St Mirren

Billy Hogg
Fan writer

Will St Mirren ever beat Kilmarnock again?

I mean, presumably, but at this point it's hard to say when.

Jonah Ayunga's own goal equaliser for the visitors on Saturday stretched Killie's unbeaten run against the Buddies to nine games, with Derek McInnes' men just having our number over the past few years.

Specifically, McInnes' personal record against St Mirren is absurd, with just one defeat in 33 games, including his time in charge of St Johnstone and Aberdeen. Six Prime Ministers ago.

For the Paisley-born Morton veteran to have such a record over his local team is definitely a source of frustration for many in black and white. At half-time with the home team a goal up and a man up, there was still a sinking feeling that the visitors were not going back down the M77 empty-handed.

That feeling was proven to be justified with Ayunga's header past his own keeper proving to be the only goal of a scrappy second half. But in the final minute, it appeared that the McInnes hoodoo had been vanquished when James Scott bundled in an untidy goal from a corner, sending most of the 6,957 at the SMISA Stadium into raptures.

However, the power of this curse - and the fundamentally correct decision by VAR official Andrew Dallas - ruled that one out, meaning for the second week in a row St Mirren would let two leads slip, and finish with a decent but disappointing 2-2 draw given the context.

While this was nowhere near as devastating as the events of last March at Rugby Park - which won't be spoken of here - this definitely felt like two points dropped, as Stephen Robinson's men find themselves sandwiched right in the middle of a tight Premiership so far.

And while it is obviously far too early for any sane fans to start panicking, the team are currently on a seven-game winless run and could do with breaking that habit sooner rather than later.

Up next on Saturday is another home match against a winless side as Hearts come to Paisley. Despite a very strong second half of last season, Steven Naismith already seems under pressure.

St Mirren's recent record against Hearts isn't great, with just two wins in 12. But of course, Hearts are not managed by Derek McInnes, thus giving them a decent chance in this one.

And after giving up four leads in the last 180 minutes of football, hopefully if they can strike first they might just hold on to it this time.

Billy Hogg can be found at the Misery Hunters podcast, external

Image source, SNS

Alex Gogic bemoaned the way St Mirren defended set pieces in their 2-2 draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday, but firmly believes they can achieve another top-six finish in the Premiership.

It leaves the Buddies without a win in seven games, but now their European exploits are behind them, Gogic expects things to change.

“Okay, we played in Europe but that’s gone past," he said.

“We had great training sessions, we are back on the pitch, everything. There’s no excuse, really.

"But still, it is a long season and we're collecting points, even on Saturday, even in the last draw against Dundee, it's getting points.

"We've put our standards high because we know we can do it, we've proved it two years in a row, and that's our aim.

"And the gaffer knows what players he has, and with the players he's brought in, it's even better. So I think everything will be fine.

"We could have done better, for sure, maybe delivered more balls, tested their defence a bit more, a bit more side-to-side, but fair play to them.

"Second half, I think we could have probably done more. But again, it's frustrating because they didn’t really do much.

"It was just two set-pieces [conceded goals]. So if you take that out, then maybe, but I think we should have done better."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

St Mirren played out a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, and have influential captain Mark O'Hara in my Team of the Week.

O'Hara probably falls into the 'underrated' category. He is a towering, driving force in midfield for Stephen Robinson's side.

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-2 draw against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Douglas: Saints certainly didn't deserve a win, it almost looked as though we didn't know how to play a 10-man team, we have been there before! Killie are not a bad team and Derek McInnes gets them well organised. They made it hard for us and we lacked composure in the second half. A point was all we really deserved.

Eddie: First of all why do referees allow themselves to get conned so easily. Back to the actual game Saints were sucked into Kilmarnock’s game plan, McInnes plays the same tactics everywhere he goes, his ‘coaching’ is simply to encourage his players to dive at every opportunity and miraculously recover as soon as they get a foul. Having said that we were awful.

