St Mirren

It was a big day for St Mirren defenders at Dens Park on Saturday.

Scott Tanser has been a consistent performer in a consistent Buddies side this campaign, earning a moment of glory with his drilled finish to down Dundee.

But, what more can we say about Alex Gogic?

The Cypriot centre-half seems to be outstanding every single week, so it was fitting he was the one to get his side moving in a huge clash in the race for Europe.

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Stephen Robinson says St Mirren must continue to "play without pressure" in their remaining Scottish Premiership games.

The Paisley side are on course for European football next season after a 3-1 over Dundee on Saturday strengthened their grip on fifth place.

“That’s what you pay your money for, you pay your money to dream,” he said.

“It’s been 37 years since we were in Europe and 40-odd years since we were top six twice in a row.

“You have to enjoy these times, and why not? But my job is to stay grounded and keep the players grounded.

“We need to continue to play without pressure because nobody expected this from us bar the dressing room.

"We expected it and we expect to continue to win games towards the end of the season."

We asked for your thoughts after St Mirren beat Dundee 3-1 to strengthen their grip on fifth-place in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what you had to say:

John: Lock Alex Gogic in the cellar. Simply can’t be allowed to leave the club.

Anon: An excellent performance and no less than we deserved. Possibly could have been a goal or two more but won't complain. We have to try to keep Gogic for next season as he has been immense for us.

Alistair: I am so used to the annual relegation battle over the years, it's dreamland to think it might be a European slot for the wonderful Saints! I am old enough to remember the UEFA game against Elfsborg, so it's going to be a dream come true to be back in Europe. Stephen Robinson and the players have been magnificent. I am amazed he has not been poached.

Craig: A performance worthy of Robinson's 100th game. Took the game to Dundee from the off and didn't give them a chance. The team were brave and showed their character, hopefully silencing those questioning their bottle of late! Amazing team and manager, savouring every moment. Get the contract signed Gogic. Would love to see him leading us into Europe.

Alex: Our best manager since Alex Ferguson and the best squad we've had in 40 years.

Martin: I can't wait for a wee European trip. Hopefully the good times are back and here to stay. C'mon you Saints.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson reacts to his side's "outstanding" win against Dundee.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson told BBC Scotland: "I thought we were outstanding from start to finish. We started really brightly. To a man we were excellent. We've not been out of the top four or five for about 35 games, so it's no surprise to me.

"We're dragging every last bit out of this group, and they're dragging every last bit out of themselves. You have to enjoy every last drop. We enjoyed today, but nothing is guaranteed. It's certainly a step in the right direction."

"[Alex Gogic] and Scott Tanser among others have been fantastic for me all season. People told me Alex is a better centre midfielder, but he plays centre-half for his country. We knew he'd get better as the season went on. Among others, he was fantastic today.

"Anybody that is out of contract, has been offered [one] that we want to keep. Some have turned it down, but there's only a certain level we can go to as a club, and we have to be prudent. We've made our best offers and some have said that's not enough.

"I have nothing but respect for the boys that have done that because they've still done everything in their power to get us into Europe."

"We went to Killie and let the fans down. It was a real disappointing day and we said [to the boys] today 'don't let them down, go embrace it'. These moments aren't pressure, they are moments to be savoured. They played like that today."

Not a bad away day, St Mirren fans! What did you make of that?

And what are your thoughts on Stephen Robinson, after his 100th game as Buddies boss?

Tell us your thoughts here.

Stephen Robinson made the point pre-match that not many managers make it to 100 games as boss these days. As the third longest-serving Premiership gaffer, he's got a point.

His tenure has gone a little under the radar, but that's now back-to-back top six finishes and a very good chance of a European jolly next year.

As for the game today, he got his tactics right. His players looked a little sharper, a little fitter, and a little more direct in their approach to goal.

If they are able to add a good goalscorer in the summer, a top six three-peat should be a certainty.

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Alex Gogic. The Cypriot sweeper has typified the strong defensive rearguard of St Mirren this season. A footballer from a bygone era, he takes no nonsense and demands higher standards from those around him.

Took his goal well, and narrowly pipped Toyosi Olusanya to the award.

Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Lamie, Donnelly, McGhee, Sylla, Cameron, McCowan, Dodgson, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: Sharp, Astley, Main, Mulligan, Robinson, Robertson, Boateng, Mellon, Costelloe.

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

Substitutes: Urminsky, Taylor, Dunne, Brown, Flynn, Baccus, Kiltie, Jamieson, Scott.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson is prioritising results over performances as the season reaches its final act.

The Paisley side sit fifth in the Scottish Premiership and are targeting European football for the first time since 1987, but have won none of their last five outings.

Robinson says their position in the top half is "not really" a surprise to him, but is willing to win ugly to ensure they finish on a high note.

