St Mirren

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

St Mirren's Stephen Robinson says he "didn't even want to be a manager" and that he was not aware he is poised to take charge of his 400th game.

But the 50-year-old Northern Irishman takes it as "a compliment" that he will reach the milestone against Falkirk on Saturday.

"I didn't even want to be a manager," Robinson revealed to BBC Scotland. "I meant to just go to America and coach in the sunshine.

"I'm not sure how this ended up like this. Michael O'Neill is probably to blame for it, really. I ended up working with Michael with the junior international squads with Northern Ireland and then into the senior international squads."

Robinson's managerial journey started in 2017 with Oldham Athletic before he moved to Motherwell, where he had spent a previous spell as assistant.

He left the Fir Park club after three years and a short spell with Morecambe followed before he returned to Scotland with St Mirren in 2022.

It was while Robinson was Well's assistant that he started the same role under O'Neill with their national team.

"Obviously, from there, you get a bug for it," he said. "I didn't know I had that many games. I must still be enjoying it, if I'm not counting them and counting the hours down until I finish it.

"With the cut-throat nature of it, I suppose I'll take that as a compliment that I've managed to get the 400 games."

Robinson took players not involved with their national sides for a spot of team bonding during the domestic break.

"It's good sometimes just to get away from the constant pressure of football," he added.

"They're young boys as well. They're big kids really, so they like a little bit of fun. We enjoyed ourselves."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership visit to Falkirk on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his media conference:

• Robinson admits he was not aware it will be his 400th game as a manager but takes it as a compliment given the cut-throat nature of the business. He jokes that he "just wanted to coach in the sunshine in America".

• St Mirren used the international break to work on the training pitch but also gave those not away on national duty some time off. A good week during which the players had a "team bonding" padel day.

• Robinson says Falkirk's journey has been fantastic with a very good manager in John McGlynn. It is a club on the rise and it is fantastic to have them back in the top flight. Robinson sees similarities between the two clubs.

• Deadline-day signing Dan Nlundulu, who arrived from Bolton, is fit to play and Robinson sees "some really good attributes" from the forward who has "just lost his way a little bit".

• This weekend is probably too soon for Conor McMenamin and Liam Donnelly, although both have returned to training after injury. Fellow midfielder Lillian Philips and defender Richard King will be assessed following their international duties.

• Robinson says it has been a good start to the season for his side before a big game to start a key week, with St Mirren visiting Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup on Friday.

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Manager John McGlynn says St Mirren are "the benchmark" for Falkirk as he looks to establish the Bairns as a Premiership club.

St Mirren, who travel to the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday, are in their eighth consecutive Premiership campaign and have finished in the top half of the table for the past three years under Stephen Robinson.

"St Mirren are the benchmark as a football club for us," McGlynn said.

"They got promoted in 2017-18 and they've been in the league ever since.

"In that time they've been able to grow the football club, they've got a great youth system going. They've got their own training ground that's probably been built on a little bit over the years with more money, and that's exactly where we want to be.

"Obviously the manager has got top six the last three seasons and got them into Europe. If we can be in the Premiership seven years from now, then this football club will be in an amazing place, so they are the benchmark."

Looking ahead to Saturday's Premiership clash, McGlynn feels his squad are in a great place to challenge the Buddies.

Kyrell Wilson, who scored on his debut against Aberdeen last time out, misses the game with an ankle knock but Falkirk's four other recent signings are all in contention.

"We brought five players in in the last few days of the window, all players that were kind of pigeon-holed for exactly what we required," McGlynn added.

"Kyrell certainly hit the ground running and it was good to get Ethan [Williams], Sam [Hart] and big Trey [Ogunsuyi] in the door, and Filip [Lissah] looks a very good player.

"We got all the positions that we wanted, so the squad's really, really strong now."

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• This will be the first top-flight clash between Falkirk and St Mirren since a 1-1 draw in May 2010; the Bairns are unbeaten in their past three games against the Buddies at this level (W1 D2).

• St Mirren have only lost one of their past five top-flight away games at Falkirk (W3 D1), a 2-1 defeat in April 2010.

• After their 1-0 victory over Aberdeen, Falkirk could win back-to-back top-flight matches without conceding for the first time since December 2007.

