13/04/2024 (Celtic A)

cinch PREMIERSHIP
13th April 2024
Celtic Park, Glasgow

Celtic 3-0 St. Mirren

Hatate 52
Kyogo 60
Idah 86

ATT: 58,888
Referee: S McLean
VAR: A Dallas

Saints fall to defeat at Parkhead following another second half collapse, despite a very promising opening 45 minutes where they were the better side.
Stephen Robinson changed formation for the first time this season, reverting from a 3-4-2-1 to a 3-5-1-1, with Olusanya the lone front man supported by Kiltie. A central midfield trio of O’Hara, Boyd-Munce and Baccus added solidity and allowed Saints a sense of control in the first 45 minutes.
Injuries to Bwomono, Tanser and Kiltie with the score 0-0 however, forced Saints into multiple changes and this affected the rhythm of the side, leading to Celtic taking a grip early in the second half.
Goals from Japanese duo, Hatate and Kyogo before the hour mark effectively killed the match, and Idah added the third after a Gogic mistake on a day the wind once more affected play more than any other player.
Saints go into the top 6 split in 5th position with a 2 point lead over Dundee, knowing that 5th place guarantees a European qualification spot for the first time since 1987.

06/04/2024 (Hearts H)

cinch PREMIERSHIP
6th April 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 1-2 Hearts

Grant 33 (p)
Mandron OG 62
OLUSANYA 68

ATT: 7,740
Referee: A Muir
VAR: A Dallas

Despite a top 6 place finally being secured, Saints fall to a disappointing defeat at a sold out SMISA stadium.
However, it is Referee Alan Muir that is the focus of all attention after the match following his decision not to award Saints a late penalty after Tait had clearly brought down Conor McMenamin inside the box.
After not giving the penalty during open play, Muir was then instructed by the VAR team to review his decision, but still decided there was no foul despite an obvious infringement on the back of the Saints wingers knee as he wriggled clear.
10 days later, the SPFL review committee judged the actions of the referee to be incorrect and a penalty should have been awarded. This is the 4th incorrect decision to be identified that has adversely affected Saints, more than any other club.
Muir had decided to award Hearts an earlier penalty after VAR intervention, when Marcus Fraser was “guilty” of handball when Vargas struck a shot against him arm from close range. Grant scored the resultant spot kick.
With the wind seriously affecting play, Hearts scored a second time after 62 minutes from a rare attack when a corner was cleared but struck Mandron before crossing the line.
Toyosi Olusnaya halved the deficit with a brilliant 60 yard solo goal shortly after, but Saints couldn’t find the equaliser their play probably deserved.

cinch PREMIERSHIP
30th March 2024
Fir Park, Motherwell

Motherwell 1-1 St. Mirren

FRASER 18
Bair 74

ATT: 5,492
Referee: M McDermid
VAR: G Irvine

For the second match in a row, Saints have a top 6 place confirmed with half an hour to play, but fail to see the match out in a winning position.
After the capitulation at Rugby Park, Stephen Robinson made 3 changes to the starting XI, with Ryan Flynn, Conor McMenamin and Charles Dunne missing out in favour of James Bolton, Toyosi Olusanya and Ryan Strain, who had missed 20 matches following groin surgery.
Strain almost made a dream return when his 25 yard free kick rattled the crossbar early in the match, and Saints misfortune continued when Mandron crashed the rebound back off virtually the same part of the goal frame.
VAR controversy again overshadowed the match shortly after, when Mandron’s attempted header across the box struck Theo Bair on the hand, but despite the Motherwell player having both arms outstretched, VAR concluded no offence was made.
Marcus Fraser eventually put Saints in the lead however, with his first goal since 2021, when he nodded home a Kiltie corner after 18 minutes.
Saints missed multiple chances to increase their lead, but were hit with a sucker-punch with 16 minutes to go when Theo Bair bundled home at the back post. Mandorn and then Kiltie spurned glorious opportunities to win the match for the away side, but the game finished 1-1.
Saints remain in 5th, 2 points behind Kilmarnock.