"It has been enjoyable but we want to finish the job off for this season," he said.

“I will take a really poor performance tomorrow and three points. It is the business end of the season where we want to gain points.

“We don’t need to play pretty football, we don’t maybe need to do what we have done all season in trying to control games.

“Both teams just want to win the points and we have to have a steely determination about us not to concede goals.

“They are all big games now. But it is no good winning this one and the losing the next three.”

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Ahead of his 100th game in charge of St Mirren, Robinson says St Mirren have "grown and put a lot of good things in place" since his arrival, and he thinks top-six finishes are now "more viable".

• Praised the recruitment done in recent windows, and says their league position this season is not surprising to him.

• The Northern Irishman says it's all about the result on Saturday - "I will take a really poor performance and three points".

• Wants his side to put their recent poor form behind them and finish the season on a high, as they look to secure a European spot.

• Jonah Ayunga and Celtic loanee Kwon Hyeok-kyu will both miss the rest of the season through injury. Ayunga had a knee operation on Thursday, while Kwon has a hamstring problem.

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Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Dundee and St Mirren shows the value of the split, according to former Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan.

There are just two points separating the sides as they battle it out for fifth place, with the meeting at Dens Park vital in the race for European football next season.

Dundee lost 2-1 to Celtic last weekend, while St Mirren were beaten 2-1 by Rangers. However, Craigan believes both teams will be buoyed by their displays against the Old Firm.

"That's what makes it more intriguing this weekend, they're both coming off the back of good performances, albeit disappointed with what they got from it," Craigan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Dundee have been the surprise package; St Mirren have been in the top six all season. Dundee win, and suddenly they're in the driving seat; St Mirren win, you would think they're almost into Europe.

"This is what I like about the top six and the bottom six, some people argue against it, but you get teams in the same area of the league going for something, whether that's Europe or relegation, so I think just adds to the spectacle."

Craigan anticipates a tight encounter given the importance of the fixture.

"It's all set up nicely," he said. "They're both evenly matched, I really couldn't call a winner at this stage.

"I think St Mirren would take a point, if they can leave Dens Park with a point, knowing they've got a couple of home games coming up, I think they would take that."

We asked for your views on St Mirren's player of the year, and it seems only one man fits the bill for the vast majority.

Here's what you had to say:

Robert: Alex Gogic for my best player.

Graeme: Gogic. Superb all season.

John: Scott Tanser has been like a new player after a much improved season. Similarly, Toyosi Olusanya has progressed from struggling to get a game for Arbroath on loan, to one of the most dangerous strikers in the league. However, our player of the season must go to Gogic. A powerful, confident and inspiring presence at the heart of our defence.

Alistair D: POTY must go to Gogic. He’s been a rock, crunching into tackles, bandaged during the Hibs game, last-minute lung bursting runs to stop a goal. Honourable mentions for Greg Kiltie, Marcus Fraser and Tanser.

Ruaridh: I would say St Mirren's player of the season is Toyosi Olusanya. Every time he is on the pitch he makes a difference and his improvement from last season to this is outstanding.

Alistair: Gogic - he has been immense, both as a player and as a leader on the pitch.

Douglas: Gogic is my player of the year. His attitude, commitment and overall ability to read games is second to none. Fraser, Tanser and Kiltie are unsung heroes who have had really good seasons.

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I love a motivational quote. Who doesn’t?

Well, in the wee room where St Mirren hold their pre-match media conferences, there’s a whiteboard with this gem from Hollywood star of yesteryear Audrey Hepburn scrawled upon it.

"Nothing is impossible, the very word says I’m possible."

Maybe that’s why, after reading that last Friday, I fancied the Buddies to take something from their home game against Rangers on Sunday.

It would have been, in Stephen Robinson’s words, a "marquee result". But it wasn’t to be, although it could have been.

The number of chances St Mirren created should give the Paisley Saints a real boost for the trip to Dundee on Saturday. A fixture which has a cup final feeling.

With St Mirren a couple of points ahead of the Dark Blues, an away win would widen that gap to five points with three rounds of games remaining.

It would be a big step towards a fifth-place finish and qualification for Europe. That’s the target they’ve been aiming for all season.

The Buddies have won both home league games against Dundee this season, which is encouraging, but they lost 4-0 at Dens Park in November, which isn’t.

Neither is the fact St Mirren are winless in five matches and have only won once on the road in 2024 - away to Hibs in February.

But you can read too much into statistics, rather than performances, which have been better than results might suggest (apart from the 5-2 defeat by Killie at Rugby Park).

So, time for another Audrey Hepburn quote, how about this: "Only the absolutely determined people succeed."

She did, and so can the Buddies.

