St Mirren

We asked for your views after St Mirren's relegation play-off fate was sealed despite a 2-0 win at Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Stu: Great result and great effort after the poor showing against Kilmarnock. It's important to get a result against Dundee United and keep the momentum going. The league season has been dreadful but it's interesting that Craig McLeish has won three of his eight games in charge and Stephen Robinson only managed five wins, so something has changed. Let's hope we win the next three games and stay up.

Peter: More like the things we needed to be doing. Alex Gogic makes a big difference when playing. We head into the play-offs and need to ensure we take the same effort into both games. Don't play anyone carrying an injury against Dundee United.

Marc: Realistically our chances of avoiding the play-off spot were incredibly slim. However, this result will certainly give a much-needed boost in confidence levels to the players ahead of a two-legged affair to preserve our Premiership status. This group of players has been given plenty of plaudits in recent years for achieving three consecutive top-six finishes in addition to League Cup glory in December. However, we need them to step up again for one final time when we are deep in the trenches and when we need it most.

Watch the highlights as St Mirren ended their winless run with a 2-0 victory in Aberdeen but will still have to have to come through a Premiership play-off against Dunfermline or Partick Thistle to remain in the top flight. Available to UK users only.

Image source, SNS

St Mirren interim head coach Craig McLeish told BBC Scotland: "The players fought for each other and stuck together. It was a really good performance at a difficult place to come.

"Now it's about building momentum and confidence for the last three games.

"I've had massive belief in the group since day one.

"We've won four games since Christmas and I've been in charge for three of them, so I know it's in them.

"I know I've made improvements. We just need to keep that going and take care of what's in front of us."

St Mirren earned a hard-fought Scottish Premiership win over Aberdeen - but it wasn't enough to prevent their place in the relegation play-off being confirmed.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say on the game here.

Billy Hogg
Fan writer

Two weeks ago I wrote I'd quite happily pack in the season now, take the 10th-place finish and start again in July.

Sadly though - and very selfishly - Neil McCann and Kilmarnock have taken that away from us as we stare down the barrel of that relegation play-off spot.

St Mirren fans have never been known as an optimistic bunch, even when things are going well. But after Saturday's dismal, dismal performance, it's fair to say pessimism in Paisley has reached yet another new peak.

Against Kilmarnock, the Buddies fired a blank for the fourth straight time in the league and the 17th in 36 Premiership games.

This season Saints have scored only 10 at home in 18 games - just one fewer goal than we managed in three games at Hampden. No one ever said football made sense.

So, can Craig McLeish's men avoid the Partick Thistle or Dunfermline-shaped boulder hurtling towards them? Mathematically, yes. Realistically? Based on the last couple of performances, it's hard to see that happening.

Kilmarnock of course deserve credit here, having completed a 10 -point turnaround on St Mirren since 4 February, and they now sit just one win from completing the job. But from a Paisley perspective, it's hard not to focus on us holding up our end of the bargain.

In any relegation escape it takes two to tango, and when you pick up just seven points in an 11-game spell (and lose to the team below you twice) you're really asking for trouble.

As such, the worst St Mirren season in seven years looks set to be extended by another week.

Yet despite how little l've enjoyed the last 270 minutes of football, I'll still be heading up north for tonight's clash with Aberdeen, hoping to at least keep things interesting going into the final day.

If not? Well, we start planning for a midweek trip to Fife or Maryhill and a final shot at redeeming a deeply disappointing season in Renfrewshire.

So many things have transpired against us, including injuries to key players, controversial VAR calls and a manager being poached just before the business end of the season. But, as they say, the league table doesn't lie.

Billy Hogg can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Image source, SNS

• Aberdeen's Stephen Robinson has lost his past three league meetings with former side St Mirren, twice with Motherwell in 2019-20 and with his current club in April this year.

• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Aberdeen have won five of their 18 league meetings with St Mirren, a rate of 28%. Among sides they have faced five plus times in the league in this time, only against the two Old Firm clubs do they have a lower win rate: 0% v Celtic (0/17) and 18% v Rangers (3/17).

