St Mirren

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Such is the volume and righteous fury around the concept of strikers across the Saints fandom this past week, you'd be forgiven for thinking there were bins not being collected or pits being closed within a PA postcode.

Angry fans - covering both the "Mika Mandron is no Doug Somner" and the "I signed Shankland on Fitba Manager and he only wanted two grand a week" ends of the age spectrum - constantly bemoan the absence of a true '20-goal-a-season striker' in Paisley.

The rational line sits somewhere far from that angle. Do strikers outside the big two/three in Scotland sometimes score 20 or more? Aye. Sometimes.

Is there a fool-proof method of predicting that'll be the case when you sign that striker on a free from the third tier in England? Naw.

Which brings us to deadline day at the Smisa Stadium and the ultra-last minute addition of Kevin van Veen on loan from Groningen. Van Veen embodies that discussion almost too perfectly.

After six seasons in English football to only modest acclaim and prolificacy, Motherwell fans hit the jackpot in 2022-2023, watching the Dutch powerhouse smash in 25 league goals across a single campaign.

Such excellence earned the hitman a return to his native Netherlands with Groningen, though that is where the purple patch seems to have halted for now.

A miserly loan spell with high-flying Kilmarnock last season bore no fruit, and his parent club were content to farm him out again this term.

For every 22-23 Van Veen masterclass, there are six, seven or eight other seasons of contrary evidence to work through.

Every striker ever signed in Scotland, with a couple of eight-goal seasons under their belt at Northampton or Crawley, has been recruited with the intention of unearthing a 25-goal diamond from the rough. The reality is very few ever do.

Stephen Robinson and Martin Foyle have banked two years worth of goodwill from their transfer dealings in Paisley, and even the most pessimistic of Buddies will back their judgement in recapturing that lightning in a bottle from the nomadic Van Veen.

If nothing else, the impending arrival of added competition seemed to drive Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya into netting a couple of exceptional striker's goals at Dens Park last weekend.

Should Van Veen's impact be in increasing the aggregate as opposed to breaking his own records, the sensible majority will be more than happy.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

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St Mirren youngster Gallagher Lennon has joined Annan Athletic on loan.

The 18-year-old, son for former Celtic and Hibernian manager Neil, will spend the remainder of the campaign with the third-tier side.

However, his parent club have the right to recall the teenager in January.

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Mikael Mandron says St Mirren should be looking to pick up more draws this season as they look for a third consecutive top-six finish.

Last season, Stephen Robinson's side drew eight and lost 17 games in the Premiership, alongside their 13 wins.

Mandron's wonderful goal helped St Mirren to a 2-2 draw against Dundee on Sunday, their first of this league campaign.

"We are delighted to have scored two goals and I think a point is very good for us," Mandron said.

"Last year we didn't get that many draws, this year was kind of a point for us to try and get more draws.

"If you can't get a win, instead of getting a loss to try and get a point and we did that."

Mandron is also keen to link up with Kevin van Veen again, after his former Motherwell teammate signed for the Buddies on deadline day.

"I think it is great, it is super healthy, there is already loads of competition at the club and adding a player like Kevin van Veen is only going to make us better as a team but as individuals as well," Mandron added.

"I played with Kevin when I was at Motherwell, a great player, it was a joy playing with him so it is going to be good.

"He has got everything as a striker - he is strong, he is so good technically, he scored loads of goals for Motherwell, he is a great guy as well so I think it is great."

Watch highlights as Dundee and St Mirren draw in the Scottish Premiership.

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Stephen Robinson believes Kevin van Veen can get back to his best at St Mirren, following a disappointing loan spell at Kilmarnock in the second half of last season.

The Dutch striker played 13 games for the Rugby Park side without scoring, but Robinson has no doubts about Van Veen's ability to find the back of the net.

"I believe there are reasons it didn’t work out for him at Kilmarnock," Robinson said. "They were flying so it’s hard to break into a team when they’re doing that.

"There were also different things going on that affected him. I'm happy I've got him, he's in a good headspace, he's very talented and I'm delighted to have him.

"If you get him believing in himself he has the talent to win games.

"When games are tight perhaps he along with the other strikers give us wee added impetus going forwards."

Van Veen was not signed in time to be involved in St Mirren's 2-2 draw against Dundee on Saturday - a result that extended their winless run to six games.

Robinson hailed his side's battling qualities at Dens Park and expects results to pick up soon.

