St Mirren

Image source, SNS

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I don't think many teams press Celtic like that and create that many chances but we didn't take enough of them.

"That's probably been the story of our season - we can't afford a striker that gets 20 goals. There's very very good points in that performance but we want to come out with three points.

"It's a penalty. It's very clear, the Celtic bench were very clear on it. It's not given, they go up the other end and score. Football is very cruel at times.

"The decision changes things but we still go and concede the goal. If you keep it at 3-2 and he doesn't give the penalty, the game is very much still alive.

"There's four games to play, 12 points to play for and that can make a huge difference in the standings.

"The top six is hard to get into, we've overachieved in the last two seasons, we know what we're missing but financially that's hard to do. to still be in the running it's very much a case of how many points we can pick up in the next four games."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Home boss Stephen Robinson will no doubt have mixed emotions.

He will be feeling the bitter sting of defeat with disappointment but also knows his side contributed fully to a fabulous game of football.

They gave Celtic a real run for their money, drew several top-class saves from Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and will no doubt rue the concession of a needless penalty just before half-time that made their job even more tricky.

The energy, pressing and organisation of this St Mirren side caused Celtic a fair few problems and, if they can keep up the intensity in the run-up to the Premiership split, they will still fancy their chances of making the top six for a third consecutive season.

Image source, SNS

Ryan Alebiosu and Jonah Ayunga (ankle) are doubts for St Mirren after coming off against Hearts in midweek.

Alex Iacovitti is back in training but the game comes too soon while Conor McMenamin (calf) and Evan Mooney (ankle) remain out.

Greg Taylor returns for Celtic, who remain without James Forrest (foot) and Paulo Bernardo (ankle).

Image source, SNS

St Mirren are in contracts talks with in-form striker Mikael Mandron and two other players, manager Stephen Robinson has confirmed.

Mandron, 30, had netted just once this season until a burst of five goals in his past six games.

The French forward arrived from Motherwell in summer 2023 and his deal expires this summer.

"I think we offered him a new contract so he decided he's going to start scoring goals and try and get more money out of us! I'm sure that's his ploy," Robinson said.

"But Mika is a very important part of the squad. Even when he is not scoring, he brings people into the game.

"He's a character around the dressing room as well and he's a really intelligent footballer. He's added goals in the last month to his game and we're sure he'll continue to do that.

"I'm hopeful for everybody to sign but everyone's got options. We're still speaking actively to Mika and two other players as well in the current squad and trying to get business done."

Robinson, meanwhile, expects plenty of twists and turns in the run-in of the top-six chase as his side prepare to host Celtic on Saturday in a game where they have "nothing to lose and everything to gain".

The Buddies have won only one of their past five games in all competitions - a 2-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox - and slipped out of the top six with a 3-1 defeat at Hearts on Wednesday.

Following the visit of the league leaders, the Paisley outfit face bottom-six sides Motherwell, Kilmarnock, Dundee and Ross County before the split.

"There's five games left before the split, a lot of points to play for and I think there will be a few twists and turns in the next few weeks," Robinson said.

"I said the three games against Rangers, Hearts and Celtic are all bonus points and there's nothing to fear and as I said before, everything to gain.

"People will drop points when we don't expect it and probably gain them when you don't expect it. So it's something to look forward to. It's to be embraced not feared.

"Celtic are a very, very good side. But they're not invincible and we have to believe that, we have to turn up and play at the top of our game."

• St Mirren have lost their past seven meetings with Celtic in all competitions, last losing eight in a row against the Parkhead club in December 2012.

• Celtic have only lost one of their last 20 away games at St Mirren across all competitions (W16 D3), going down 2-0 in September 2022 under Ange Postecoglou.

• St Mirren are winless in their past four home league games (D1 L3), last going longer without victory in December 2021 under Jim Goodwin (6).

• After winning 10 successive away league games from April to December 2024, Celtic have since won just two of their past six on the road (D2 L2), losing 2-1 at Hibernian in their most recent away outing.

• Celtic's Daizen Maeda has been directly involved in more goals in the Scottish Premiership this season (18 – 11 goals, 7 assists) than any other player. The Japan international has 13 goal involvements (9 goals, 4 assists) in his last 10 league appearances – as many as his previous 41 beforehand.

Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Richard Foster analyse the VAR-prompted decision to downgrade midfielder Killian Phillips' red card to yellow in St Mirren's midweek defeat at Hearts. (Available to UK users only)

We asked you for your thoughts on the 3-1 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle that dropped Hearts out of the top six.

Here's what some of you said:

John: We are way too inconsistent and have been throughout the season. We can't seem to hold on to a lead, and maybe we should think of strengthening the defence over the long term.

Ryan: Two horrendous mistakes by big Richard Taylor, who has otherwise been tremendous this season, derailed what looked like another masterclass from Stephen Robinson.