• St Mirren's past seven league visits to Aberdeen have had a total of 28 goals (14 each, 4.0 per game), with at least one side scoring three plus goals in all seven of those games.

• Including the curtailed 2019-20 season, Aberdeen have only lost their final home league game in two of the past eight campaigns (W4 D2), although one of those was last season, a 5-1 defeat to Celtic.

• Including the curtailed 2019-20 season, St Mirren have only won their final away game in one of their past nine top-flight campaigns (D3 L5), including none of their latest six (D3 L3) since beating Dundee 3-2 in 2018-19.

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen pair Stuart Armstrong and Dimitar Mitov will have surgery this week and be fit to start pre-season training. Striker Marko Lazetic will also miss out for personal reasons. Alexander

Jensen and Dennis Geiger are doubts, while Kristers Tobers (knee) and Nick Suman (ankle) remain out.

St Mirren defender Alex Gogic returns from suspension but they are still missing Declan John (hernia), Dan Nlundulu (thigh), Shamal George (ankle), Ryan Mullen (thigh), Jonah Ayunga (knee), Malik Dijksteel (groin) and Keanu Baccus (Achilles).

Image source, SNS

Craig McLeish has urged frustrated fans to back his St Mirren players in their fight to avoid relegation.

Saturday's 3-0 home defeat to Kilmarnock leaves the Paisley side in the play-off spot, four points behind the the Rugby Park outfit with two Scottish Premiership fixtures remaining.

They travel to Aberdeen on Tuesday and host Dundee United on Sunday.

Interim manager McLeish has lost four successive league matches and said he was "embarrassed" by the performance against Kilmarnock, which drew ire from the home stands.

Talking to club media, he said: "The fans have got every right to show their frustrations.

"I can't ask more of them in terms of the support that they've given us. That was unacceptable and they've got every right to vent and show their anger.

"And ultimately, it's directed at me. Back the players, back the team on the pitch, keep fighting to the very end, any frustration and things, that's my responsibility, I'll take it.

"I put myself into this situation. I wanted to lead the group, and we'll keep fighting until the very end.

"It's just back the team on the pitch, back the players on the pitch and let's see what it takes us by the end of the season."

St Mirren fans, we asked for your views on the 3-0 loss to Kilmarnock that leaves you four adrift in 11th place. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

William: Stephen Robinson was under contract and should have remained until season end. We needed an experienced manager for the final few games but this foolish board could only see a fee. Now look at the desperate situation we are in. Once again we are the nursery club for Aberdeen. Craig McLeish cannot be the manager next season. A good man has to come in (it's a prestige job in Paisley), along with some quality players.

George: No fight, no tactics and the usual lack of threat up front. Heading for play-offs with low confidence. How did we get here from winning the League Cup?

Stu: Pathetic. To serve that up to your fans in such a critical game... just pathetic. Four games to save our season because we're definitely in the play-offs. The manager is out of his depth, playing players out of position, tinkering with a style that players clearly haven't bought into. How can it fall apart so quickly?

Ask Jack Ross to take charge for four games. We need something to turn this around quickly and McLeish isn't the guy to do it. I'm lost for words after that.

William: The Chairman, the board, and the players have to take the blame. The Chairman and board for not bringing in a manager and giving the job to the youth team coach. The manager for picking players who are just not good enough, and/or not putting in a shift. There were at least three or four playing on Saturday that should not have a place in the squad for the play-offs.

Colin: Dreadful. McLeish a big part of the blame for this one. Playing Mark O'Hara at wing back with Jayden Richardson on the bench? Playing one up front in a must win game? Some players downed tools, not up for the fight. Relegation incoming.

John: McLeish is clearly out of his depth. However, the ultimate responsibility for this shambles lies with the ex-manager (I don't ever want him in our hall of fame) and a board who allowed themselves to be deluded by a League Cup win and a 'big league' director of recruitment who has taken our money and delivered nothing.

