St Mirren

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St Mirren have sealed a first European qualification in 37 years after Dundee lost 5-2 against Rangers.

Dundee needed victory at Ibrox to maintain hopes of leapfrogging the Paisley side into fifth place.

The visitors took a shock 2-0 lead in the first half through goals from defenders Jordan McGhee and Antonio Portales.

However, Rangers hit back strongly to ensure St Mirren have achieved their goal ahead of their penultimate game against Hearts on Wednesday.

St Mirren will enter Europa Conference League qualifying at the second round stage.

The draw will take place on 19 June, with the games to be played on 25 July and 1 August.

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St Mirren are missing Jonah Ayunga (knee) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (hamstring) for the rest of the season.

Hearts will be without Jorge Grant through illness and Stephen Kingsley due to a nerve issue in his leg, while Calem Nieuwenhof, Liam Boyce (both hamstring), Craig Halkett and Peter Haring (both knee) all remain sidelined.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson insists he isn't "relying" on any favours from elsewhere as the Buddies look to secure a European place.

Dundee are away to Ibrox on Tuesday, and anything other than a win for Tony Docherty's side would guarantee St Mirren a fifth-place league finish.

Despite that, Robinson says he is only thinking about Wednesday's clash with Hearts in Paisley.

“We have to concentrate on ourselves," the Northern Irishman said. "We can’t rely on anyone else and, if it does happen through that, we want to go out on a nice high in the last home game of the season.

“We want to end the season on a high, we want to win the game, no matter what happens.

“We confirmed top six the season before with someone else’s result and I think it was the same this year.

“Football is judged over a season and we deserve to be where we are, we have proved that over the last two seasons.

“In the ideal world you want to finish it yourself but no matter what, we will be celebrating a very successful season which is probably beyond everyone’s dreams two years ago – that we would be a top six team for two seasons in a row.”

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Striding out on to the pitch at a sold-out SMISA Stadium on Saturday, children in hand, Alex Gogic received the kind of reception reserved for those with an exceptional bond with supporters.

The ever-popular Cypriot signed a three-year contract extension last week, committing himself to the Saints in a long-term fashion not often seen in recent years.

Waiting for Gogic in the packed stands in Paisley was a painted banner, displaying the image of the centre-half which has come to define his outstanding season.

Stitched up and bandaged after clashing with Bevis Mugabi, Gogic strived to stay on the Motherwell pitch and see out a vital three points and clean sheet. Fists raised and yelling his trademark "Idemo!", that grit is a perfect reflection of both the Cypriot and this current Saints squad.

It's no surprise that this level of devotion to the cause inspires admiration from the stands, and the confirmation he will remain in black and white beyond the summer has provided a welcome boost as European qualification is chased down in the final couple of fixtures.

Unfortunately, this feelgood factor in PA3 didn't extend through to a result versus regular Saints bogey-team custodian Derek McInnes.

Despite the hosts dictating play for long passages and peppering Will Dennis' goalmouth and woodwork with shots, Killie took their gift-wrapped chance and held on to their clean sheet to cement fourth place.

The scenes in the away end after the final whistle, painful as they were to watch in our own patch, rewarded a side who have been good value for fourth this season and now have a minimum of two European ties confirmed after the summer.

The watching Saints club captain, manager and newly-contracted Gogic will have had a taste of that next level to strive for and know the fine margins that could bring that about next season.

Idemo!

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

St Mirren will finish fifth, and bag the final European spot, if they beat Hearts on Wednesday night.

Should Stephen Robinson make any changes to his side that started the 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your starting XI here.

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock beat St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

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St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara wants to experience the high of securing European football after watching Kilmarnock's jubilant celebrations on Saturday.

Killie secured their place in the Europa League second qualifying round with a 1-0 win in Paisley on Saturday, and ended the Buddies' hopes of a fourth-place finish.

Stephen Robinson's side are still on course for fifth and Europa Conference League qualification though, and O'Hara is determined to finish the job against Hearts on Wednesday.

"The good thing is we’ve got another chance on Wednesday to put things right," said the 28-year-old.

"We want that feeling Wednesday night that Kilmarnock had; watching those celebrations is something we want."

