St Mirren

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren's Europa Conference League tie against Valur is the culmination of everyone at the club's hard work, says chief operating officer Keith Lasley.

The second qualifying round first leg in Iceland will be the Paisley side's first European tie since 1987.

"I think excitement, I think that's the obvious word to use," Lasley told BBC Scotland.

"It's been a long time coming but a lot of hard work last year for the club, for the playing staff, the players and everybody at the club and obviously this is the culmination of that hard work, so we hope it's not just this game, we want to try and progress."

Despite a limited allocation, Lasley reckons the St Mirren faithful have travelled in good numbers to the Icelandic capital.

"A couple of hundred tickets and you see from the stadium itself, it's not the biggest obviously, so it was a challenge, tickets, because there was a lot of demand as you can imagine, given the time scale of the last time the club was involved," he added.

"So the appetite's been there. There's some lucky ones that have managed to get tickets and I think there's some travelled as well that maybe don't have tickets.

"But, listen, there's just a real enthusiasm around about the club and Paisley and I think there is a real buzz. We expect to be a really strong and vocal travelling contingent and I'm sure they'll back the players to the hilt."

Mark Atkinson, sports editor for The Scotsman, reckons St Mirren must be wary of facing a side who already have plenty of competitive football under their belt this season.

"I think the difficulty for St Mirren tonight will be that they're coming up against a team that's 14 games into their current season," he said.

"That's always a difficulty for Scottish clubs in these draws when you come up against Scandinavian opposition that they have the match fitness.

"If you look at the two squads on paper and you look at the competitiveness of the Icelandic league, you would expect the Scottish team to come through.

"Valur have got one standout name in Gilffy Sigurdsson, a former Iceland internationalist, who played in the Premier League in England for Swansea and notably Everton. So obviously some stardust in that midfield.

"So they're up against a decent team. There's no question about that. But St Mirren under Stephen Robinson have been a decent team themselves.

"They played some really good football over the past two seasons and deservedly got the European place in the last campaign.

"And they'll go there with the confidence of keeping the tie alive and bringing back to Paisley next week. That's got to be the ambition."

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The draw for the last 16 of the Scottish League Cup will take place on Sunday.

It will be broadcast live on Premier Sports following their coverage of Motherwell v Partick Thistle at Fir Park, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The top-flight's five European representatives - holders Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren - will enter the draw and will also be seeded, along with the three best group winners.

All last-16 ties are scheduled to played on the weekend of 17/18 August.

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St Mirren are aiming to scribe a new chapter in their "big storyline" of "proving people wrong" in their upcoming European journey, says captain Mark O'Hara.

The Paisley side travel to Iceland to face Valur on Thursday in the first leg of their Conference League second-round qualifier.

O'Hara says the squad are "under no illusions" about how tough a test they face, but the midfielder says the team are also "relishing the opportunity".

"From outside of these doors a lot of people probably doubt," the Buddies captain added.

"But a big storyline since I've come through the doors here is that we love proving people wrong. It’s a real chance for us to put ourselves on the map as a team.

"The excitement of the fans, staff, everyone about the club, this is where we want to be."

O'Hara has regrets about his previous experience in Europe. Recalling his time at Motherwell, he felt the squad lacked belief they could get a result abroad.

Buddies boss Stephen Robinson was the 28-year-old's manager at Fir Park then, but this time O'Hara says "it's been drilled into us that we can’t have any regrets".

"We need to be confident in ourselves," he adds. "We will have a game plan and a structure that the staff believe will work and we trust each other."

Mark O'Hara insists St Mirren want a run in the Europa League, not just one tie, as they prepare to meet Valur in the second qualifying round. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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St Mirren fans deserve "to milk" their upcoming European occasions after "battling through hard times," says manager Stephen Robinson.

The Paisley club have suffered relegations, as well as financial difficulty, during recent times but are now set for their first taste of continental football in 37 years.

