St Mirren

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Others may have had more to celebrate by the final whistle on Saturday afternoon, but I'd defy them to feel the same level of pride as inspired by the Saints and their efforts.

I love this football club and they give me every reason to.

The list of reasons why St Mirren should not have been challenging for Europe until the 95th minute of the final game of this campaign is long and familiar at this point, but I'll make no apologies for running through them once again.

The 2024-25 campaign started with the unfamiliar pressures of European qualification and the associated travel dramas. Desperate for some semblance of normality, the Buddies were instead unable to train in their usual home. Neilston Juniors, among others, came to the rescue.

Rarely do the Saints open their cheque book and go fishing in the pond of paid transfers. Conor McMenamin's signing from Glentoran was the exception last season, his versatility and directness becoming an integral component of Stephen Robinson's tactical thinking. Greg Kiltie, for many a player of the year pick in securing that historic fifth place, likewise.

For both to require significant medical intervention in pre-season was unfortunate, but the eventual length of their lay-offs was near unthinkable. There was no "fine, we'll sign another couple of wingers" button for Robinson to press and large-scale tactical changes then had to follow.

The further loss of a starting right-back, striker and cover at left-back for off-field reasons was unfathomable. There is no reason to doubt Robinson when he describes this period as perhaps the most challenging in his managerial career.

Assistant Diarmuid O'Carroll's growing reputation was rewarded with a move to lead Newcastle United's growing second side. Brian Kerr, at the time the link between the Buddies academy in Ralston and the first team, was promoted and forced to forge a managerial partnership with Robinson at a time when the team were fighting to arrest challenging form.

VAR is a tiresome and well-worn topic, but I'll include that for a second consecutive season the Saints find themselves at the top of the table for subsequently overturned or disputed decisions - and leave it there.

If you're still here, you'd be forgiven for consigning the beleaguered Buddies to the bottom half and hoping this season simply fizzled away into history.

Instead, the defiant Paisley men went unbeaten post-split and pushed the city clubs until the very last. Home and away wins over Rangers, Hibs, Aberdeen and more.

A point on the final day, so close to taking three and some of the gloss off Celtic's trophy day. A 5-1 rout of bogey side Kilmarnock at the moment it was most needed. A 98th-minute turnaround in Perth. Snatching late victory in the Dingwall sleet.

See you in July.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson lauded his players despite falling short of qualifying for Europe for successive seasons for the first time after their 1-1 draw away to champions Celtic.

For their efforts, two Buddies have made my team of the week.

Richard Taylor: A great performance from the Buddies at Celtic Park and Taylor played his part as usual.

Jonah Ayunga: Took his goal well. Has been a real bright spark for St Mirren all season.

Watch the Sportscene team discuss St Mirren's impressive performance in their 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.

Watch all the highlights from Celtic's 1-1 draw against St Mirren on the final day of the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 1-1 draw against Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Frank: If I was the St Mirren manager I would be fuming at the way they gave the ball away and gave Celtic possession in the last five minutes. Ultimately that resulted in Celtic's equaliser.

Alistair: So proud to be a Buddie, we gave the champions a bloody nose. A huge thank you to this group of players, they have given their all and good luck to the ones moving on.

Craig: Another unbelievable, unrealistic achievement from the management team. To take it to the last game of the season to get another European place is phenomenal.

Pauline: Well done Saints. From Valur to Parkhead it has been a blast. Onwards to next season and we go again. Stephen Robinson what a manager. We are forever in your debt.

Peter: Saints played well all over the pitch until the last minute when nobody covered their right winger. It was a great result for us.

Colin: Congratulations to the St Mirren manager, players, staff and supporters for a fantastic journey throughout this season despite inconsistent VAR decisions and three players' unprofessional behaviours. Looking forward to next season.

Image source, SNS

• St Mirren have scored in their last six games in the Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Alistair Johnston has assisted 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no player has more.

• Jonah Ayunga has scored his fourth goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 10th May 2025 against Dundee United.

• Celtic have scored in 35 of their 38 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

St Mirren came so close to a rare win at Celtic Park - and qualifying for Europe - until James Forrest's late equaliser and Dundee United's comeback against Aberdeen.

Were you at the game or what it on TV?

Give us your thoughts on the game and St Mirren's season.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson lauded his players despite falling short of qualifying for Europe for a second season running for the first time ever after their 1-1 draw away to champions Celtic.

A late James Forrest equaliser denied St Mirren a rare victory at Celtic Park, but Dundee United's win over Aberdeen meant that those two clubs secured the final two qualifying spots.

"Even if we had won the game, we couldn't have got Europe, but to remain unbeaten in the top six and come here and not be beat by a Celtic side coming to party," he said.

"In the first half, I'm not sure they had a shot on target - we were really disciplined. You obviously don't get so much of the ball against Celtic, but when we did, we tried to play, we tried to pass and we got punished for our one mistake right at the end.

"Overall, I can't ask any more of this group of players. They are playing way above the resources that we are putting into the team and I am proud to say I am the manager of this group of boys.