• St Mirren have drawn five of their past six league matches (L1), with three of those finishing 1-1. Overall, the Buddies have lost just one of their last 10 in the Scottish Premiership (W3 D6).

• St Mirren have scored just two goals in the Scottish Premiership this season, which is their fewest after four matches in the top flight since the 2019-20 season (also two).

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

There are only so many times I can wander aimlessly around my house in an international week, talking to the houseplants and asking the dog what he thinks about Steve Clarke's team selections, before I need to find some sort of St Mirren-based lightning rod for my attention.

The Saints currently have 12 players out on loan, making good use of the SFA's new cooperation system.

As all these loans have been to clubs further down the Scottish tier or across the Irish Sea, this leaves plenty to investigate in an otherwise barren St Mirren week. Or, so I thought.

The primary focus of the Buddies' loan traffic has been to cooperation clubs Dumbarton and Clydebank. Dumbarton, sitting middle of the deck in League Two after five fixtures, have taken Theo McCormick, Thomas Falconer and Carrick McAvoy. Meanwhile, Lowland League Clydebank, flying high in second place, are responsible for giving young centre-half Billy Hutchinson his first taste of senior football.

However, despite both the Sons and Bankies having weekend fixtures, all four cooperative loanees featured in St Mirren colours on Saturday.

The Saints' B side are outperforming the majority of their peers thus far in the new Challenge Cup league format, sitting above all but one of their fellow youth set-ups at the halfway point. This position was cemented on Saturday with a 2-2 draw at League Two Annan Athletic.

That side itself was weakened with the international call-ups of Evan Mooney (U19, alongside Queen of the South loanee Callum Penman), Luke Douglas and Ben Stoddart (U17) for Scotland.

Leading before looking to have fallen to a late home winner, the young Buddies rescued an injury-time point from the penalty spot - dispatched coolly by Struan Thompson, son of cup-winning local boy and BBC media darling Steven.

Highly-rated 18-year-old Lewis Hodgkiss, a recruit from the scuttled Accies academy system this summer, has had his midfield talents dispatched to Stirling Albion for at least half of the season.

However, he missed their Friday night defeat in Inverness to also feature in Annan for his parent club at the weekend. The same can also be said for Josh Farquhar, on loan in Cumbernauld though called through to Annan for cup duty.

Farquhar's loan buddy Lyle Hunter joined him in the move to Cumbernauld, but featured neither here nor there on Saturday.

Three Championship clubs have also borrowed St Mirren players, though Partick Thistle (Oisin Smyth) had the weekend off.

Instead, all Saints' eyes could have been on Dingwall where Ross County (James Scott) fell to defeat against Arbroath (Luke Kenny, though the young centre-half was missing from the line-up). Scott did make a late substitute appearance, though could only watch on as the Red Lichties captured the points at the death.

Patient goalkeeping understudy Peter Urminsky was loaned to Glentoran this summer to finally secure consistent senior football, though he has been left to ride the pine in Northern Ireland too.

As with all league fixtures so far, Urminsky was left on the bench for Saturday's win in Ballymena. A club debut in the County Antrim Shield last Tuesday is all available to celebrate thus far on the Slovakian's travels.

In the end then, for both positive and less positive reasons, 12 outward Paisley loan deals resulted in a sole James Scott substitute appearance during this international break.

Encouragement must be taken from the young Saints continuing to perform against expectations and B Team average in the Challenge Cup, though normal league duty for their respective loan destinations should hopefully bring further senior minutes in the weeks ahead.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

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Dan Nlundulu says he will bring "strong hold-up play" and "goals" to St Mirren after joining the club on deadline day.

Nlundulu, 26, joined from Bolton Wanderers on a one-year deal after spending last season on loan at Cambridge United.

And he is determined to make an impact north of the border.

"I'm really excited to play in the SPFL," he said. "There are a lot of good teams here, so it's a new challenge for me and I'm looking forward to it.

"I think it's a great platform for me to come in and show what I can do. I'm just excited to get that opportunity and show the fans what I can do.

"I'm a powerful player with the ball, strong hold-up play and can score goals. That's what the gaffer brought me to do and I hope to do that."