Alistair: It’s clear that both teams learned the dark arts during their European adventures, Killie players rolled their sleeves up after going down to 10 men and deserved the point to keep the manager's record against us in his favour.

Stu: Killie have bullied St Mirren physically in recent games. You have to match their physicality and they play every trick in the book to give the ref decisions to make. They did it again today and even when down to 10 men, it never looked comfortable. We were slow with the ball going forward and poor in defence. A draw was what I had predicted, but it was a sore one.

Anon: Very poor today from the off. McInnes usually out-thinks Stephen Robinson tactically, and today was no different. Can’t help feeling that’s why we seemed so passive in the second half despite leading 2-1 against 10 men. Killie spend too much timing trying to con the officials rather than playing the game.

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• Kilmarnock have won two points from losing positions in the Premiership this season - only Dundee have recovered more.

• Meanwhile St Mirren have lost four points from winning positions in the Premiership this season - no team has lost more.

• Liam Polworth attempted 55 passes in this game, the highest total for a Kilmarnock player in the Premiership this season.

Kilmarnock came from behind with 10 men to draw against St Mirren in a full-blooded and breathless affair that had a 91st-minute home winner ruled out.

That game had it all, didn't it?

What did you make of it, St Mirren fans? Was a point a fair reflection of the game?

Let us know your thoughts., external

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson told BBC Sport Scotland: "It was eventful, most definitely. VAR had a big say in a lot of things.

"When they went down to 10 men, we didn't move the ball quick enough or deliver enough balls into the box. We tried to complicate it, we make poor decisions and the crowd get nervous.

"We didn't manage the game well enough and conceding two set-pieces is incredibly disappointing. We work on them tirelessly, and I have to take the blame for that.

"It's another point gained, another two goals scored, but we're conceding goals too easy.

"Decisions go for you and against you. I imagine they got it right. Killie's sending off, if I was on the end of that, I'd have been very disappointed. I've not seen it back, but it didn't look very much.

"Did we deserve to win it? Probably not. They managed the game, very street wise. A point is a fair reflection on the game."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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This was a potential Premiership all-timer with more twists and turns than a South American telenovela - and a share of the spoils somehow seemed fair.

At half-time, you'd have probably lumped on St Mirren. They were a goal ahead and a man head, at home. On paper, that is a winning position that should not be lost.

Yet, it ended in a draw with Kilmarnock even threatening a win at times. They have already lost four points from winning positions this season.

And whilst they sit seventh with five points, they haven't won since the opening day of the league season against Hibs.

They needed to make that dominance count but substitute Scott struggled to retain the ball up front, for all his endeavour. Hopefully, the injury to Toyosi Olusanya isn't serious as he looks a little more clinical than he did last season.

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Toyosi Olusanya. Scored with a brilliant header, and most of St Mirren's attacking threat went off when he was replaced at half-time because of injury.

Mark O'Hara is also worth a mention - a real driving force in midfield. Keep him fit all season and St Mirren should challenge most around them.

Roland Idowu was also keen to get forward as often as possible in midfield. St Mirren's midfield depth is to be admired but it needs some consistency in selection.

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St Mirren: Balcombe, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Rooney, Idowu, O'Hara, Boyd-Munce, Brown, Olusanya, Mandron.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Kenny, Bwomono, Tanser, Smyth, Adeniran, Scott, Ayunga, Van Veen.

Kilmarnock: O'Hara, Burroughs, Wright, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Polworth, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Deas, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Wales, Bainbridge.

Image source, SNS

Kevin van Veen could make his St Mirren debut but is not ready to start.

Alex Iacovitti will be out until around Christmas with a tendon injury while Richard Taylor is struggling with a hernia problem which in time will probably require surgery. Greg Kiltie (ankle) is training again while Conor McMenamin (knee) is making progress.

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie is fit again. Brad Lyons serves the second of a two-game ban and Liam Donnelly remains out.

Kyle Magennis is working his way back from a hamstring injury.

