Month: Jan 2023

28/01/2023 Motherwell (H)

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Premiership 		 

St. Mirren Park
Paisley
St. Mirren1-0Motherwell
Main 15
Att: 6,424 Referee: J Beaton

VAR: G Irvine

No PlayerRating
1Trevor CARSON 9
22Marcus FRASER 9
13Alex GOGIC8
18Charles DUNNE 7
23Ryan STRAIN (87)8
3Scott TANSER 7
16Ethan ERHAHON8
6Mark O’HARA 6
11Greg KILTIE (87)7
10Curtis MAIN 8
21Alex GREIVE (60)7
Substitutes
7Jonah AYUNGA (60) (79)7
8Ryan FLYNN (87)6
30Fraser TAYLOR
24Lewis JAMIESON
25Kieran OFFORD (79)7
31Declan GALLAGHER (87)6
5Richard TAYLOR
27Peter URMINSKY (G)
AVERAGE PLAYER RATING7.33

Motherwell: Kelly, Johnston, Blaney, Lamie, McGinn, Spittal (Crankshaw 56), Slattery, Goss (Cornelius 89), Shields (Tierney 56), Van Veen, McKinstry 
Subs Not Used: Oxborough, O’Donnell, Johansen, Donachie, Ross

Ryan Strain

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Name: Ryan Strain
Date of Birth: 2nd of April 1997
Place of Birth: Coventry, England
Nationality: Australian
Position: Right Wing Back
Height: 5ft 11in
Weight: 12st
Signed: 28th June 2022 from Maccabi Haifa (Freedom of Contract)
Departed:
Debut: 16th July 2022 v Cowdenbeath (2-0)
Final Match:
Apps: 30
Goals: 3
Honours:

A cultured right sided player comfortable at wing back or as a more orthodox winger, Strain arrived in Paisley after a spell in Israel with Maccabi Haifa, where injury limited him to just 15 appearances during his solitary season in the Mediterranean country.

Prior to this, Strain had spent his entire career in Australia, where he had moved as a teenager from England and gained citizenship in 2020, allowing him to make his debut for the Socceroos prior to the 2022 World Cup as a Buddie.

A free kick expert, Strain is famously the grandson of Saints legend Gerry Baker who played for the club between 1958-60, scoring 63 times in 85 matches.

Marcus Fraser

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Name: Marcus Fraser
Date of Birth: 23rd July 1994
Place of Birth: Kirkintilloch, Scotland
Nationality: Scottish
Position: Right Back/Centre Back
Height: 6ft
Weight: 11st
Signed: 28th June 2020 from Ross County (Freedom of Contract)
Departed:
Debut: 1st August 2020 v Livingston (1-0)
Final Match:
Apps: 118
Goals: 4
Honours:

A versatile defender, Fraser was signed by Jim Goodwin in the summer of 2020 from Ross County where he was captain at the Dingwall club. Previously, Fraser had spent his entire youth career and early period as a professional at Celtic where despite 38 youth caps for Scotland up to under 21 level, made only two appearances for the Parkhead club before moving to the Highlands in 2015.

Capable of playing either right back or wing back in a 3 or 4 defensive shape, Fraser is probably at his best at centre back, particularly on the right side of a 3-5-2 formation. Signed a 2-year contract extension in early 2023 which will take his time in Paisley to 5 years should he stay at the club.

Charles Dunne

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Name: Charles Dunne
Date of Birth: 13th February 1993
Place of Birth: Lambeth, England
Nationality: Irish
Position: Centre Back
Height: 6ft 2in
Weight: 13.7st
Signed: 2nd June 2021 from Motherwell (Freedom of Contract)
Departed: 31st May 2023 (Freedom of Contract)
Debut: 13th July 2021 v Dunfermline (1-0)
Final Match: 27th May 2023 v Rangers (0-3)
Apps: 63
Goals: 0
Honours: None

Dunne arrived in Paisley in the summer of 2021 after 4 injury blighted seasons at Motherwell where he had initially built a good reputation as a speedy and reliable centre back, before fitness issues meant he made only three appearances in his final two seasons at Fir Park.

Perhaps looked upon as a gamble due to these issues, Dunne had no real long term injury problems at Paisley apart from a hamstring injury during his first season, and played consistently on the left side of Saints three centre backs, firstly under Jim Goodwin and then under old mentor Stephen Robinson. Initially his form was so good that Goodwin tipped him to join Jamie McGrath for an Ireland call up, but Stephen Kenny thought otherwise and the London born defender remained uncapped during his time at Paisley.

During his second season at Paisley with uncertainty over his future as Dunne stalled on a contract extension, the defender struggled for consistency post Christmas and eventually lost his place in the starting XI as the conclusion to the tense battle for European football drew to a close in the spring of 2023.

In the latter stages of the final match of the season against Rangers on the 27th May 2023, Dunne was brought on for Richard Taylor, ironically the player signed by Robinson in January to possibly replace the defender should he decide to move on from Paisley, which was Dunne’s 63rd and final appearance for St Mirren.

A few days later, on the 30th May, the club announced Dunne was leaving at the end of his contract to seek employment elsewhere after 2 relatively successful seasons in Paisley.