Nlundulu says he will take a bit of time to get up to full match fitness.

"Fitness-wise, I'm feeling good," he said. "I've only got maybe two or three 90 minutes, so I think I need to get going a little bit fitness-wise and the gaffer has let me know that.

"I'm in good nick and I'm fit. That's the most important thing."

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Hibs should have been awarded a penalty in last month's Premiership draw against St Mirren, the Scottish FA's key match incident panel have said.

The Easter Road side thought they were about to be awarded a spot-kick for handball in the closing stages of the match after Thibault Klidje's shot struck Jayden Richardson's arm, but referee Matthew MacDermid was told there was no foul play by the VAR.

"VAR has been brought in to improve the game, and today I don't think it's helped," head coach David Gray said after the incident.

Now, the three members of the SFA's panel - which reviews all major incidents from the Scottish Premiership - have unanimously ruled that the wrong decision was made.

"The panel unanimously agreed that the on-field decision was incorrect," the verdict said.

"The panel highlighted VAR was incorrect not to intervene to recommend an [on-field review] and a penalty should have been awarded for handball."

We asked for your views on St Mirren's transfer business this summer under Stephen Robinson.

Here's what some of you said:

Kev: Stephen Robinson has always been very shrewd in the past with signings and the return of Keanu Baccus, Killian Phillips' loan being made permanent were a very welcome boost in our prospects for the season, so I'm sure our faith in the manager spending wisely will continue with the welcome addition of Dan Nlundulu.

Andy: It will take a bit of time for all the players to get to know one another as with all the other clubs but the most pleasing thing is that they are all signed up on contracts.

Alistair: Having Baccus return to Paisley has to be the biggest surprise of this window. Along with Shamal George and Miguel Freckleton, class players who will thrive and enhance our side, this window has been a success.

Peter: We look strong enough to compete in the Premiership. The addition of a pacey striker was crucial, Nlundulu will take a fair bit of time to get up to speed I reckon, hope the lad proves me wrong.

David: I'm happy with our transfer dealings and feel that we are stronger in all areas.

JayDee: I think the inbound figure may be as high as 13. A few of these are full internationals. I have not seen anything like this before. I would say it was miraculous, but this is entirely down to our top-table dining status over the past three seasons.

Stuart: Until we get decent finishers well struggle to close out games. Routinely signing EFL journeymen isn't getting us anywhere. At least Fraser and Mooney are getting game time though

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Three points from four games may seem to be a sparse harvest for St Mirren as we enter September, but the true picture is more encouraging than mere numbers suggest.

In their opening quartet, the Saints have faced each of last season's top three (two away from home) and this season's new-look, seemingly unbeatable Motherwell.

Battling to three draws, twice pegged back from winning positions, there is clear evidence of a side comfortable and competitive among top-six company.

In their sole defeat, falling to a late Luke McCowan strike at Celtic Park, the Buddies deserved more for their defensive efforts.

In September, league fixtures reflect the (expected) opposite end of the table in the shape of a visit to new boys Falkirk and hosting Dundee. Add to this schedule a quarter-final visit to Kilmarnock with a spot at Hampden up for grabs, and the season's picture surely will come into sharper focus.

If there is one area that has raised hypothetically concerned eyebrows, it is profligacy in front of goal.

In their glut against Annan, the Saints scored more than they have in their other eight cup and league fixtures combined. A combination of Jack Butland's outstretched glove, a little hesitancy and facing high-possession sides can take most of the blame, but all deadline day eyes in Paisley were on potential reinforcements in this area.

And, at the 11th hour, a surely sleepy-eyed head of media put out the white smoke the waiting crowds were demanding.

Dan Nlundulu, a graduate of the Southampton academy who rose to make 12 Premier League appearances for the second-best Saints in British football, signed off on a one-year deal to leave Bolton and head further north.

Described by Stephen Robinson as providing the pace and strength lost following the departure of Toyosi Olusanya, Nlundulu brings much-needed reinforcement and competition to the established pairing of Jonah Ayunga and Mikael Mandron.

In partnering Mandron, Nlundulu completes an unlikely pair of French-born forwards who have played all of their football in the UK. With next year's World Cup on the horizon, tout est possible...