This club has thrown away its best opportunity to move forward in a generation. We will be in the play-offs, and thanks to a group of players who are hiding or looking to their agent to provide another payday, will be playing Championship football for the foreseeable future. Collectively, they should be ashamed.

Image source, SNS

St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish insisted his side's dismal run of form has not dented his confidence as a coach.

Saints have lost all three matches since the league split without scoring a goal to slump to 11th in the Scottish Premiership table.

"This has been one game where things haven't gone our way, but no, it doesn't question anything about me and what I believe I can do, or even within the group," McLeish said.

"I put myself in this situation, I stepped up and I'm comfortable with it all."

St Mirren will likely need to secure their safety via a play-off against either Dunfermline Athletic or Partick Thistle and McLeish admitted that they would likely lose if they played as poorly as they did against Kilmarnock.

"I think if you play like that today, you're not winning any games at all," he added.

"It's the first day, though, that we've probably had like this since I've taken over the group.

"It's the first time I can say I'm disappointed in us as a group where we've not performed, we've not fought, we've not been hard to play against."

Image source, SNS

St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish: "I'm embarrassed. It's my responsibility, I'm leading the group. There's frustration, there's anger.

"It's the first day since I've taken over the group that I've been really disappointed in us. We were second best all over the pitch, we didn't show the fight and desire.

"We owe the fans an apology. We didn't fight. We've said some harsh truths in the dressing room. It's now out of our hands, we have to rely on results from others and take care of ours first and foremost.

"We had players on the pitch that weren't fighting and that's not acceptable.

"If you're not going to fight, you're not going to step foot on the pitch. I have to go with the players I can trust."

Kilmarnock boosted their hopes of Scottish Premiership survival with a vital victory over St Mirren, which eases them four points clear of their relegation rivals in the play-off spot with two games to play.

Read our match report

Have your say on the game

Image source, SNS

St Mirren left-back Declan John will undergo hernia surgery next week while the Buddies remain without the suspended Alex Gogic plus injured Dan Nlundulu (thigh), Shamal George (ankle), Ryan Mullen (thigh), Jonah Ayunga (knee), Malik Dijksteel (groin) and Keanu Baccus (Achilles).

Killie goalkeeper Kelle Roos is back from a facial injury and will be assessed while Kieran Wright remains on loan from Rangers as back-up to Max Stryjek. Captain Brad Lyons has returned to training after missing the win over Dundee United, but Tyreece John-Jules (quad), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) are sidelined.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Mikael Mandron picked up a League Cup winner's medal and scored twice in the Scottish Cup semi- final to force extra time against Celtic.

But the striker is adamant the match against Kilmarnock this weekend is St Mirren's biggest of the season.

The Buddies are in the relegation play-off spot, a point behind Killie, with three matches to go.

"I think there's no way to sugarcoat it, it's the most important game of the season," said striker Mandron.

"Even though we've got another two games after that, we understand the importance of that game and what it would mean for us to win.

"You can't go into it with nerves. It's a game that means a lot to us. When you prepare the way we prepare, you go into games with confidence and this is what we're going to do.

"The league has been challenging for us this season but tomorrow is an opportunity to take a big step towards safety. We have to look at the positive and the opportunity that game gives us."

Mandron has 21 goal contributions this season in all competitions - but only four of his 11 goals have been in the Premiership. In fact he has scored as many goals at Hampden in cup semi-finals as he has in the league.

"When you're a striker, you're always looking to score," the 31-year-old said.

"I've done quite well in the cups. My goal involvement tally overall is quite good this season. In the league less so. That's something I keep working on individually.

"We work on it as a team as well, trying to look at ways we can improve. There are three games left this season, that's three opportunities for me and the team to get goals."

Mandron's contract is up at the end this season, but he's parking any thoughts about his future until the relegation battle is over.

