St Mirren

Watch all the highlights as Dundee come from behind to beat fellow Scottish Premiership strugglers St Mirren.

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We asked for your views after St Mirren fell to a 3-1 defeat at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what some of you said:

Trevor: Stephen Robinson stole my line: "We are in a relegation battle". Same thing happened in 2013 with Danny Lennon when we had a great cup run, I just hope the players haven't taken their eye off the league because of the cup final coming up. If so it's going to be a long hard season ahead.

John: Dreadful performance. Glad to hear the manager acknowledge the fact we ARE in a relegation dogfight. Can't score enough goals, concede far too many, allied to a powder-puff midfield, and the problems are there for all to see. Two league wins all season? Suddenly the cup final seems less than important.

Michael: First sign of madness is doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting different results. Robinson is too loyal and needs to drop a large number of players. Apart from Killian Phillips I would replace the whole midfield and strike force. Give others a chance before it's too late.

Douglas: That performance was terrible today and glad to hear Robinson's post-match interview where he stated only three to four players are turning up. We are not scoring goals and we are now conceding at the back. Aberdeen on Wednesday has to be the turning point or we are in trouble.

Bobby: We are miles off the form of the last few seasons, hard luck stories only carries you so far I'm afraid. Hate to say it but has the cup run been an unwelcome distraction in the league?

Dundee ended a four-game losing streak as they came from behind to defeat St Mirren for a vital Scottish Premiership win.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It's the same old story unfortunately. 18-yard box to 18-yard box, really good. We had 18 shots, only three on target.

"They have eight shots, four on target, and score three goals. That's the difference. They take their opportunities. It's not good enough, not acceptable.

"I can keep saying the performances are decent but the bits that matter are in the boxes and we've not done either well enough.

"If you look at the table, it has to [resonate] with the players. We've tip-toed around it a little. We live in a society where you can't tell people the truth sometimes, you can't shout at them. You have to do it differently, but I've made it very clear to them - we are in a relegation battle.

"I'm counting on three or four every week to run the team. Other people have to step up, it's as simple as that. We do finishing every day - it doesn't look like that sometimes. As individuals, as a group, we have to be better."

Image source, SNS

Dundee boss Steven Pressley expects to have a full squad available.

St Mirren captain Mark O'Hara is still sidelined with a foot issue, while back-up goalkeeper Ryan Mullen is unavailable.

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Stephen Robinson is leaning on past experience as he refuses to panic about St Mirren's Premiership struggles.

The Buddies head into Saturday's game at Dundee in ninth spot, two points off the bottom, after taking just a point from the past six matches.

"We had a similar period this time last year and we managed to finish in the top six," said manager Robinson, referencing the fact his team were third bottom with two wins from the opening 10 matches of last term.

"Nobody's getting too worried about it. If you look at Hibs last year, bottom of the table [in December], they ended up finishing third.

"Certainly, we try and stay focused and calm and not get too far ahead of ourselves or start looking behind you and start worrying.

"You can only affect what's in front of you and not what's happened previously."

St Mirren have earned praise for their recent performances against top two Hearts and Celtic but only took one point from those matches.

"We've shown we're very competitive," said Robinson, whose side's only win in the past two months was a 4-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final triumph over Motherwell.

"Motherwell are doing very well at the moment and we won very comfortably - well, the scoreline suggests comfortably, although it wasn't that comfortable.

"We believe on our day we can beat anybody, we just have to turn performances into results.

"We're in a false league position in terms of our performances, we're not in a false position in terms of results. Our results have given us that amount of points.

"But I do believe that we can climb the table and I believe we will climb the table."

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• Simon Murray has scored Dundee's past four league goals against St Mirren, netting braces in December and April last season (the Dark Blues failed to score against the Buddies in September this season with Murray absent). The last player to score 2+ goals in three consecutive Scottish Premiership appearances against a particular opponent was Kris Boyd versus Hearts in March 2014.

• Dundee have won two of their past four home league games against St Mirren (D1 L1), more than their previous seven at home to the Buddies in the top flight (W1 D2 L4).

• St Mirren have lost two of their past three league meetings with Dundee (as many as their previous 13 in the Scottish Premiership), although did win the first match between the two sides this season 1-0 in September.

• Since beating Celtic 2-0 in October, Dundee have lost all four of their league games, the last three of which without scoring. The Dark Blues last lost four in a row without scoring in the competition in November 2018.

• St Mirren have lost five of their past six league games (D1), as many as their previous 21 (W8 D8 L5). Away from home, the Buddies could lose three Premiership games in a row for the first time since October 2024.

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

If matches against Celtic finished in the 86th minute, we'd have five points to show for our bouts in the past six months.