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Jim Gillespie remaining in his post as St Mirren vice-chairman is a "huge bonus" for the club, according to manager Stephen Robinson.

Gillespie was reportedly targeting by Rangers as their new chief executive, a role vacated by James Bisgrove in May.

However, reports this week suggest that Gillespie will stay with the Paisley club, much to Robinson's satisfaction.

"I am absolutely delighted," Robinson said. "I think it’s a huge bonus for St Mirren, a real bonus.

"At every football club you need a driver. You need somebody that has an ambition, a vision and that's what sold me on the football club and he has been true to his word that he drove this football club.

"Previously, I believe that people would have been happy with going up and down and maybe finishing third from bottom.

"Now that is not even in our talk and all through this situation, I’ve spoken to Jim on a daily basis, and all we speak about is St Mirren and how we drive it forward.

"How we recruit in the next window, and how we do what we did again, and how do we better the facilities? How do we better the staff? So I think he's a vital, vital part in this football club, moving forward."

Robinson believes Gillespie was never tempted by a move to Ibrox and says work has continued as normal despite speculation.

"I know Jim's staying," Robinson added. "He never wavered from St Mirren the whole time that the stuff's been in the press.

"It's none of my business about other clubs or Jim's personal business.

"All I've ever spoken to Jim about is, as I said, making St Mirren better and giving him an update on things on the pitch and off the pitch every day.

"And I'm delighted for that, because you always have the fear that the person driving the football club leaves, what that comes next? So it's certainly a huge, huge plus for St Mirren."

Image source, SNS

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership game against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• Robinson is "absolutely delighted" that vice-chairman Jim Gillespie will be staying at the club after interest from Rangers over their vacant chief executive position.

• The Northern Irishman says Gillespie "never wavered from St Mirren" and credited him for "driving" the club forwards.

• Defender Charles Dunne - who left St Mirren at the end of last season - is back training with the club.

• Greg Kiltie has returned to full training, while Conor McMenamin is a "few weeks away" from being back on the pitch.

• However, Alex Iacovitti will be out until around Christmas with a tendon injury, and Richard Taylor has a hernia problem that will likely require surgery, which gives Robinson "little bit of a concern in that left sided centre-half position".

Image source, SNS

• St Mirren are winless in their last eight Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (D4 L4), losing their most recent three in row.

• Kilmarnock have won each of their last three away games against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, last beating an opponent on four consecutive top-flight trips between November 2018 and February 2020, four in a row versus Hearts.

• St Mirren have lost four of their last six home league games (W1 D1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand.

• Having only lost two of their final 13 away league games last season (W4 D7), Kilmarnock have since lost their two on the road this term.

• Bruce Anderson scored on his first league start for Kilmarnock against Hibs last time out - the last player to score in both of his first two starts for the club in the Scottish Premiership was Daniel Whitehall in January 2021.

Image source, SNS

St Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie will not be joining Rangers as their new chief executive. (Sun), external

Gillespie has withdrawn from the race to be appointed Rangers chief executive. (Mail), external

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has confirmed the Perth club’s interest in centre-half Charles Dunne, the 31-year-old who left St Mirren this summer. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

International weeks, while they have their merits, are like opening a bag of crisps and noticing there are less crisps in there than there used to be. Mostly fresh air and unlikely to satisfy usual appetites.

Having travelled to Germany this summer and attended the Switzerland game in Cologne, my own interest in the national team has peaked and fallen away slightly. It'll come back, but for now I just want a return to the usual joys of a St Mirren-filled week.

Good news then, as usual service is back, baby. The Saints have a new striker in the country and in training, injured players have had a short break to push on towards availability for selection, and we have Kilmarnock to look forward to on Saturday.

Brothers in European arms this summer, both of last season's surprise packages have ultimately found their way to being knocked out of continental competition before Back to School promotions are removed from supermarket shelves.