Extremely frustrating and symptomatic of the season, looking probable that we will miss out on top six unless we can pull it out the bag in the next five games.

W: Two very obvious mistakes in defence led to two goals, but we tend to forget the mistakes made up front which were good opportunities and were missed.

Overall it was a tight performance, we actually were probably better than Hearts for large chunks of the game, but you can't give easy ball away to reasonable players and then not expect to get hurt.

Eddie: Two mistakes cost us the game. Taylor is going to be a class player but he really needs to do the simple things just put the ball out of the park. Now we need to move on, the next five games are vital to get points from. We really need to start taking our chances.

Image source, SNS

• James Wilson has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hearts player has more.

• St Mirren have lost an away game after leading at half-time in the Premiership for the first time since 16 March 2024 against Kilmarnock (seven games without defeat).

• Hearts have won after trailing at half time in the Premiership for the first time since 3 February 2024 against Dundee (11 games without a win after trailing at half-time).

• Hearts have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 13 April 2024 against Livingston (16 games without a win).

• St Mirren have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 28 September 2024 against Motherwell (seven games without defeat).

Watch the best of the action as Hearts come from behind to beat St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Available in UK only

Hearts leapfrogged St Mirren to move into the Scottish Premiership top six for the first time since August as they came from behind to beat the Paisley side at Tynecastle.

What did you make of that, St Mirren fans? What went wrong in Edinburgh? Did anyone impress?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

Image source, SNS

St Mirren's Stephen Robinson told BBC Scotland: "I thought our performance was similar to Saturday, really good for long periods. We were in total control of the game, but we have two individual errors in the second half, and credit to Hearts, they punished us.

"From there, we created chances and missed them, and got done on the counter. Performance-wise, it was very good. To come here and take the game to them was pleasing. The individual errors, you can't control.

"I wasn't too hard on the players in there, any points from these three games were a bonus for us and it's very much still all to play for."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

When St Mirren beat Rangers in December, they went on to lose their next four games.

It looked like they were going to display the kind of control that saw off Philippe Clement at the weekend, and make it two solid wins from two on the road.

But when things started to go against them, they lost their heads a little and the physicality was upped a level - not always legally.

Mandron was lucky not to see red - for either his elbow on McCart on for his foul on Baningime moments later.

Phillips, too, can consider himself fortunate. He was sent off for 'an elbow' and therefore violent conduct, but VAR Gavin Duncan pointed out to the referee that there was 'no elbow contact'.

Ultimately, Stephen Robinson will be frustrated. His side edged large parts of the game and did have chances through Toyosi Olusanya, but he was not able to drag his side back into the match.

Image source, SNS

• Hearts have won 16 of their last 20 top-fight home games against St Mirren (D2 L2), including their last two in a row without conceding.

• St Mirren have only won once in their last five league meetings with Hearts (D1 L3), a 2-1 victory at home in September of this season.

• Hearts' Lawrence Shankland has scored (four goals) or assisted (one assist) five goals in his last six Scottish Premiership appearances against St Mirren, including two goals and an assist in his last two games against the Buddies at Tynecastle.

• St Mirren have won two of their last three league games played on a Wednesday (D1), as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W2 D4 L7).

• St Mirren's Stephen Robinson has won just two of his nine managerial away games at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L5), a 3-2 victory with Motherwell in September 2019 and a 2-0 win with the Buddies in April 2023.

Image source, SNS

Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin remains sidelined with concussion, while defenders Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley (both hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad) are still out but Yan Dhanda is fit again after a hip issue.

St Mirren have major doubts over Killian Phillips, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Ryan Alebiosu but Alex Iacovitti is back in training.

Evan Mooney will have a clean-up operation on an ankle injury and Conor McMenamin (calf) remains out.

Image source, SNS

Mark O'Hara will be "very proud" to cap an emotional week by reaching the milestone of 100 St Mirren appearances.

The captain lost his grandfather last Thursday night but overcame his grief to lead Saints to their first win at Ibrox in 34 years on Saturday in a game which ultimately ended Philippe Clement's tenure.

"It was a bit of a surreal 48 hours and the manager said take as much time as you need," the midfielder said.

"I felt I had to come in Friday and I was feeling good. I think that's what my granddad would have wanted as a massive football fan. I'm sure he would have enjoyed that on Saturday.

"He was in the stadium the week before. It was quite sudden. He was at the stadium for the Hearts game. I think it was good the fact that it was so sudden and he wasn't then suffering.

"It was a bit of a shock to everyone but to repay him with a result on Saturday was special. I think all my family enjoyed that."

Now the 29-year-old is make his 100th Buddies appearance on Wednesday night when Stephen Robinson's men face Hearts at Tynecastle.

"I've never done that at a club so it's something you set out to do," he added.

"When you look on the stats online you want to see the three digits. Hopefully [Wednesday is] the night, and I'm very proud of it.