But, as you may have noticed, they don't. If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, we'd all have a wonderful Christmas...

Separating the performance witnessed from the points total secured is becoming a tiring exercise, both specific to our showings against Celtic and on general league duty these past few months.

The tactics on Saturday night appeared spot on. Conor McMenamin was drafted in to cover for the injured Mark O'Hara, out of position but with a well-defined job to do: mark Calum McGregor.

For 80 minutes, the normally direct winger indulged his manager and upset the visitors' normal rhythm.

St Mirren had a mere 25% or so of possession, yet had the far more dangerous chances. We can save the discussion of own goals being disallowed as 'active offsides' for another date, but McMenamin's breath on the back of Liam Scales neck seems to have been enough to rule out an OG at which he had already swung a defensive leg.

All that being said, it is points that matter and Celtic, yet again, did what was required to snare them away.

A last-minute substitution, aimed either at replacing an exhausted Keanu Baccus or simply disrupting Celtic's forward momentum, provided both the added time in added time and, arguably, the half yard McGregor had needed all night.

As his long-distance strike soared beyond Shamal George, the deja vu was instant and punishing in yet another painful, late and avoidable defeat.

I'm wary of being critical of players and manager in this tough run of results. There is no questioning the effort, and plenty evidence the set-up is correct.

Tiny margins have robbed the SMISA Stadium of five of the past seven Saints goals scored there, while even the smallest of defensive errors have been ruthlessly punished.

This remains the side of top-half finishes and semi-final victory, and trust that results will follow performances should remain resolute.

We've done it before, we'll do it again and we have a cup final to look forward to. On the basis of frustrating Celtic for several hours already this season, optimism is an entirely reasonable stance to take.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse St Mirren's performance, and their disallowed goal, against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch all the highlights from Celtic's dramatic late win over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only

We asked for your views following St Mirren's 1-0 defeat to Celtic on Saturday.

Here's what some of you said:

Stu: Yet again we play so well and get nothing. The "own goal" by Celtic's Scales baffled me that it wasn't given. I'm glad it wasn't the cup final as that late goal would have broken so many hearts.

Paul: Gutted. We deserved so much more from this game. Celtic are a shadow of the football machine they were before.

William: Saints were very unfortunate to lose this match but as the boss said, we need to put away the chances that we create. Last night's excellent performance surely gives us a lot of confidence that we can win the upcoming Hampden final.

Paul: What a kick in the teeth. Celtic were outplayed and outfought by an excellent St. Mirren, only for them to smash and grab it at the death. Shocking.

St Mirren lost out to a last-gasp goal, with manager Stephen Robinson left to lament "small margins" and another big VAR call against his side.

Read the match report here.

And let us know your thoughts.

Image source, SNS

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "The performance was very good. We've run Celtic very close, been beat by a fantastic goal.

"We had numerous chances ourselves, we pressed them well, showed good quality but the thing we're in control of is finishing those chances. The fine margins are going against us at this moment in time.

"Decisions have to start going for you at some stage. We have to keep producing those performances and trying to catch the teams above us.

"[Conor McMenamin] is not in line with the goalkeeper, does not touch the defender - Liam doesn't see him at all. That's not a factual decision of offside, it's a subjective decision, which the referee should be called over for. I'm sure they'll create some sort of name for it.

"Very, very disappointed. Arguably one of the reasons we're where we are in the league when all those small margins go against you.

"We've played well in the past four or five games without coming out with anything. I'm confident if we continue to play like that, we will get points."

Image source, SNS

St Mirren skipper Mark O'Hara has had another injection in a troublesome foot but is likely to miss out on the visit of Celtic. Marcus Fraser is a doubt. Shamal George will be a last-minute decision, while fellow goalkeeper Ryan Mullen will not be available. Alex Gogic returns from suspension.

Celtic remain without Kelechi Iheanacho, James Forrest and Marcelo Saracchi, while Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand (both hamstring) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) are long-term absentees.

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Manager Stephen Robinson says Scottish football's VAR system is "not fit for purpose" following recent controversy over disallowed St Mirren goals.

The Buddies had a late goal chalked off in their 2-2 draw with Hearts last month and Scottish FA head of referee operations Willie Collum admitted it should have stood, saying the VAR process was "too forensic".

Collum was also "disappointed with the process" that led to the Paisley side having a goal ruled out in the 3-0 home defeat to Hibernian just before the international break.

Robinson has not been convinced by the technology, or its application.

"I won't talk about separate incidents but in terms of VAR itself, it's been three-and-a-half years now and I don't see an improvement with it," the Buddies boss said.