"That's not something I'm focused on at all at the minute. The season's not done. We're still playing for safety."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish has been talking to the media before Saturday's crucial Premiership match against Kilmarnock.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• He says there is simply no getting away from the enormity of the game - a win would lift the Buddies out of the play-off spot and above Kilmarnock. "There's no downplaying it, there's no getting away from it, there's no second chances after this. Throughout the season in knockout competitions we've stepped up and we're trying to build it like that."

• St Mirren will only be trying to win: "You don't want to get to a situation where you're relying on other people and other results. The mentality is to win the game, like it has been for all of our games. The mentality will never be trying to make sure we just nick a point."

• McLeish believes performances have improved since he took interim charge, but says that doesn't matter if points don't follow. "The performances are really positive and that's great if we're talking pre-season here, but we're in an absolute dogfight - the only thing that matters right now is coming away with wins and putting points on the board."

• Despite St Mirren's precarious position, McLeish insists confidence is high in the squad. "We've had a really good week on the training pitch, the place has been really lively and there's still so much confidence within the group. They know we need our big players to step up in key moments."

• McLeish also addressed the Buddies' struggles in front of goal, having only scored 27 in 35 league matches. "I would be more worried if we weren't getting into good areas and creating chances. The work on the training pitch is focused on the final third as well, there's been a lot of finishing. That part of the pitch is about confidence more than anything, we're trying to replicate as many situations as we can, just trying to give them freedom and confidence, but that freedom and confidence hasn't really been there all season."

• Team news: Goalkeeper Shamal George and striker Dan Nlundulu are still unavailable, but "real leader" Marcus Fraser has declared himself fit. Still, McLeish is wary of rushing the defender back before he is ready. Liam Donnelly is hoping to train on Friday and could play a part, Declan John is booked in for a hernia operation next week, while Alex Gogic is suspended.

Image source, SNS

• St Mirren have won just one of their past 14 Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (D6 L7), winning 5-1 in March 2025.

• Kilmarnock have kept a clean sheet in five of their past seven Scottish Premiership visits to St Mirren, drawing 0-0 most recently in December.

• St Mirren have lost three successive league games and could lose four in a row for the second time this season, previously doing so across December/January.

• Although they are 10th in the overall table, Kilmarnock sit bottom of an away table in this season's Scottish Premiership, with just nine points (level with Livingston) and a goal difference of -24 (Livingston -20).

• St Mirren's Premiership games this season have featured the fewest goals of any side (78 – 27 for, 51 against). Indeed, the Buddies' 27 goals scored is at least eight fewer than anyone else.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

St Mirren have played and won one cup final this season and came close(ish) to reaching another.

Now they have three 'cup finals' left in the league - and five if things don't go to plan and they end up in a play-off for Premiership survival.

First up, Kilmarnock in Paisley. A must-win game according to St Mirren manager Craig McLeish and few would disagree.

With three rounds of matches to go the Buddies have the dubious distinction of being in the play-off spot.

Killie's 3-0 win over Dundee United and St Mirren's 1-0 defeat at Dens Park means the Buddies are clinging to the second-bottom rung of the top-flight ladder.

Pretty much a two-way battle to avoid the play-off now, wouldn't you say? So Saturday's meeting is huge.

Killie go into it in slightly better fettle. That win over United was their only victory in four since the start of April. Rattling in three against the Tangerines will do their confidence the world of good. Mind you, Killie are one of two clubs who've managed just one win on the road this season.

The fact the other is Livingston, who notched their only travelling triumph at the SMISA a couple of weeks ago, is cause for concern.

As is the Buddies' form. They haven't won since beating Aberdeen at the start of April, losing all three league matches without scoring.

Lack of goals (apart from in cup competitions) has been the bugbear all season. They've only netted 27 times, that's 12 fewer than relegated Livingston and 14 fewer than Killie.

Defender Miguel Freckleton is joint top league scorer with Mika Mandron on just four goals. The big man scored seven in the league last season, one behind Toyosi Olusanya who left a year ago.

