St Mirren

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BBC Scotland's Amy Canavan at SMISA Stadium

Jonah Ayunga left the SMISA Stadium with a big grin on his face following his player of the match performance against Ross County.

The towering striker would have left with the match ball on another day, but Ross Laidlaw in the County goal denied him numerous times in the first half.

However, his determination was rewarded when he netted the second goal which sealed the win for the Buddies, for their first victory in three games.

"Recently we have been playing well, but we've just not been getting that first goal and instead being hit on the counter at the end - against County and St Johnstone," Ayunga told BBC Scotland.

"To get to first one, we knew we would go on and win the game.

"The gaffer has made it very clear, it hasn't been bad, we've just not been getting the results. We stuck to what we know, being back at home too is always good and we've got the win so now we just need to kick on and carry on."

On his cool, calm and composed finish he added: "I think I had three or four efforts in the first half and I was just thinking, 'it's not going to be my day', it was just worldie save after worldie save.

"You forget how good that feeling is, it's just fantastic to have it back."

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We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-0 win over Ross County, here's what some of you said.

Alistair: We’re back! The guys who came in were great and totally refreshed the team.

Andrew: Fabulous performance and fabulous final full time score.

Jonah Ayunga attempted four shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a St Mirren player in the Scottish Premiership this season.

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Up to third in the league after a first win in four. Not a bad afternoon was it, Buddies?

We want to hear your thoughts on that big win.

Have your say here.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson told BBC Scotland: "It should have been a lot more comfortable. We created a lot of chances in the first half. How we went in at nil-nil, I am still not sure. It showed great character from the players.

"We could've started going long and panicking, but we didn't. We showed ownership and took control of the game. It's a testament to their character and how tough a group of boys they are.

"I'm delighted for Jonah Ayunga. He's been out for a long time, and is getting better and better. He's got a good partnership potentially with Stav (Nahmani). We'll tell him to keep doing it and keep doing the simple things well. He deserved his goal for all round quality and work rate.

"If you don't win football matches, people lose confidence. But I have been in football long enough now to know not to rip the script up. We don't panic."

BBC Scotland's Amy Canavan at SMiSA Stadium.

That was much more like it from St Mirren. Robinson highlighted pre-match that disappointing showing at County last Tuesday was not a St Mirren performance. This one was.

There was a speed and slickness about their business. And done so with an incredible amount of unity too. A real team was on show today in Paisley.

A lot of credit has to go Robinson's way, he spoke about not ripping up the blueprint and sticking to his guns. Today was a reward of just that. Staying calm and true to the game-plan that has served them so well under his leadership.

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Jonah Ayunga.

Third time lucky for the tireless striker. If he had left Paisley without a reward for his efforts, it would have been a crime. Here, there and everywhere. His strength and movement had County in turmoil.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson makes three changes from Wednesday's deflating defeat by St Johnstone.

There is a first start of the season for loanee Thierry Small, who replaces Ryan Flynn in the starting XI. Meanwhile, Richard Taylor and Stav Nahmani come in for Charles Dunne and Lewis Jamieson.

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St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Small, Boyd-Munce, O'Hara, Tanser, Kiltie, Nahmani, Ayunga

Substitutes: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Baccus, McMenamin, Olusanya, Jamieson, Greive, Mandron

Ross County: Laidlaw, Smith, Baldwin, Leak, Brown, Randall, Allardice, Purrington, Dhanda, White, Murray

Substitutes: Munro, Turner, Sims, Sheaf, Loturi, Harmon, Henderson, Samuel, Brophy

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St Mirren midfielder Ryan Flynn tore his hamstring against St Johnstone in midweek. Scott Tanser reported to training with no symptoms after going off following a head knock in Perth while Richard Taylor is back in training after recovering from an ankle niggle. Ryan Strain is out for three months following groin surgery.

County full-back Will Nightingale is suspended following his late red card against Motherwell. Former Saints pair Eamonn Brophy and Jay Henderson are likely to just miss out while Ross Callachan and Ben Paton are long-term absentees with knee injuries.

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Stephen Robinson insists the "spirit hasn't changed" at St Mirren, despite a slump in form.

After a formidable start to the season, the Buddies have lost three league games in a row and just one win from seven.

It means they have dropped from third to fourth in the Scottish Premiership table, one point behind Hearts.