"For me, VAR isn't fit for purpose in the form that we have it in this this country. When it comes to minuscule and small decisions, I don't believe the system's accurate enough. We're paying for a product that isn't delivering.

"In any other walk of life you take the product back so that's probably all I need to say on it. I don't believe that the system's working.

"Scottish football fans, Scottish clubs are paying for it. It is not free. Ultimately, have to ask yourself is it making Scottish football better? No.

"We're probably in a really good position to talk about it for the last three-and-a-half years.

"But I'm talking about the whole of Scottish football, your Dundee United, Hearts, Rangers, Celtic. We're all putting money into something that over time doesn't seem to have improved.

"The actual system itself. Small margins which these decisions are being made on now is not accurate enough. That has been proven over the last couple of weeks.

"Would that (money) not be better invested into players? I can get maybe two top players with that in terms of our level.

"Fans can maybe get tickets reduced or facilities could be improved. Every club can benefit, training facilities from the money we're putting into that.

"I don't believe it's helping Scottish football in any shape or form."

Image source, SNS

• St Mirren have lost 12 of their past 14 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 league win in September 2022.

• Celtic have won five successive away games at St Mirren in all competitions, all by a margin of 2+ goals; they last won 6+ in a row away to the Buddies in September 1987 (eight).

• St Mirren are on a five-match winless run in the Scottish Premiership (D1 L4), and could go six without a victory for the second time this calendar year, last doing so between May and August (P6 D5 L1).

• Celtic have won both Premiership matches 4-0 since Martin O'Neill returned to the club. They haven't won three league games on the spin while scoring 4+ goals and keeping a clean sheet in all three since a run of four across October and November 2003, also under Martin O'Neill.

• Celtic have faced the fewest shots (74), the fewest shots on target (26), and conceded the fewest goals (eight) of any team in the top flight this season.

• This will be St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson's 30th managerial game against Celtic in all competitions; he has won just one of 29 (D5 L23), a 2-0 victory with the Buddies in September 2022.

• During his first spell in charge of Celtic, O'Neill won all four meetings with St Mirren in all competitions without conceding. Only five Celtic managers have won their first five matches against a specific opponent while keeping a clean sheet each time: Jock Stein against Airdrieonians, David Hay against Clydebank, Liam Brady against Dundee, Neil Lennon against St Mirren, and Ronny Deila against Partick Thistle.

• Celtic's Daizen Maeda has been directly involved in 24 goals in 26 Premiership appearances in 2025 (15 goals, nine assists), the most of any player. It's three more goal involvements than he managed in 63 league games across 2023 (nine) and 2024 (12) combined.

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

While usually left to our own provincial devices, reaching a national cup final in opposition to one of the big two places St Mirren's normally quiet business firmly in the crosshairs of the media and the masses.

The highly controversial topic drawing angry social media posts by the thousands and overblown tabloid clickbait is the notion of, wait for it, selling out our minority allocation at Hampden for the League Cup final.

Firstly, St Mirren fans have no right to influence how Celtic distribute their allocation of tickets for December's final. Nor should we!

We do not need to get into the specifics of how St Mirren's tickets are then sold and the reasons behind such decisions, save to state there are perfectly acceptable reasons for doing so that do not need to be spelled out to those not supporting St Mirren on 14 December.

I can understand the principle of insisting these allocations start from a 50/50 split and then work backwards should they not be sold, but can make my peace with this split being uneven to a degree given the disparities in season-ticket numbers etc.

However, arriving at that calculation is where direct comparison, discussion and outside input should end.

I have had the suggestion put to me directly that a season-ticket holder at Celtic Park "puts more into Scottish football" and is more deserving of a seat within Hampden than a non-season-ticket holder at the SMISA Stadium who attends the final.

If you feel that way, then that entitlement to a seat is to be weighed against the competition for a ticket among the Celtic allocation. The journey taken by any in the St Mirren end in making their way to the final is of no consequence, and their only competition is among their fellow Buddies.

Cup finals represent different occasions to St Mirren (and other clubs of our stature), and sides such as Celtic and Rangers.

For them, a final or two each season is almost to be expected. A ticket missed this season may be remedied the following year.

This is not true for us. I was born in 1989, two years after St Mirren last won the Scottish Cup, and 24 years before our sole previous League Cup triumph.

Our semi-final against Motherwell was my first opportunity to see the Saints at Hampden since the 2013 final.

This is it. This is what we fight, hope, pray and wait for; all in the dreaming that we get the chance to experience in-person history for our club being made.

My generation were raised on stories of '87, and were old enough to be parents ourselves by the time 2013 became a new tale for telling.