"Every game is important" Robinson added. "Every point counts. In previous years we could have lost that game but we weathered it ever so well.

"Credit to our players as our squad is still getting up to speed. The fans know that now we're focused on the league we'll get better."

Dundee extended their unbeaten start to the season to nine games by fighting back twice in an enthralling Scottish Premiership draw with St Mirren at Dens Park.

Toyosi Olusanya capitalised on Antonio Portales' hesitancy to give the visitors the lead, driving into the Dundee box and finishing from a tight angle.

But a similar error from Richard Taylor at the opposite end then allowed Curtis Main to loft in a delightful effort.

A chaotic 10-minute spell in the opening period ended with Mikael Mandron guiding in a stunning strike to restore the away side's advantage.

However, Docherty's men demonstrated the slick play they have been lauded for in the infancy of this campaign, when Lyall Cameron's superb reverse ball teed up Ziyad Larkeche to dispatch a composed finish.

Dundee fans, send us your thoughts on the game here, external.

St Mirren fans, give us your views here, external.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I'm delighted with the point against a top-six side last season. We've led twice with two really well-taken goals.

"Disappointed we didn't hang on, but to come here and get a point, we're really pleased with it.

"We faded away a wee bit but came back strong. The first goal we've made an induvial mistake, the second we made a poor decision on the ball. There are lessons for everybody.

"Could we have nicked it? Dundee will probably think the same."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Having contributed to 24 Dundee goals since the start of last season, there would have been natural concern within the Dundee fanbase when they saw pictures of their talisman Luke McCowan holding a Celtic scarf above his head late on Friday.

But in Lyall Cameron, they have another diamond. The 21-year-old's delightful assist - one of two chances he created - showed how key he is to this exciting group.

Debutant Sammy Braybrooke, on loan from Leicester, can also be satisfied with his showing, looking composed on the ball while managing 15 final-third passes.

The big issue, however, is at the other end. Losing cheap goals was Dundee's Achilles heel last season, conceding 68 all in, and already this term they have shipped seven in four league games.

If Tony Docherty can sort that, there is serious potential to be unlocked in this team.

Similar could be said of St Mirren, who are capable of causing any side problems, especially with Toyosi Olusanya and Mikael Mandron in the form they showed first half.

Stephen Robinson's forward options look a bit light, though. Former Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen will help address that if he can get himself match fit and show the form that earned him a move to Groningen.

It is now no wins in six for the Paisley side, but back-to-back home games against Kilmarnock and Hearts after the international break gives them the chance to get points on the board.

Judging by their first-half display - and the way they ended the game at Dens - there is no need for any doom and gloom.

Jane Lewis, Brian McLauchlin and Tyrone Smith round up all the deadline defying drama as the Scottish transfer window shuts.

From Celtic's record breaking signing to some high profile departures they discuss all the biggest moves in Scotland and cross to Italy to hear about the excitement as Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay move to Napoli.

Listen to the full episode here.

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St Mirren have completed the signing of former Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen on loan until the end of the season.

The 33-year Dutchman arrives from Groningen, having spent the latter half of last term with Kilmarnock.

During that spell, he failed to score in 13 appearances, but contributed 29 in 44 games with Motherwell in the previous campaign.

Ryan Flynn has joined Scottish League 1 side Arbroath from St Mirren.

The experienced midfielder, who signed for the Buddies back in 2018, lifted the Championship trophy with the side that same year.

He went on to play a pivotal part in their rise over the last few years and grew to be a fan favourite.

The 35-year-old's contract ended in Paisley at the end of the season, but he had been training with the club before signing for managerless Arbroath.

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Ethan Sutherland has left St Mirren to join English Premier League side Wolves for an undisclosed fee, with the deal including "potential for significant adds on and a future sell on".

The 18-year-old forward rose through the youth academy and made his first-team debut last summer.

He had a loan spell at Alloa Athletic in the second half of last term and departs Paisley having made four appearances for Stephen Robinson's side.

"Ethan made it clear he wasn't going to sign with us at the end of the season so it would have been a compensation package," manager Robinson said.

"You're always at the mercy of these bigger clubs. It’s a brilliant move for him to a fantastic club and Wolves have got a player with a lot of potential.

"When I first came into the club there were people thinking twice about keeping him on but with his ability and raw talent it was imperative that we kept him and developed him.

"It's credit to the academy staff and now the first-team staff that have strengthened him. We wish him nothing but good luck."

As Friday's 23:00 BST transfer deadline edges closer, where do St Mirren still need to strengthen and what deals would you like completed before the window closes?