Mark Jardine can be found on the Misery Hunters podcast., external

St Mirren signed Dan Nlundulu from Bolton Wanderers on a one-year deal, fulfilling manager Stephen Robinson's wish for a pacey striking option.

Some other highlights included Keanu Baccus rejoining the club and Killian Phillips' loan deal being made permanent as the Buddies welcomed 12 new faces in total.

St Mirren fans, are you pleased with the club's transfer business? Does it leave the squad in good shape for the season ahead - or is Stephen Robinson light in certain positions?

Let us know your thoughts.

Image source, Getty Images

St Mirren have signed striker Dan Nlundulu from Bolton Wanderers on a one-year deal.

Nlundulu started his career at Southampton, where he made 13 appearances in the English Premier League before signing for Bolton on a permanent basis in 2023.

The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Cambridge United, scoring five goals in 30 appearances.

"Dan is someone we've looked at before when he was at Southampton," manager Stephen Robinson told club media.

"He's quick, strong, has a real ability and has become available at the last minute. We believe he gives us another strong option in the attacking area. He gives us that pace and strength that we perhaps lost when Toyosi Olusanya left.

"We've high hopes for him. We need to keep him fit. He's got a lot of talent but he's had a couple of injuries, which he's now over. He's someone we are really looking forward to working with and getting the best out of him.

"It's typical of our signings; players that have real talent but have maybe lost their way a little. We know he's a really good player and he'll be a really effective player for us going forward."

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Midfielder Oisin Smyth has joined Partick Thistle on loan for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

St Mirren have an option to recall the 25-year-old in January.

Smyth, who transferred from Oxford United last summer, scored four goals in 30 appearances for St Mirren.

Manager Stephen Robinson said: "We feel that Oisin going to play games at Partick at a really good level, with really good people that we know well, will help Oisin come on leaps and bounds.

"He's not really played 20 games a season and when he does that we feel we'll have a very good player ready to come back and play in our first-team."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren fans waiting for a new face or two on deadline day are likely to be disappointed.

I am told that while manager Stephen Robinson is looking at a couple of options, it's unlikely any more deals will be done before the transfer window closes.

There's been a fair turnover at the SMISA already, with a dozen players already added to the ranks either permanently or on loan.

Watch all the highlights from Hibs' 1-1 draw against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

UK users only.

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Rangers came from behind to rescue a Scottish Premiership point at St Mirren - but Russell Martin's underwhelming side could not avoid recording their worst domestic start in 36 years.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "It was a terrific game of football, first and foremost. Both teams played some really good stuff.

"I thought we created a few chances. Hibs created stuff as well, they were a big danger from set plays with their delivery and their height at the back.

"But I thought we played really well, controlled the game at times, created numerous chances. Our final ball, pass and decision has let is down and we have to work on that.

"If you don't take your opportunities, you're always liable and it could cost you three points, which it ended up doing. Overall, perhaps a draw is a fair result against a very good Hibs side.

"There's a lot of good stuff, we want to convert draws to wins. We're a good side, we've proved that, but it's those final touches. I'm desperate for another striker to give us options.

"I've been told I have to take someone out to bring someone in, which is always the case. The board will back me as much as they can."

The Scottish transfer window closes at 23:00 BST on Monday 1 September so there's still time for business to be done.

What do St Mirren need to do before the window slams shut?

Have your say here

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Hibs head coach David Gray will assess his squad following the Conference League exit to Legia Warsaw after extra time in Poland on Thursday. Joe Newell is working his way back to fitness after a groin injury.

St Mirren have a fitness doubt over Jonah Ayunga (knee) while fellow forward Roland Idowu is set to play through a similar problem. Conor McMenamin (calf) and Liam Donnelly (Achilles) remain out.

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Keanu Baccus insists the increased demands of Stephen Robinson will improve him as a player on his return to St Mirren.

The Australia midfielder, 27, rejoined the Buddies after a year at Mansfield and feels the standards have got higher during his time away.

Speaking before Sunday's trip to face Hibs, Baccus said: "It was only a year away but it felt like longer, because obviously the club were very successful last year, and in Europe. It's good to be back.