The Buddies travel to Iceland to face Valur on Thursday in the second round of Conference League qualifying.

And Robinson is determined to make sure his side avoid adding to a list of early Scottish exits in Europe.

"For the fans it's fantastic, rightly so they're excited, we've waited a long time for this," the St Mirren boss says.

"We're aware we have to be in the game in the second leg to get the Paisley crowd behind us. It's a huge chance [for the club] to put themselves on the map.

"When you've battled through hard times, relegations and financial troubles, when you get these moments you have to milk it and enjoy it."

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Brann: Eirik Horneland's side were runners-up in Norway last season and currently sit second, six points behind Bodo/Glimt. Their squad includes Norway forward Bard Finne and former Manchester City youth goalkeeper Eirik Johansen.

Lost to AZ Alkmaar after a penalty shoot-out in the Conference League play-off round last year.

Go Ahead Eagles: Were ninth in the Eredivisie last season. Paul Simonis' squad has a mixture of Dutch players and foreign imports and includes former Liverpool youth and Lazio forward Bobby Adekanye.

This is their first European venture since losing in the Europa League first round to Ferencvaros in 2015.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media prior to his side's trip to Iceland to face Valur in Conference League qualifying.

Here are the key lines:

• Robinson says Thursday's trip is "fantastic" for the fans but adds that "it's a shame we will only have a certain amount with us".

• He feels the European fixtures are "a huge chance" for St Mirren "to put themselves on the map".

• Robinson will be using "no excuses" in relation to travel, weather and Valur being midway through their season.

• When asked about early exits for Scottish sides in Europe, he says "we have to make sure we're not one of those".

• Robinson says the fans have every right "to milk it" after "battling through bad times".

• He believes "there will be no surprises" from Valur but St Mirren will "face a real challenge".

• If St Mirren progress, Robinson says he will "certainly be asking for more" to be added to his transfer budget.

• The Buddies boss hopes Greg Kiltie and Conor McMenamin will return after the first international break of the season.

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St Mirren will face the winner of the match between Brann of Norway or Go Ahead Eagles of the Netherlands in the Conference League third qualifying round should they defeat Valur of Iceland.

If St Mirren were to win their third qualifying-round tie, they would face a play-off to reach the league phase, which replaces the group stage this season.

Stephen Robinson's St Mirren will be at home on 8 August against Brann or Go Ahead should they defeat Valur, with the away tie a week later.

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St Mirren's Europa Conference League qualifier against Icelandic side Valur should be "pretty comfortable" for the Paisley side, according to former club captain Marc McAusland.

Stephen Robinson's side travel to Reykjavik for the first leg on Thursday, before hosting the second leg on 1 August.

McAusland had two separate spells with St Mirren, but has played in Iceland since 2016. He says Valur possess "some good technical players", but expects the Buddies to progress to the competition's group stage.

"[Valur] are one of the top two clubs over here, and have the biggest budget by a long way," McAusland told BBC Radio Scotland.

"They have got a pretty strong squad. They play out from the back and have some good technical players.

"I'll be honest though, I'd be really disappointed if St Mirren don't get through the tie. They should be stronger, more powerful and I think it should be pretty comfortable for them."

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St Mirren and Carlisle United could not be separated in a lively friendly in Paisley.

Harrison Neal shot the English League Two side in front after combining with Charlie Wyke.

After the interval, Toyosi Olusanya levelled with a fine header from a Jaden Brown cross.

And, with 10 minutes remaining, James Scott nodded the home side in front.

However, the visitors replied soon after as Terell Thomas powered home a header from a corner.

St Mirren open their 2024-25 campaign next Thursday as they visit Valur in Iceland for the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualifier.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has revealed that he tried to sign Dennis Adeniran, the 25-year-old midfielder who has arrived from Hapoel Petah Tikva, five years ago for Motherwell. (The Herald), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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St Mirren will face Valur in the Europa Conference League second qualifying round.