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• Dundee’s 4-0 win over St Mirren in their last home league game against the Buddies in November remains their biggest win in the Scottish Premiership since December 2018 against Hamilton (also 4-0).

• St Mirren have won four of their last five league games against Dundee (L1), keeping three clean sheets in the process.

• Dundee have failed to win each of their last four league matches (D2 L2) and could go five matches without a win for the second time this season, after doing so between September and October (D4 L1).

• St Mirren have lost their last three league matches, conceding 2+ goals in all three defeats. The Buddies haven’t lost four on the trot in the top flight since April 2022.

• Dundee’s Luke McCowan has won possession for his side 310 times this season, at least 66 more times than any other player in the competition. In fact, McCowan won possession 15 times against Rangers last month, which is the joint-most by any player in a single Scottish Premiership match this season.

The battle for fifth spot continues as St Mirren travel to Dens Park to take on Tony Docherty's Dundee.

But who should Stephen Robinson choose for his starting XI?

Put yourself in the gaffer's shoes and pick your line-up here.

It's been another enjoyable season for St Mirren with back-to-back top-six finishes secured and Europe within their grasp.

But who has impressed you most for Stephen Robinson's side?

We want to know who you think has been the Buddies' player of the season.

Give us your thoughts here.

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Twenty-six decisions since the start of the Premiership season have been deemed incorrect by the Scottish FA's VAR independent review panel.

The tally, based on incidents requested by the panel or submitted for consideration, is a rise of 10 since February's last meeting of the group.

Not among the incidents included was one where Hibernian claimed the Scottish FA agreed an error had been made.

The governing body later disputed that assertion, made after Hibs were not awarded a penalty after Aberdeen's Nicky Devlin handled in February's 2-2 draw.

The 10 incorrect decisions shared with Premiership clubs on Wednesday were:

Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen (6/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to Rangers' Dujon Sterling. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.

St Mirren 2-0 Dundee (7/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to St Mirren's James Bolton. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.

Ross County 1-1 St Mirren (27/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty awarded against Ross County for handball.

Hearts 1-1 Hibernian (28/2/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty decision, which led to Hearts' equaliser, should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded.

Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers (28/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty decision, which led to Kilmarnock opening the scoring, overturned - no handball offense against Rangers.

Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty decision should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded to Celtic.

Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): On-field decision correct, no penalty to Hearts. Handball should not have been awarded for spot-kick that led to opening goal.

Motherwell 0-1 Aberdeen (16/04/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty to Motherwell should have been awarded for handball.

Hibernian 1-2 St Johnstone (6/4/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty should have been awarded to Hibs for foul by St Johnstone goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.

St Mirren 1-2 Hearts (6/4/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty should have been awarded to St Mirren for a foul on Conor McMenamin by Aidan Denholm.

St Mirren striker Mikael Mandron is being monitored by both Saint-Etienne and Utrecht ahead of a potential summer transfer for the 29-year-old Frenchman. (Football Scotland), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Mikael Mandron says St Mirren "can't fear anyone" in their final post-split fixtures as they aim to secure a European place.

The Paisley side impressed in spells in a narrow defeat to Rangers on Sunday, during which Mandron netted a deserved first-half equaliser with his 11th goal of the season.

But Cyriel Dessers' winner, coupled with Dundee's defeat at home to Celtic, means St Mirren remain just two points clear in fifth.

The Buddies' next match is a huge encounter with sixth-placed Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday.

"If we play like that against Rangers, we can play like that against any team," Mandron said.

"[Saturday] is massive and it will probably determine who is going to finish fifth which is our target.

"[Europe] would be amazing for the club. It's been almost 40 years since we were last in Europe and it would be an amazing experience.

"Just getting a chance to compete against great teams would be good. We have worked so hard to get where we are now."

At the fourth attempt this season, St Mirren denied Jack Butland a clean sheet. However, Rangers' number one did have a significant (and infuriatingly outstretched) hand in his side leaving Paisley with all three points on Sunday.

Top-scoring Buddie - and Scottish enough to be eligible for a last-minute Steve Clarke phone call this summer - Mikael Mandron also had an effective day leading the line and deserved his eighth goal of the campaign, placing a header deftly against the back post.

But for that aforementioned outstretched hand, James Bolton's athletic volley from short range would have sent the Euro-chasing Saints in at the break with a lead to protect.

As it was, the match was tied at the interval and a second defensive mix-up late in the day was enough to hand the visitors the victory.

Points are precious in this final stretch, and platitudes over a battling performance don't put any distance between ourselves and sixth-placed Dundee.

A similar 2-1 defeat for the Taysiders against Celtic means it's as you were before the two meet at Dens in a huge game this coming Saturday.

Mark Jardine can be found on the Misery Hunters.