There are generations of young football fans in Paisley who could well look back on next month as the moment they knew they were hooked into St Mirren for life.

There are many more looking at this event as their one opportunity to stand beside their parents, grandparents or others and forge the kind of shared core experience we all want to hold.

St Mirren as a club, even Paisley as a town, holds the inalienable right to make sure their allocation is taken full advantage of in ensuring as many devoted fans, lapsed fans, casual fans and potential fans as possible are inside Hampden Park on Sunday 14 December.

It is ludicrous to suggest otherwise, and it is right that we do all we can in boosting our number to play our part in the final's atmosphere.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Image source, SNS

Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum has admitted he was "disappointed with the process" that led to St Mirren being disallowed a goal against Hibernian despite saying the decision reached was the correct one.

He told the governing body's The VAR Review show that officials had a "very near miss" in disallowing Marcus Fraser's goal during Hibs' 3-0 Scottish Premiership win.

Collum said there was a failure to initially check whether the cross came from behind or in front of the St Mirren defender.

However, he stated the right decision was ultimately made in retrospect.

Collum did accept St Mirren had been wrongly denied a goal in their 2-2 draw with Hearts.

Midfielder Mark O'Hara was ruled to been offside when he impeded Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland before Miguel Freckleton found the net at a time when a goal would have put the Paisley side 3-1 ahead.

"We have to be careful about disallowing goals for something so minor," Collum said. "We have been too forensic here, over-analysing something."

We asked for your views on what one thing you would change at St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

Colin: Be braver in front of goal.

Jackson: You'd be hard pressed to find any St Mirren fan that has anything negative to say about Stephen Robinson. For me though, I wish he'd give more chances in the second half of games to the likes of Jalmaro Calvin, Malik Dijksteel and Evan Mooney, instead of making the same substitutes week in, week out. Against Hibs we were crying out for a change of pace and for wingers to be brought on and the young guys have bags of that.

Andy: Apart from scrapping VAR, I think it was clearly demonstrated that we lack cover for Alex Gogic. Also, we seem to play down the middle too often, therefore a good winger would give us more options.

Neil: VAR! Bin it completely, ASAP.

Trevor: Bin VAR, it's ruining the game.

Hampden glory occupies the thoughts of St Mirren fans as the League Cup final against Celtic looms next month.

The Paisley side's Premiership fortunes have been less favourable and a run of just one point from the last 15 available has left Saints sitting ninth in the table.

The international break provides the chance to pause for breath and reflect after a frenetic few months.

So, if you could change one thing about the Buddies' season so far, what would it be?

Let us know here.

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Five minutes into Saturday night's visit of Hibernian, all was well in the world of post-Hampden St Mirren.

Oh, did you enjoy that ruthless aggression in attack last week? Here, enjoy some more courtesy of Marcus Fraser's functional and dependable forehead.

A few minutes and seemingly a couple of goes at drawing some lines later, said forehead was clearly and obviously offside. Back to square one.

This bait and switch seemed to knock the Saints out of rhythm, and a grateful Hibs attack made it count for a half-time lead.

One minute or so into the second half, all was well once again. Oh, did you enjoy that unbelievable Dan Nlundulu goal from distance last week? Here, enjoy another one courtesy of his miraculous right foot.

A few minutes and seemingly a couple of goes at drawing some lines later, said right foot was clearly and obviously offside. Back to square one.

This bait and switch seemed to knock the Saints out of rhythm, and a grateful Hibs attack made it count, doubling their lead a short time later.

By the time Miguel Chaiwa crashed in a third for Hibs towards the end, the Buddies carried the unmistakable air of a VAR-battered side keen for an international break to spare them further woe.

The VAR room was not the source of St Mirren's defeat on Saturday. David Gray's Leith collective held decent value for their win and have had plenty of their own quibbles with officiating in previous games against the Saints.

There is no clandestine conspiracy at play that is keeping the Buddies down. Most marginal decisions that have settled recent contests seem justified, even if pausing in-stadium celebrations while someone checks their laptop for a few minutes is growing tiresome.

Hampden bore witness to what happens when all clicks for Stephen Robinson in a single 90 minutes. Saturday night (and a few others recently) offer the counter; doing the right things, creating good chances, winning battles yet getting nothing to show for it.

These margins are tight enough that I hold no real fear the Saints are in freefall. This is a dugout, squad and boardroom that have shown they know who they are and what they can do for a sustained period of time.

Had a few punishingly-tight offside calls and late red cards been absent in recent weeks, performances suggest the league picture would be far closer to the joy experienced in cup outings.

To echo the call from times of far greater drama and suffering in recent St Mirren history, keep the faith.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external