"It's funny, I've never felt this settled in my career before. I think the manager has played a big part in that, bringing me here. The changing room's definitely a big help. I've obviously grown up very local.

"It just seemed to all fit and we've achieved some success together and hopefully there's more success to come."

Billy Hogg
Fan writer

In 1991, the World Wide Web was invented, the Soviet Union dissolved and Kevin McGowne scored the winner for St Mirren at Ibrox.

Fast forward 34 years and 25 matches – which the Buddies lost by an aggregate score of 68-12 – and Stephen Robinson's men etched themselves into club history with a fantastic, well-earned 2-0 victory that ended Philippe Clement's reign in Govan.

Much has understandably been written about the state of Rangers just now, but this is an opportunity to talk about the magnificent effort of every man in black and white across those 90 minutes.

This was not in any way a fluke, or a smash and grab, but rather a superbly executed gameplan from the visitors, who had twice as many shots on target as the hosts and converted two of them in the second half through Mikael Mandron and supersub Toyosi Olusanya.

After Olusanya's superb finish for the second, there was never any way back for Clement's men, who whimpered to just a third home defeat of the season, with the Saints forming an unlikely trio with Lyon and Queen's Park.

A special mention also for Mark O'Hara, who put in a tremendous captain's performance just days after the passing of his grandfather. O'Hara has been a huge figure in recent years and Saturday exemplified this, leading by example and showing great character in what must have been an extremely tough week for him.

This season has of course had its ups and downs in Paisley, but days like Saturday are what makes all the last-minute losses at home to Motherwell, 4-0 defeats at Tynecastle and turgid goalless draws with Ross County worth it.

For many in that away end – myself included – this was the first time we had watched our team win at Ibrox, and you never know when it will come around again.

Which is why moments like this have to be savoured. Saturday marked three years since Robinson's appointment and throughout that time the club have set a new standard. Back-to-back top half finishes. European football. And now a victory at Ibrox. All totally unthinkable when the team was at the foot of the Championship in 2017.

Next up for the Buddies is a midweek trip to Tynecastle, a ground where we have been victorious just once in the past 10 visits, stretching back to 2013.

It will no doubt be another tough test, but having passed the last one with flying colours, few in the St Mirren dressing room will fear this one.

Billy Hogg can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

A confident display from goalkeeper Zach Hemming and a clean sheet to remember in an impressive victory at Ibrox.

Alex Gogic, the Cypriot rock at the back, was in fine form, as was Mikael Mandron who grabbed the all-important opening goal that would see St Mirren torpedo Rangers at Ibrox and spell the end for Philippe Clement.

His physicality troubled Rangers, got Saints up the field on the front foot time and again.

Mikael Mandron felt St Mirren were "definitely" going to get the opportunity to down Rangers before he scored the opener in the Paisley side's 2-0 Ibrox win on Saturday. (Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse St Mirren's performance against Rangers.

Watch highlights as Rangers lose 2-0 against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-0 win against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Peter: Has there ever been an Old Firm defeat when it wasn't their worst performance of the season? It's time a bit of credit was given to St Mirren. They went to Ibrox and exploited the very obvious weaknesses of a poor Rangers team. All down to tactics. Stephen Robinson should get the praise and respect he deserves.

Kyle: Excellent work ethic at Ibrox laid the foundation for a dominant and deserved victory on Robinson's third anniversary in the job.

Jim: First class performance from St Mirren. They never looked at being under pressure and played to their strength. Excellent effort from the whole team and a couple of well-taken goals. The space at Ibrox suited them well and the team took full advantage of it. The fans can now feel that we should press on for the top six finish. Great result.

Paul: Where does Robinson get these giants? The team could be playing in the NFL with the monsters he has signed. This must be the biggest team ever assembled in the Premiership.

Steven: What a fitting tribute to Robinson on his third anniversary in charge. This man has worked miracles with the budget and resources we have. In 50 years of following Saints, this performance was right up there with the best. You can spend millions on players, but you can't buy heart! Every player was immense. Proud to be a Buddie.

Eddie: If only we could sort out our crazy form and just get some consistency, we would be some team.

Hopefully we can get Mikael Mandron and Greg Kiltie playing as they are capable, it would make such a difference. Mark O'Hara was back to his best and Alex Gogic is such a big player for us. Onward to Tynecastle where we are very capable of getting a decent result.

Image source, SNS

• Rangers have a record of W1, D3, L4 when conceding the opening goal in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers attempted 32 crosses in this match, higher than their season average of 23.7 in the Premiership.

• Rangers have stopped the opposition from scoring a first-half goal in 17 of their 27 games, only Celtic (22) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• Toyosi Olusanya has scored eight goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other St Mirren player.

• Mikael Mandron attempted five shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a St Mirren player in the Premiership this season.

• St. Mirren have avoided defeat in their last six matches when scoring first in the Premiership, since a 1-2 loss to Motherwell on 28 September 2024.