SEASONDIVISIONLGEGLSLCPGLSSCPGLSAPPGLS
2021/22Premiership2201030260
2022/23Premiership3303010370
  Totals5504040630

Joe Shaughnessy

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Name: Joe Shaughnessy
Date of Birth: 6th July 1992
Place of Birth: Galway, Ireland
Nationality: Irish
Position: Centre Back
Height: 6ft
Weight: 11st
Signed: 20th July 2020 from Southend Utd (Freedom of Contract)
Departed: 2nd June 2023 to Dundee (Freedom of Contract)
Debut: 1st August 2020 v Livingston (1-0)
Final Match: 27th May 2023 v Rangers (0-3)
Apps: 111
Goals: 7
Honours: None

Joe Shaughnessy joined Saints in the summer of 2020 from English League One side Southend United after previous spells in Scotland with Aberdeen and St Johnstone and quickly established himself as a vital part of the starting XI during the season fans weren’t allowed in the stadiums due to COVID-19. However, despite not being able to see the players in real live action, Shaughnessy quickly became a fans favourite due to his leadership qualities and commitment as we viewed football from our TV screens.

The Irishman took over captain duties after Sam Foley left the club in early 2021 and as the team reached the semi finals of the two cup competitions and looked nailed on for a top 6 finish, it looked as though Shaughnessy would be making history as the leader of a team set to break down decades long barriers, however a late loss of form witnessed Saints cruelly miss out on all three targets.

Shaughnessy continued to captain the side during a rollercoaster 2021/22 campaign, and was often used as an emergency forward by Jim Goodwin late in matches when he managed to score a few crucial equalisers (twice against Hibs) but the side again lost form in the spring after Stephen Robinson had replaced Aberdeen bound Goodwin and top 6 once more eluded the club.

The captain however was at the heart of the late resurgence as Saints got roped into the most unlikely relegation scrap that was eventually safely negotiated, but after Stephen Robinson reshaped his squad in the summer of 2022, Shaughnessy found himself out of favour and didn’t start many matches as Saints finally made the top 6 in April 2023.

Despite not featuring as much during the season, Shaughnessy has remained as popular as ever with the supporters and despite an offer to remain at Paisley as a squad player, the Irishman decided to join newly promoted Dundee on a free transfer where he will play a more prominent role in the first team.

SEASONDIVISIONLGEGLSLCPGLSSCPGLSAPPGLS
2020/21Premiership3316041432
2021/22Premiership3632130414
2022/23Premiership2214010271
  TOTALS915121811117

Scott Tanser

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Name: Scott Tanser
Date of Birth: 23rd October 1994
Place of Birth: Blackpool, England
Nationality: English
Position: Left Back/Wing Back
Height: 6ft
Weight: 10.2st
Signed: 7th June 2021 from St Johnstone (Freedom of Contract)
Departed:
Debut: 13th July 2021 v Dunfermline (1-0)
Final Match:
Apps: 62
Goals: 2
Honours:

After 4 years at St Johnstone, Jim Goodwin signed the English left back in the summer of 2021 to solve the long running issue on the left side of Saints defence since Adam Eckersley fell out of favour with Alan Stubbs some three years beforehand.

Having played most of his career in League One or Two in England prior to coming to Scotland, Tanser has proved to be a solid player in the Premiership capable of delivering quality crosses on occasion. Signed a 2-year extension under Stephen Robinson at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Richard Tait

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Name: Richard Tait
Date of Birth: 24th May 1999
Place of Birth: Galashiels, Scotland
Nationality: Scottish
Position: Full Back/Wing Back
Height: 5ft 11in
Weight: 12st
Signed: 18th June 2020 from Motherwell (freedom of contract)
Departed: 31st May 2023 (freedom of contract)
Debut: 1st August 2020 v Livingston (1-0)
Final Match: 27th May 2023 v Rangers (0-3)
Apps: 87
Goals: 3
Honours: None

Versatile defender Tait arrived at the club in the summer of 2020 from Motherwell, adding experience and solidity to the back four or five. Having spent most of his career in England prior to signing for the Steelman in 2016, Tait’s strong performances in Lanarkshire, particularly under Stephen Robinson, caught the eye and the defender was touted as a potential Scotland cap for a period as the ‘Well thrived at the hands of Saints current manager.

A popular and reliable player with the support, Tait operated with great commitment and efficiency in the wing back or full back position (on both sides) as well as occasionally deployed as a centre back if necessary, making him an important part of the squad, firstly under Jim Goodwin who had signed him, and then Stephen Robinson once he took over in early 2022.

Unfortunately, Tait suffered a serious injury in late October 2022, keeping him out of the majority of the season with his presence and versatility badly missed despite the relative success of the team on the park. A few days after his 34th birthday, Tait completed his close to 8 months rehabilitation by appearing in the final 20 minutes of the last match of the season, however it was announced on the 30th of May that Tait would be leaving the club after 87 appearances over 3 seasons.

SEASONDIVISIONLGEGLSLCPGLSSCPGLSAPPGLS
2020/21Premiership3317130432
2021/22Premiership2800020300
2022/23Premiership1212000141
  TOTALS7329150873

Peter Urminsky

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Name: Peter Urminsky
Date of Birth: 24th May 1999
Place of Birth: Trnava, Slovakia
Nationality: Slovakian
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6ft 5in
Weight: 13.4st
Signed: 14th January 2020 from Spartak Trnava (undisc)
Departed:
Debut: 16th July 2022 v Cowdenbeath (2-0)
Final Match:
Apps: 3
Shutouts: 1
Honours:

Giant keeper Urminsky arrived in Paisley in early 2020 when Jim Goodwin brought him to the club to develop and act as understudy to Vaclav Hladky and Dean Lyness.

He first caught the attention with an inspired performance for Saints Colt team when they knocked out big spending Kelty Hearts in the Challenge Cup, the big Slovakian saving several penalties in the shootout allowing the youngsters to progress to the next round.

Following loan spells at Ayr United and Stenhousemuir, Urminsky made his first team debut at Central Park Cowdenbeath in July 2022 and would appear in two further League Cup group matches that year before handing the gloves back to Trevor Carson. The former Spartak Trnava keeper is now firmly second choice at the club.