
Did you know? St Mirren have not scored against Rangers in three meetings but did hold the Ibrox side to a draw in one of last term's encounters.