St Mirren v LivingstonSNS

At a glance

  • Mandron goal gives St Mirren third win in row after League Cup triumph

  • Hampden hero Ayunga has goal controversially ruled out

  • Bottom side Livingston still search for first win since August

St Mirren v Livingston highlights on Sportscene

25/12/2025

Watch on iPlayer
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland at SMiSA Stadium

League Cup winners St Mirren kept the feelgood factor flowing this festive season after a narrow Scottish Premiership victory over Livingston gave them a third consecutive win.

It means the West Lothian side remain rooted to the bottom of the table, without a win since matchday two in early August.

After spurning a succession of chances, and having a goal controversially ruled out after VAR review, the deadlock was finally broken late in the game when substitute Mikael Mandron steered in Declan John's fine cross.

Mandron had a chance right at the end to double up but Jerome Prior saved his powerful shot well and also made another crucial late save.

The victory was no more than St Mirren deserved after Johah Ayunga thought he had scored an excellent team goal, only for VAR to call Chris Graham across to the monitor.

Rather than sticking with his on-field decision, the referee agreed Danny Finlayson had been caught by Dan Nlundulu's arm before he crossed.

It was the latest frustration for two-goal Hampden hero Ayunga who could - arguably should - have had a first-half hat-trick.

His first effort was cleared off the line before Prior thwarted him one-on-one. The striker also headed over when well placed to score.

Livingston showed some decent signs before the break in a fluid 3-4-3 formation but fell out of the game the longer it went on and barely tested Shamal George in the opposing goal.

David Martindale's side will have to find far more of a clinical edge if they're to get away from last spot.

For his opposite number Stephen Robinson, with silverware in the trophy cabinet, a very merry Christmas lies ahead if his side can keep up this momentum.

Graphic

Analysis: St Mirren impress but Livingston flatter to deceive

League Cup hangover? Not a bit of it.

St Mirren created chance after chance and could have won a whole lot more handily. Ayunga the main culprit in terms of wastefulness, but won't have his Freedom of Paisley revoked any time soon after his Hampden heroics against Celtic.

There was an energy and willingness to work about St Mirren. All the more admirable given the partying that has no doubt gone on since their final win.

Livingston, on the other hand, are still looking for a first win since 9 August.

Another game on the road, another defeat. The fluid 3-4-3 formation looked good until the interval, albeit Livi never really threatened the St Mirren goal.

They fell out of things after the break and had VAR to thank for keeping them level until Mandron finally punctured their resistance.

It could be a long, hard season ahead if they can't find a way to pick up some points, and quickly.

What does Martindale want for Christmas? Ideally a new striker, failing that some kind of cutting edge from the players he already has at his disposal.

What they said

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It was really, really important that we capped off the week with a victory. It was a really, really good performance. We should've and could've won by a lot more goals.

"We showed really good composure, kept playing, kept passing and a really, really good goal to win the game. I thought the [disallowed] goal should've stood. It's hard to find any fault with the goal."

Livingston manager David Martindale: "Big moment in the game, we don't defend it well enough and we lose 1-0. It's kind of been the story of the majority of the season. We've underperformed in terms of the points return in comparison to performances.

"I don't think we dominated a lot of the game. We defended, for the majority, our box really well. There's one moment they get in behind us and that leads to the goal."

What's next?

St Mirren welcome Kilmanock to Paisley next Saturday (15:00), at the same time as Livingston host Celtic in their penultimate game of 2025.

Player of the match

M. Fraser
8.40
22 M. Fraser
8.40
21 M. Freckleton
8.33
1 S. George
8.22
24 D. John
8.10
5 R. King
8.09
7 R. Idowu
7.55
6 M. O'Hara
7.40
9 M. Mandron
7.30
13 A. Gogić
7.11
88 K. Phillips
7.09
11 J. Ayunga
7.00
14 D. Nlundulu
7.00
2 J. Richardson
6.91
3 S. Tanser
6.80
10 C. McMenamin
6.55
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