Have your say here, external.

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• Dundee have lost five of their last six league games against St Mirren, with the exception seeing them run out 4-0 winners in November 2023.

• St Mirren have lost just one of their last seven top-flight away games against Dundee (W4 D2), winning 3-1 in their most recent meeting in May last season.

• Dundee and St Mirren are the top two sides for highest scoring matches in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. The Dark Blues' games have featured 12 goals (7 for, 5 against) while the Buddies’ have had 10 (4 for, 6 against) in the opening three matchdays.

• Dundee remain unbeaten in the league this season (P3 W1 D2 L0). In the 21st century, only in 2014-15 have they enjoyed a longer unbeaten start to a top-flight campaign (first 6 games).

• St Mirren have lost seven of their last 10 Premiership games (W2 D1), including their last two in a row – this is the most defeats of any side in the competition since the beginning of April.

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother!"

If Stephen Robinson sent his charges out to do battle on Sunday with the words of Shakespeare's Henry V ringing in their ears, the words would still have been ringing when Ellery Balcombe picked Callum McGregor's opener out of the net.

The visiting fans barely had time to count the number of empty seats in the main stand and fashion a wee tweet about away allocations before enjoying the inconvenience of their side taking the lead.

Not that I'm bitter, of course.

So often in recent seasons, even when ultimately unravelled following a red card or late flurry, the Saints have provided tough opposition for both Celtic and Rangers.

High physicality, a sensible amount of gamesmanship and maximum effort have kept the Buddies competitive for much of these games and have earned the occasional reward.

Best intentions and efforts do find it hard to recover from a third-minute opener, though.

After four defeats across three competitions in the last fortnight or so, it will serve St Mirren well to consign this latest loss to the back of their minds and focus on what's next.

Last season’s fellow top-six gatecrashers Dundee have opened the campaign in decent form. Without wishing to fall into cliche, Saturday’s result is more likely to have significant influence on end-of-season happiness than the visit of last year's champions.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more."

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Despite being on the end of a 3-0 defeat by Celtic, St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara is taking personal positives from the weekend loss.

The midfielder returned to the team after missing the previous five matches with a thigh injury and played the entirety of Sunday's match in Paisley.

The 28-year-old said the fixture was a "tough game to come back for, but hopefully I will feel better for that".

St Mirren’s next game comes away to Dundee on Saturday before the first international break of the season.

"To get to 90 minutes you have to feel fine," O’Hara added. "It was very tough. Conceding early isn't ideal when you work on a game-plan. They were pretty dominant, we couldn't really get our game plan going.

"You know they're going to come out fast. We had to try and stop that, but it was a strike from the edge of the box, a good strike, and there is not much you can do about that.

"But they are a quality side. We can't feel down about it as we have a massive game this weekend to look forward to."

St Mirren have rejected a Wolves bid for full-back Ethan Sutherland, 18. (Football Insider, external)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

You might not suspect a goalkeeper who conceded three goals at the weekend to be in my Team of the Week, but Ellery Balcombe made five saves for St Mirren in their defeat to Celtic and kept the scoring down.

The 24-year-old has impressed since joining on loan from Brentford and did so again against the champions.

Watch highlights as Celtic beat St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

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We asked you for your views following St Mirren's weekend defeat to Celtic.

Here's what you had to say:

Stuart: What you get from a team that now relies entirely on blood and thunder, not skill. Technical players who leave replaced with more lumpen EFL League 1 midfielders.

Douglas: Although up against a top side, Saints were not at the races.

As long as Robinson keeps on playing Mandron and Ayunga we will not win. They are hopeless to say the least. You could have picked out anyone from the crowd to do what they did...

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson talks to BBC Scotland after his side's 3-0 defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Celtic began life without Matt O'Riley with a comfortable Scottish Premiership win away to St Mirren.

The Denmark international midfielder was left out of Brendan Rodgers' squad for the trip to Paisley as he closes in on a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

It did not affect the league champions though, as captain Callum McGregor fired them into the lead inside three minutes.

Reo Hatate lashed in a second to put Celtic in command, before Alistair Johnston made it three in the second half following good work from Nicolas Kuhn.

The result was never in doubt and the margin of victory could have been greater were it not for a string of saves by St Mirren keeper Ellery Balcombe.

Celtic are top of the table after three wins from three, while St Mirren sit seventh on three points.

Have your say on the St Mirren performance here, external.