"I can feel that smile coming back. I play at my best when I'm enjoying it, definitely, when stuff is comfortable off the pitch it's easy to replicate it on the pitch.

"There's a little bit higher demand from when I was here last time, which is a great thing for us. A little bit more detail in how we want to play, it's definitely going to improve me as a player.

"When I came here the first time I was really surprised with the level of the club and the league, and when I got that phone call, it was a no-brainer to come back to improve myself and keep the club's standards high.

"I want to play in Europe myself with the club. Every game is tough but we want to be fighting at the top end of the table for sure."

St Mirren came within three minutes of holding Celtic at Parkhead and have drawn with Motherwell and Rangers either side of knocking Hearts out of the Premier Sports Cup.

The tough start continues this weekend as Robinson's men chase a fourth consecutive top-six finish in the Premiership.

"That's the standards the club has set over the last couple of years," Baccus said.

"Also, the players they've brought in have been fantastic and adapted well to the style and the way we want to play.

"It's good at the start of the season to play the tougher teams that will be in the top six because you can get a real gauge of where you are and test yourself against them."

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St Mirrern's fitness issues up front have intensified with Jonah Ayunga battling to be fit for Sunday's trip to Hibernian.

Ayunga came off in the second half of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Rangers after scoring the opener before the break.

Mikael Mandron overcame a knock to play in that game and Roland Idowu was restricted to a late cameo as he nurses a knee problem.

St Mirren will still be without Conor McMenamin, who has a calf injury, when they face Hibs and manager Stephen Robinson does not look like getting a new striker in before the trip to Edinburgh.

"Roland Idowu is still carrying a knock on his knee so we'll rest him next week. We'll try and get him through this week," Robinson said.

"And Jonah Ayunga has missed training all week with a knock on his knee so we'll assess him on Saturday and see how he is."

Robinson added: "We're not any closer but I would love to get another striker in, a quick one that gives us options.

"I felt in the Rangers game if we had that electric pace up front then we may have hit them on the counter-attack because they're obviously aggressive with how they're planning to get back into the game.

"But you've got to run the club prudently and it's a case that we probably need somebody to leave before we're able to do that, unfortunately."

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• Hibernian are winless in their past seven league meetings with St Mirren (D3 L4) since a 2-1 victory in May 2023.

• St Mirren have won each of their past three league visits to Hibs, as many as their previous 20 beforehand in the top flight (W3 D6 L11).

• Hibs are unbeaten in 13 home league games (W9 D4), their longest run in the Scottish Premiership since October 2018 (14).

• St Mirren are winless in five league games (D4 L1), last going longer without victory in May 2023 (seven).

• Hibs have scored at least twice in each of their past 10 home league games (26 goals total), the longest run in the Scottish top flight by any side other than Celtic or Rangers in the 21st century.

Chris McLaughlin
Sports news correspondent, BBC Scotland

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AI is the new battlefield in football, and as well as a race for trophies, there's currently an arms race for the very latest tech.

The new technology is transforming areas such as analysis, player fitness and most importantly scouting.

"It initially started with the man doing the match report and player analysis, but it's changing and the stuff we're seeing now is scary," said John Park, St Mirren's head of recruitment.

"Only last week we had students in from the engineering department of the University of Strathclyde profiling players with us.

"We're right at the start of it and I think we may bring the students in to do their final thesis - who knows where it might go."

Park spent many years at Celtic and was responsible for the arrival of players like Virgil van Dijk and Moussa Dembele - he's a man who knows a player.

He was appointed St Mirren's head of recruitment after Martin Foyle left to join Carlisle United.

He held the same role at at Blackburn Rovers and has also worked for Rangers, Birmingham City, Maccabi Haifa and Vancouver Whitecaps.

Park says the days of people resisting the new technology in football are over, and points to player simulation as the next big breakthrough.

If club X is looking at player Y as a potential left-back, the technology now exists for AI to look at every single game player Y has ever played and put him into a simulated match alongside his potential new team-mates.

Analysts no longer have to predict how he might play in the team - they can watch his simulation perform in front of their eyes.

"It means we could essentially take the data to the manager and say 'look, he does fit us'," said Park.

Read more: How AI is reshaping football landscape