"I am experienced enough in management now to know everything doesn't need to be thrown out when you go on a run like this," Robinson said.

"That is the biggest mistake I made before, to scrap everything, rip the script up and start again, that doesn't need to happen.

"It is about turning those small percentages around. It is up to me to get that back.

"We spoke about it (belief) after the Ross County game because that was our biggest disappointment. We didn't play.

"We have a plan at the football club that we stick to.

"We are trying to develop players, boys we bring in at 22, 23 and the boys from the academy and you have to stick to your plan otherwise you have to rip the whole script up and they start doubting you.

"I don't think we have done that in any shape or form. The players know they are small margins away from winning football matches again and the belief is massively there.

"Our home form has been fantastic and we have a group of players who haven't lost belief."

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Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media ahead of St Mirren's match against Ross County this weekend.

Here are his key lines:

• Robinson says the "spirit hasn't changed" in his side, despite a slump in form after their formidable start to the season.

• Says the "the biggest mistake" he made before in management was to "scrap everything, rip up the script and start again", and insists that does not need to happen.

• Points to "fantastic" home form ahead of this weekend's fixture at the SMiSA Stadium, having not lost at home since October 8 against Rangers.

• Ryan Flynn has torn his hamstring and Robinson says he is likely to be out for two or three weeks.

• Richard Taylor is back in training and Scott Tanser is fine after being taken off as "a precaution" during the week following a head knock.

Ross County manager Derek Adams is eager to further reduce the gap between themselves and fourth-placed St Mirren to three point when the sides meet in Saturday's Premiership meeting in Paisley. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

• St Mirren are unbeaten in six home games against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D2) since a 3-0 defeat in April 2015 under Gary Teale.

• After their 1-0 win in November, Ross County could pick up successive top-flight victories over St Mirren for the first time since August 2013.

• St Mirren have lost each of their last three league games, as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W6 D4 L3). The Buddies last lost four league games in a row in April 2022.

• Ross County have won two of their three league games since Derek Adams returned to the club (D1), as many as Malky Mackay’s final 15 such matches in charge (W2 D5 L8). The Staggies could win three successive Scottish Premiership games for the first time since March 2022 – when the third win was against St Mirren.

• 18 of Ross County’s last 21 league goals have been scored in the second half of games. Indeed, this season alone, 80% of their Scottish Premiership goals have come after half-time (12/15), with only Motherwell (84%) netting a higher such proportion.

St Mirren host Ross County on Saturday and Stephen Robinson will be hoping for a reaction from his players after their 1-0 defeat against St Johnstone made it three losses in a row.

Would you make any changes to the squad to ensure three points? Tell us here.

We asked for your views on St Mirren’s 1-0 defeat against St Johnstone, here’s what some of you said:

James: That game showed the truth of the matter that, outwith the Old Firm, all the other teams can beat each other on any given day. St Mirren looked like the winners for much of the game but their ongoing failure to convert chances came back to haunt them at the end via a poor decision by Charles Dunne. You could feel it might happen!

Douglas: It was simply not good enough, the long balls instead of playing on the deck. I’m sorry but Mikael Mandron just hasn't got it. It’s time for Stav Nahmani to start.

William: You must have sympathy for the St Mirren management team, as good as they are, they are being failed. At 90 minutes and 0-0 the Buddies should not have lost this game and the Perth Saints did not deserve three points either. We had enough chances to make that penalty award irrelevant. There must have been a lot of dismay on the team bus on the way home.

James: It's been two late goals midweek over the last fortnight that have let the Buddies down badly, we need to pick up points again soon. There’s not a lot of difference between fourth and eighth in the SPL and if we want another top six finish, then there is more required or before you know it we will be down to fighting relegation, it's that tight and the Saints fans need to remember it.

• St Mirren have failed to score in their last three games in the Scottish Premiership, their last longer run of games without scoring a goal in the competition was a run of five games from 14 March 2015 to 13 April 2015.

• St Mirren have failed to score in their last three games in the league, a run of 361 minutes without a goal.

• St Mirren have lost their last three games in the top flight, their last joint longest losing streak was from 15 April 2023 to 6 May 2023.

• St Johnstone's Sven Sprangler attempted six tackles (and won five) in this game, at least double the amount of any other player on either team.

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Another defeat on the road.

What's going wrong for St Mirren at the moment after the Buddies' defeat in Perth?

Have your say.