"These boys never give up. They said we couldn't get in the top six with everything that happened - they defied the odds. They said we couldn't anywhere near Europe and we've reduced that gap right down and I believe it's the highest points tally in modern history for St Mirren.

"So a lot of positives. A lot of boys playing really well and, like every season, you start to lose these boys and we have to go again.

"The board have to back us again. It is difficult because we are a fan-owned club, but we have to find the resources to compete with bigger clubs and bigger fan bases. But we will."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Absolute heart-break for St Mirren. They did their bit, with a fabulous performance and draw at the home of champions Celtic.

That it still was not enough to secure them fifth place - and European football in successive season for the first time - will be a bitter pill to swallow after nine points from 15 post-split.

Regardless of that disappointment, it has been another terrific season and the pain will eventually dissipate as they reflect on yet another top-six finish and a sparkling end to the campaign.

Anyone watching St Mirren this season will surely have been impressed by their organisation, work ethic and quality.

Solid at the back, inventive in midfield and pacy out wide, it is no surprise they have had another good season once they recovered from their European exertions.

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Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate has been ruled out for the last two games of the season with a knee injury. Cameron Carter-Vickers returns while Dane Murray (knee) remains out.

St Mirren have a full squad available aside from Owen Oseni.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren's last win at Celtic Park came four years ago in a near-empty stadium during the Covid pandemic as the hosts' 10-in-a-row bid imploded.

Marcus Fraser was part of the Buddies side that day - and will attempt to repeat the feat at a packed Parked on Saturday as Celtic lift the Premiership trophy.

"Back in 2021 I think we were very clinical, that's probably the main part," said defender Fraser.

"Any time you beat Celtic, whether that be home or away, you need to be very good in a lot of aspects of your game. You obviously have to defend well, the goalkeeper probably has to make saves within the game.

"Also when you get the ball, I think you need to go and buy the passes and really be an attacking threat as well. You need to get one or two chances a game and put them away. Hopefully we can do that.

"We are set for Celtic playing their strongest team possible. They're at home, we know what they've got on the line. They're going to lift the league title, so it's up to us to go and hopefully spoil the party."

St Mirren hope to have something to celebrate as well. If Stephen Robinson's side better Dundee United's result at home to Aberdeen, the Buddies will finish fifth and earn a place in Conference League qualifying.

"It's down to one point now going into the last game and it's all to play for," added Fraser.

"So we just need to go out there with a positive mindset, with nothing to lose and hopefully we'll go and take the game to Celtic and see where it takes us."

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• Celtic have won 11 of their past 12 meetings with St Mirren in all competitions (D1), including the past eight in a row.

• St Mirren have only won one of their last 37 away games at Celtic in all competitions (D3 L33), a 2-1 victory in January 2021 under Jim Goodwin.

• Celtic have won their final league game in 14 of the past 17 seasons (including curtailed 2019-20 season), with their only defeat in this time coming in 2017-18 (1-0 v Aberdeen).

• St Mirren have lost their final league match in both of the past two seasons, a 3-0 defeat to Rangers in 2022-23, and 3-2 to Celtic in 2023-24.

• Celtic have scored 111 goals in this season's Scottish Premiership. Only in 1915-16 (116), 1935-36 (115), 2022-23 (114), and 1937-38 (113) have they netted more in a single league campaign.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson says leading St Mirren to European qualification this season would "definitely" be the greatest achievement in his managerial career so far because of the "challenges" he has faced.

The Paisley club, who complete the campaign with a trip to Celtic on Saturday, will secure a place in Conference League qualifying for a second successive year if they better the result of Dundee United, who host Aberdeen.

After ending St Mirren's 37-year wait for European football last season, Robinson says this year has been much tougher. Three new signings – Kevin Van Veen, Shaun Rooney and Jaden Brown - left the club amid separate court cases.

"I feel like it's three or four seasons rolled into one. The decisions the club had to make with players and the problems they faced was something you probably don't get when you manage for 30 years," said Robinson.

"But to have it all in a three-month period was difficult. But we've managed to come through it and I feel I'm a better manager for it.

"It's been unenjoyable at times. But we're in the top six with a chance of Europe with one game to go.

"So the lesson is that the bad times don't last forever. And tough people come through those times and this group of players have shown they're tough.

"We got a bit of a stick for celebrating reaching the top six. That was a relief on my part because we weren't in a relegation battle.

"Being in this division is a huge success for St Mirren. Being in the top six is a brilliant achievement. Being in Europe is something that happens once in a lifetime for most St Mirren fans. If we can do that twice in consecutive years, then that would be a super achievement."

St Mirren are unbeaten in five games, winning two of their post-split matches, and head to Celtic Park looking to spoil the party on the day the hosts lift the Premiership trophy.

"It's certainly not an impossible task. We've taken the whole European pressure off the players and said let's remain unbeaten in the top six. For St Mirren to be unbeaten in the top six would be what an incredible achievement," Robinson added.