O'Hara says Kilmarnock's game management is something they can take lessons from as St Mirren prepare for their final two games of the season.

"It's about what we can learn from how Kilmarnock defend and how they saw out the game," he said.

"I think if we get ourselves in front Wednesday night, we can hopefully put things right."

We asked for your thoughts after St Mirren lost 1-0 to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what you had to say:

Alistair: Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to a team who were better. We made some good chances but never looked that threatening, hopefully we can make a fist of the next game against Hearts.

William: I certainly hear and agree with Robinson's comments about Kilmarnock being a very good side, but let's reflect on Scott Tanser and Toyosi Olusanya's magnificent efforts which could have taken this match away from Kilmarnock. We were really unlucky not to have taken something. A performance to be proud of.

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• Kilmarnock have kept a clean sheet in 14 of their 36 games, only Rangers (18) and Hearts (16) have done this more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Toyosi Olusanya attempted five shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a St Mirren player in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Kyle Vassell has scored nine goals this season (one in this game), no Kilmarnock player has more in the Scottish Premiership.

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson expects to switch up his starting XI for Wednesday's visit of Hearts, when Europa Conference League qualification could be confirmed. St Mirren lost 1-0 to Kilmarnock at a sold-out SMiSA Stadium on Saturday.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson accepts his team were "beaten by a very good, experienced side."

He added: "We lack a little bit of experience. And we’ve got beaten by a mistake for their goal. Credit to Kilmarnock, they’ve beaten us three times and know how to win games.

"We have not played at our maximum. Kilmarnock can grind it out – and I’m not being disrespectful because they play very good stuff as well – and that’s something we have to learn from.

"We had a right go at it and just couldn’t find a goal.

"We’ve massively achieved what we set out to do but we need to finish it off and get Europe. I need to freshen it up, it was a hot, hot day, to get legs and energy to go after Hearts."

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It was close contest before a sold-out and buzzing SMiSA Stadium, but St Mirren fell just short of Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Still, the Buddies are well on course for fifth place in the Scottish Premiership and Europa Conference League qualification.

St Mirren fans, how do you reflect on your team's performance? Let us know here.

Jamie Lyall
BBC Sport Scotland

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St Mirren’s home record is excellent, losing only to the four teams above them in the table, but their failure to transfer swathes of ball and territory into a killer play was their undoing.

Toyosi Olusanya stretched the game impressively and connected sweetly with his snapshots.

A few accurate set-piece deliveries had Kilmarnock scrambling second balls away, but Stephen Robinson’s troops could not carve out a glaring opportunity for attacking fulcrum Mikael Mandron.

St Mirren ended a poor recent run with victory at Dens Park last weekend, and Stephen Robinson sees no need to tinker with a winning formula, naming an unchanged starting XI.

Elvis Bwomono returns to the bench having overcome a knee complaint as the home side chase the victory which would preserve their hopes of usurping Kilmarnock in fourth place in the Scottish Premiership.

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St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Fraser, Strain, O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya, McMenamin, Mandron.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Dunne, Taylor, Brown, Bwomono, Mooney, Baccus, Jamieson, Scott.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Donnelly, Watson, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell (c).

Substitutes: O'Hara, McKenzie, Murray, Cameron, Davies, Stewart, Polworth, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.

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Elvis Bwomono is available again for St Mirren after recovering from a knee complaint. Ryan Strain was sent home ill earlier in the week and will be assessed as will Greg Kiltie while Scott Tanser is struggling with a calf strain. Jonah Ayunga (knee) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (hamstring) are out for the season.

Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury picked up at Ibrox last weekend. Greg Stewart has returned to training this week after his hernia operation and is in contention while James Balagizi could return from a knee issue. Kyle Magennis (hamstring) remains out long term while Joe Wright is suspended.

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St Mirren have taken up an option to extend Elvis Bwomono's contract, keeping the Ugandan defender at the club until the summer of 2025.

The 25-year-old originally signed on a short-term deal in December of last year and has made 13 appearances to date.

"I believe Elvis will get better and better," manager Stephen Robinson said.

"He's still young, a Ugandan international as well, and we're looking forward to developing him next season. I'm delighted he's signed the extension.