So he has three games in which to equal or surpass last season's haul. It might also go some way to help keep the Buddies in the Premiership (no pressure then).

Worth pointing out that Mandron has scored seven in cup competitions this season - maybe it's a good job then that there are three cup finals to go.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

On loan at St Mirren from Belgian club Sint-Truiden for the second half of the 2018-19 season, Duckens Nazon "had a story" in Scotland.

It was short-lived, though.

The forward, Haiti's record scorer, is hoping to stun the nation he once called home when the sides meet in Boston at the 2026 World Cup.

Nazon played 12 games for St Mirren, scoring twice, but said he was "not ready for this kind of aggression and fight" in Scottish football.

The weather also played its part.

"I remember one game we had sun, snow and rain," he recalled on the BBC's Sacked in the Morning podcast. "After this, I was like, OK, I'm done."

Weather is unlikely to be an issue for Nazon this summer in North America. The striker, a friend of Scotland defender Dominic Hyam - with whom he played at Coventry - did, however, voice concerns about inflated ticket prices for the upcoming World Cup matches.

"There is only one thing that starts to go in my brain - it's the ticket prices," he says. "Hopefully this is not going to affect the crowd and people coming to the stadium, because we want this atmosphere.

"We want this energy around us. I'm looking forward to seeing Scottish people and Haitian people in the stadiums. This is going to be important."

Nazon also detailed his recent evacuation from Iran, where he plays his club football for Esteghlal, saying he watched bombs drop from just 100 metres away and that his life was saved by a SIM card.

Listen to his guest appearance on Sacked in the Morning in full and read more about a turbulent time in the 32-year-old's life.

Andrew Christie
Fan writer

Football's funny, isn't it? Not 'haha' funny. More like a sort of 'these post-match pints are starting to taste like tweeting opinions' funny.

St Mirren have slipped down into the relegation play-off spot. Twenty-seven league goals in thirty-five games, the lowest in the division, is the number that has brought us here more than any other.

We've suffered three consecutive league defeats - Celtic away, Livingston at home, Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Dundee.

Kilmarnock, who beat Dundee United 3-0 on Saturday, are now one point above us. They come to Paisley on Saturday, and if we thought this game was big before, it's now become comically so.

See? Funny.

The 1-0 defeat at Dens Park on Saturday had the complexion of a fair few others we've experienced this season.

We lost possession cheaply in our own half on twelve minutes, Cameron Congreve had the space to cross from the right, and Joe Westley prodded it in off the post.

For the next 78 minutes St Mirren had most of the ball without really troubling the Dundee goal. It's now 17 league games without scoring this season. 27 goals in 35 games. Relegated Livingston scored 39.

The tactical question is genuinely complicated. The best football we have played this season has come in a back three under Craig McLeish.

A back four - very clearly the interim boss' preference - demands a different kind of defensive organisation. The higher the wide defenders push, the more exposed the central pairing becomes (see Livingston's first goal. See Dundee's. See my phone being launched into orbit.). The distances between the lines become harder to manage without the right personnel.

At Dundee on Saturday the shape was altered out of necessity rather than design, with nine first-team players unavailable and a bench so depleted it featured players who would criticise me for not knowing who Clavicular is.

Whether a makeshift back three with Scott Tanser, Declan John or even Mark O'Hara filling in centrally would offer more stability than the back four, or whether the unfamiliarity of those players in those roles would create its own vulnerabilities, is the question McLeish has been sitting with. There is no clear answer.

Liam Donnelly may be available for Saturday. Shamal George is 50-50. Marcus Fraser came on at Dens being followed by a doctor with a big comedy net. Whatever XI McLeish puts out, it needs to score, because two league games without a goal against Livingston and Dundee has put us here. Kilmarnock on Saturday will demand something we have not produced in weeks.

Win and our Premiership status becomes more tangible. The season still has a good ending available to it.

Andrew Christie can be found at Misery Hunters, external