"We can't affect what happens at Dundee United and Aberdeen. It'll be 100 degrees inside Celtic Park and their fans will be there to celebrate. So it's our job to try and put a little bit of a dampener on them."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before St Mirren's final-day Premiership trip to Celtic.

Here are the key points from the Buddies boss:

• Robinson says leading St Mirren to European qualification this season would be the greatest achievement of his managerial career.

• With three players having had their contracts terminated because of separate court cases, Robinson says it's been the most difficult season he's experienced with about 30 years' worth of challenges in one campaign.

• Robinson has described stories linking him with managerial jobs at Huddersfield Town, Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers as just "paper talk".

• He insists he's had no contact from any other clubs and is trying to build the St Mirren squad for next season.

• St Mirren - who can qualify for Europe if they better Dundee United's result against Aberdeen - will go to Celtic Park on 'trophy day' with a positive mindset and nothing to lose.

• Robinson says playing Celtic on their home turf is the hardest challenge his side could face and all the "small margins" that can determine the outcome will have to go the Buddies' way.

• The Buddies boss is till trying to tie down three or four players for next season, but Caolan Boyd-Munce will move on after rejecting a new deal.

Watch Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Charlie Mulgrew discuss St Mirren's disallowed goal in their 2-2 Premiership draw against Hibernian.

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-2 draw against Hibs.

Here's what some of you said:

Hugh: St Mirren were robbed, they had a good goal disallowed.

John: Another amazing effort from the players and management team. A remarkable season given all the setbacks we've had to overcome.

Iain: An awful first-half performance, but significantly better in the second half. Hibs were hanging on at the end. Don't know what Stephen Robinson did or said at half time, but it worked! The game was spoiled by VAR, as usual, and another inept referee who clearly is not up to it.

Douglas: Would Saints' disallowed goal have stood had any of the Old Firm scored it? Of course it would. As Robinson said, he has never ever heard of a fourth official giving a decision. If that's the case, why have VAR? Just another decision going against Saints, and a major mistake!

Andy: What a game. It looked pretty bleak after the first 10 minutes but the players dug in, and more than deserved a draw. Here's hoping for a miracle at Parkhead.

Alistair: What a great season, we've more than competed with the top-six sides and should have finished Hibs off. The VAR delays were a joke sitting in the stands and ruins the goal celebrations, hopefully this is sorted next season.

Watch highlights as St Mirren draw 2-2 against Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

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• Hibernian have lost 25 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (28) have lost more.

• St. Mirren are undefeated in their last 5 games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 6th August 2023 to 30th September 2023, a run of 7 games.

• Martin Boyle has contributed to goals in his last 3 games in the Premiership (3 goals, 0 assists).

• Martin Boyle has scored 14 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Hibernian player.

• St. Mirren have scored in their last 5 games in the Premiership, their joint longest scoring streak this season.

Image source, BBC Sport

St Mirren fans, were you at the SMiSA on Wednesday night or were you following the action from home? Either way, we want your views on the draw with Hibs.

Have your say on the game.

Image source, BBC Sport

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "We started poorly for our standards. But the reaction from the players after the first 15 minutes was tremendous. We got ourselves right back into the game. Created lots and lots of chances and half chances.

"And obviously we have the third goal disallowed. The fourth official made the decision that there was a foul in the build-up. But we asked the question, was it a different phase of play? He didn't give the foul straight away.

"If it is, then VAR have to overturn a decision that the fourth official made. I've never seen a fourth official make a decision to be fair, so that was strange to start with. But yeah, we're not saying it's right or wrong.

"But nobody seems to really be able to explain the decision and why it was classed as a different phase of play. We'll wait to hear that. We are still very much in with a chance of Europe with one game to go, which is amazing for the players.

"You've seen their desire, their energy, their quality tonight. We've got a real tough task at Celtic Park with probably 95 degrees in the stadium. But we'll go with nothing to lose.

"That decision I said to the fourth official, that's an incredibly big decision you've made because that's millions of pounds for a club of our size. And everyone's had decisions go against them.

"So, just an explanation would be nice. I'm no expert on the rule book. I should be, but I'm not. But yeah, it's frustrating. That is very, very frustrating. If it's proved to be wrong, then it could be very, very costly for us."

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Zach Hemming says he has played his best football with St Mirren and teased the prospect of a return to Paisley next season.

Hemming, 25, is on loan from parent club Middlesbrough for the second time and has been a key player as Stephen Robinson's side secured a third successive top-half Premiership finish.

The goalkeeper is under contract with Boro until the summer of 2026 and says his future depends on the English Championship club.

"I've enjoyed my time here," Hemming said of St Mirren. "It's probably the best I've played because I've enjoyed it so much. Maybe [I'll] come back next season and play in [European] games.

"Obviously I've still got another year at Middlesbrough so I've just got to see what Middlesbrough want to do and see if they've got any plans for me to stay.

"If not, 100% I would come back because I love it up here."