Admittedly, our Ayrshire colleagues took a slightly more scenic route, but we've each ended up back in the same place with some nice memories and euros in the coffers as consolation.

Killie do not so much resemble a bogey team for St Mirren, as Derek McInnes represents some sort of Bogeymaster General.

He has made a career, from Perth to Kilmarnock via Pittodrie, of frustrating a succession of Saints managers at almost every turn. Indeed, last season's margin separating fourth and fifth place could be boiled down to their favourable head to head and little more.

With each passing season, the belief is this will be the one in which the curse is lifted, and this weekend is no different.

The Buddies have had an extra fortnight of one-game weeks to adjust to, and better league form thus far to point to as justification.

Respective fixture lists have been comparable, with the key difference to this point being success in front of goal. Bruce Anderson's late draw-salvaging penalty at home to Hibs was the first league goal recorded by Killie this season.

Saints' hopes will be pinned on this disparity continuing, and that Kevin van Veen can take last season's fruitless spell in Kilmarnock as motivation to get in on the act himself.

Mark Jardine can be found at Mistery Hunters, external

St Mirren will do everything in their power to keep manager Stephen Robinson at the club long-term, says chief operating officer Keith Lasley. (The Herald, subscription required), external

Read all of Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

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Despite the packed fixture schedule and their European exploits, it's been a steady start to the league season for Stephen Robinson's St Mirren, holding onto all three points against Hibernian on the opening day before picking up a point at Dens before the international break.

The Paisley club's fans are a fairly pleased group, and there have been plenty of signs they will be pushing for another top-six finish this season.

That pursuit can only be supported by the addition of proven goalscorer, Kevin van Veen. That's the one area St Mirren have failed to sort under Robinson, but the former Motherwell man might just be the answer.

From the first four top-flight games this season, the Buddies have only conjured up 36 shots. A league low.

They have also only had 67 touches in the opposition box, only Ross County (50) have had fewer.

At the other end, only Kilmarnock (65) have faced more shots on goal than St Mirren (61), but they have already faced Celtic, which tends to skew that particular stat.

Ellery Balcombe has been one of the brightest sparks for the Buddies between the sticks, and unless Van Veen starts finding the back of the net regularly, he will need to continue pulling out the stops.

BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Ewan asked: With both Hearts and Hibs managers under pressure, should Saints fans be worried about Stephen Robinson's position?

Tom answered: Well, Ewan, I would say yes. Robinson has such fantastic energy and is doing such a fine job at St Mirren that if those clubs are in need of a new manager at some point he's got to be on a shortlist.

Hearts and Hibs have gone for rookie managers and it's not working out at the moment. If they feel they have to make a big decision then Robinson ticks a lot of boxes.

That said, he's really happy at St Mirren, feels valued and supported and loves the job. He's building something there.

Bobby asked: Do you think St Mirren are now victims of last year's success as playing the four games in Europe has obviously affected their Premiership start? That said, do you think they have enough this season to finish top six again?

Tom answered: Europe can take a toll, Bobby. Jack Ross at Dundee United, Barry Robson at Aberdeen. Smallish squads are suddenly cast into a murderous run of games and the potential for things to go off the rails on all fronts is high. Once you lose confidence it can be very hard to get it back again.

I think they'll be very close to top six. The start to the league season has been brutally tough, partly because of Europe and in other part because they've had to play Aberdeen, Dundee United, Celtic and Dundee - all of whom are going well.

Things will settle down soon, I think. Top six will be harder because Aberdeen are a serious contender again. They were a shambles last season. So, difficult but doable.

Get your questions ready.

Tom English, BBC Sport Scotland's chief sportswriter, is in the hotseat and ready to offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Four games into the Premiership campaign, what would you like to ask?

Put your questions to our man here, external.

St Mirren have finally returned to their Ralston training base after months of switching between Neilston Juniors' Brig O'Lea and Glasgow University's Garscube facilities because their new six-figure surface had not bedded in properly following bad weather. (The National), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.