St Mirren

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.

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St Mirren defender Alex Gogic says he "loves everything about Scotland" after extending his stay with the club.

The Cyprus international's previous deal was due to expire in the summer, but has signed a new contract in Paisley until 2027, and he has been reminiscing about his journey to this point.

“I didn’t (think about playing in Scottish football) when I was younger,” he said.

“My agent called me and asked if I wanted to try out at Hamilton. I said yes, I would rather play in the top division in Scotland than lower leagues in England.

“I think my trial with the under-23s was against Rangers and the second one was against Ross County so I went to the Highlands on trial.

“It was good – I got four seasons in one day as well. Football-wise it was good. I loved every minute of it.

“I love everything about Scotland, the people, the country – not the weather but I am used to it now. When the sun is out you can’t beat Scotland.”

With three Scottish Premiership fixtures remaining, Gogic wants St Mirren to go one better than last season's sixth-placed finish and secure European football.

Stephen Robinson's side sit fifth, five points ahead of Dundee and six behind Kilmarnock.

“Last season we finished in the top six but after the split we only got two points," the 30-year-old said.

“The gaffer’s point was we have to do better this season. With the quality we have and the quality I see every day I think European football should be our goal.

“Obviously the club is not the biggest in Scotland with budget and stuff but with the quality the gaffer has brought in we should be able to do that.

“I have always dreamed of playing in Europe. It would be amazing. I have played with my national team and to play with my club team would be a different feeling.”

St Mirren host Kilmarnock on Saturday as they look to keep hopes of a fourth-placed finish alive.

Who would you like to see start for Stephen Robinson's side? Pick your St Mirren XI here.

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Manager Stephen Robinson says St Mirren went "all out" to keep Alex Gogic amid interest from clubs in Scotland and England.

The Cyprus international, 30, was due to be out of contract at the end of the season - and recently said talks over his future were on hold - but now has extended his stay in Paisley until 2027.

"It’s a statement of intent from us going forward," Robinson said.

"He’s certainly had other options both in Scotland and England, but he chose to stay here. He’s very happy here, his family are very happy here and he knows the group of boys we’ve got are going to keep improving.

"We’ve gone all out to ensure he stays. Goga has been exceptional this season and the season previously. He’s like two players in one because he can play in numerous positions.

"He’s vital in terms of building the club and taking it forward."