"Elvis has been part of some very good results when he first came in. He's had a little bit of an illness and a niggle as well, while Ryan Strain has come back into the team but it's great to have that competition. It's also another bit of solidity for next season."

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Stephen Robinson says St Mirren fans can "dream" of a European adventure, but insists there's still work to do for his side.

Victory over fourth-placed Kilmarnock on Saturday, coupled with Dundee failing to win at Tynecastle, would secure the Buddies a first trip to the continent in 37 years.

But Robinson is making clear they still have to cross the line despite a comfortable gap to Dundee in sixth.

“It was important last week that we got a win to get a little bit of distance between us and Dundee,” the manager said.

"But it is certainly not over. I will reiterate that. There is still a lot to play for, nine points.

“Nothing was decided on the game last week so it is important we pick up points on Saturday. We haven’t got enough points to be in Europe yet.

“That is for fans to dream of, for everyone to get excited about, here within the dressing room, as soon as Monday came we had points to gain to confirm that position."

Kilmarnock travel to Paisley knowing avoiding defeat will all but seal their spot in fourth, with Robinson expecting an rowdy crowd.

"These are the games you enjoy," he said. "We will have a full house in the stadium. It is meant to be a sunny day as well so there will be a carnival atmosphere.

“Derek McInnes has done a fantastic job, he deserves every bit of credit. They have been fantastic. They are a difficult team to play against.

“I thought Derek recruited well at the start of the season and so it has been proved, but we aim to get three points to push them all the way.”

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• St Mirren remain without a win in their last seven league meetings with Kilmarnock (D4 L3) since a 2-0 victory in February 2021.

• Kilmarnock have won their last two league visits to St Mirren and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three (W2 D1).

• St Mirren have lost five of their last eight home league games (W3), as many as their previous 27 beforehand (W14 D8 L5). All five of those defeats have been against the four sides currently above the Buddies in the table (2 v Rangers, 1 v Kilmarnock, Celtic, Hearts).

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last 15 Scottish Premiership matches against sides other than the Old Firm, winning eight and drawing seven since losing 1-0 to Hearts in December. This is the longest unbeaten run against non-Old Firm sides by a non-Old Firm club in the top flight since Aberdeen went 22 without defeat from October 2014 to April 2015.

• Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes has only lost one of his 31 top-flight matches as a manager against St Mirren (W14 D16), a 1-0 defeat with Aberdeen in August 2019.

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Stephen Robinson says he still has "hope" of retaining some of St Mirren's out-of-contract players ahead of next season.

The Paisley club extended the deal of defender Alex Gogic earlier this week, but talents such as Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus could still leave for free in the summer.

With his side on the cusp of European football, Robinson admits he is looking at back-up plans in terms of recruitment.

"The English season's only just finished, the play-offs are ongoing at the moment," he said.

"We're speaking to numerous people. We're still speaking to people within the football club.

"We haven't given up hope of people who are out of contract, but at this stage, there's only a certain amount you can go to.

"You have to have a plan B, C, D, E, F that goes all the way down. We're doing that, a lot of credit has to go to my head of recruitment, Martin Foy. He's pulling rabbits out the hat.

"We've got plenty of things ongoing, some that hopefully will be sooner rather than later, but I'm wary of saying that because I've said before and people have let me down."

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's crucial clash with Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• Admits there was "competition" for the signature of Alex Gogic, but he was always "quietly confident" of retaining the Cypriot, who this week signed a three-year contract extension.

• Believes Gogic will have a "big part to play" in the club's future and his fitness levels justify the length of the deal despite being 30.

• Hasn't "given up hope" of keeping other out-of-contract players, but says there's "only so far you can go".

• Expects a "carnival atmosphere" against Killie and says his side will relish a big game in their quest for European qualification.

• Praises recent performances but was glad to get the result to back it up at Dens Park, though insists Dundee aren't out the race yet.

• Ryan Strain was sent home from training with a knock and will be assessed, while Greg Kiltie and Scott Tanser have sat out this week. Kwon Hyeok-kyu and Jonah Ayunga are out for the season, though Elvis Bwomono is back in contention.