The Icelandic side were held 2-2 at home by Vllaznia but romped to a 4-0 success in Albania.

Reykjavik-based Valur will host St Mirren on 25 July, with the return in Paisley on 1 August.

Valur are 14 games into their domestic season and sit second in the league.

Home tickets are already sold out for St Mirren's first European tie in 37 years, although there may be scope for additional room in the North Stand.

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Alex Iacovitti will "help drive standards" at St Mirren, says manager Stephen Robinson, after signing the defender on a two-year deal.

Saints have paid an undisclosed fee to bring the former Ross County centre-half back to Scottish football after a year with Port Vale.

The Scotland Under-21 cap spent three years in Dingwall from 2020, making 116 appearances, and featured 38 times for Port Vale last season as they were relegated from English League One.

"Alex comes with SPFL experience which is vital to us at the moment," said Robinson. "We're still a young squad with some new players that haven't played at this level, Alex has that experience.

"He's experienced and will help drive standards. We need more voices in the changing room and I think Alex will fit in very well."

Iacovitti says European football was a "massive attraction" in coming to St Mirren.

"I'm really excited. I know the league well and I just can't wait to get started now," he added.

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Expectations at St Mirren will rise this season after securing a place in Europe last term, believes ex-Buddies midfielder Stephen McGinn.

Stephen Robinson's side backed up a top-six finish in 2022-23 by ending last campaign in fifth, which confirmed a spot in Europa Conference League qualifying.

And McGinn feels the respect the Paisley club have now gained from that success could make the upcoming season a more challenging one.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he said: "In football you're held to your own standards. The expectation will be higher not just within the fanbase, but probably across the league.

"Aberdeen and Hibs, they will want to be in the top six. They'll totally respect St Mirren because how hard it is to beat them and how good a job Robinson has done.

"It will be harder in that sense. In terms of getting to the later stages of the cup, can they be a bit luckier with the draw? If you're given a tie, maybe from the lower leagues, don't disappoint."

European qualification is "a dream come true" for the St Mirren support, says Buddies fan and Pie and Bovril founder Div MacDonald.

Click here to listen to more on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

St Mirren are back in Europe for the first time in 37 years after finishing fifth in the Premiership last season.

How will the Buddies fare this time round?

Iona Ballantyne is joined by former captain Stephen McGinn and Pie and Bovril founder Div MacDonald to preview the campaign ahead.

Listen here.

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St Mirren played out a four-goal draw with Fleetwood Town as they continued their pre-season preparations.

The Buddies came from behind twice through a 25-yard Oisin Smyth free-kick and a Lewis Jamieson equaliser.

The English League Two visitors struck early when Ronan Coughlan got himself on the end of a cross before Junior Quitirna's header saw them regain the lead after Smyth's leveller.

St Mirren host Carlisle on Friday before beginning their European campaign on 25 July.

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St Mirren have signed midfielder Dennis Adeniran on a one-year contract following a successful trial period.

The 25-year-old came through the Fulham youth academy before spells with Everton, Wycombe Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday.

Adeniran was most recently contracted to Israeli side Hapoel Petah Tikva, and played 45 minutes for the Buddies during their recent friendly win over Greenock Morton.

"I'm over the moon to get the deal done," Adeniran said. "It's a good opportunity for me to come back to the UK and get started again.

"The attraction of European football and the way the gaffer wants to play, his aspirations for the season, it just fitted perfectly for what I need right now in my career.

"It's a good opportunity playing in a top division, playing against big teams and playing in Europe. It's a fantastic set up here and I'm enjoying it so far.

"I spoke to Jaden [Brown]. He had nothing but good things to say about the club and I went to school with Toyosi [Olusanya] as well so I know them, but all the lads have been brilliant.

"I'm a hard-working player. I like to have the ball at my feet, I'm dynamic and I like to chip in with a goal or two."