Kwon Hyeok-kyu

May 24, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

Name: Kwon Hyeok-kyu
Date of Birth: 13th March 2001
Place of Birth: Busan, South Korea
Nationality: South Korean
Position: Midfield
Height: 6ft 4in
Weight: 12.1st
Signed: 12th January 2024 from Celtic (Loan)
Departed: 23rd May 2024 (back to parent club)
Debut: 20th January 2024 v Queen of the South (1-0)
Final Match: 6th April 2024 v Hearts (1-2)
Apps: 9
Goals: 0
Honours: None

South Korean midfielder Kwon arrived at Saints in early January 2024, on loan from Celtic, who had signed the young Asian for around £1million 6 months earlier.

Stephen Robinson introduced him immediately to the first team, and Kwon made a big impact, impressing enough in his first few months for Saints to make noises about extending his loan to the 2024/25 season, however the South Korean was injured in early April and missed the rest of the reason, leaving his immediate future uncertain.

On the 23rd May 2024, it was announced by both Kwon and the club that we would be returning to Celtic.

SQUAD NO	SEASON	DIV	PRM	GLS	SCP	GLS	TOTAL APP	TOTAL GLS
16	2023/24	PRM	8	0	1	0	9	0

Jaden Brown

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

Name: Jaden Brown
Date of Birth: 24th January 1999
Place of Birth: London, England
Nationality: English
Position: Full/Wing Back
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 11.3st
Signed: 26th January 2024 from Lincoln City (Loan)
Departed: 23rd May 2024 (back to parent club)
Debut: 17th February 2024 v Livingston (0-1)
Final Match: 15th May 2024 v Hearts (2-2)
Apps: 8
Goals: 0
Honours: None

Englishman Brown arrived at Saints in late January 2024, on loan from English League One side Lincoln City, acting as defensive cover in the wing back positions.

Although a left sided player to trade, Brown was used predominately used as a right wing back when on the park, although he only managed a total of 160 minutes Premiership action and a further 33 minutes in the Scottish Cup over his 8 appearances for the club.

On the 23rd May 2024, it was announced by both Brown and the club that we would be returning to Lincoln City.

SQUAD NO	SEASON	DIV	PRM	GLS	SCP	GLS	TOTAL APP	TOTAL GLS
21	2023/24	PRM	7	0	1	0	8	0

15th May 2024

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
15th May 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 2-2 Hearts

SCOTT 7
Tawaga 20
BOLTON 65
Shankland 73

ATT: 7,222 (1,100 Away fans)
Referee: J Beaton
VAR:

After confirming a European place the night before when Dundee lost at Ibrox, Saints played out an entertaining match at home to 3rd place Hearts.
Saints dominated most of the match and took the lead after only seven minutes when James Scott volleyed home his first goal for the club following heavy pressure from the first whistle.
Hearts equalised with their first attack of the match on the 20th minute, taking advantage of a slip by Bolton to break down Saints right, eventually allowing Tawaga to shoot through Hemmings legs.
Despite being on top afterwards, it took 45 minutes for Saints to regain the lead when James Bolton headed in his first goal for the club from a brilliant Boyd-Munce cross.
Eight minutes later however, a speculative lob from Shankland caught Hemming out at his far post and the ball dropped in for an unexpected equaliser.
Despite applying more pressure with the remainder of the match, Saints couldn’t snatch a deserved winner, however the draw means the team eclipse the points total of last season and confirms the best total since 1984/85 once points per game is adjusted to 3 points for a win.

NO.	PLAYER	RATING
1	Zach Hemming	6
2	James Bolton 84	7
3	Scott Tanser 70	7
5	Richard Taylor 70	6
21	Jaden Brown 59	6
6	Mark O’Hara	8
17	Keanu Baccus	8
13	Alex Gogic	7
10	Conor McMenamin	8
9	Mikael Mandron	8
14	James Scott 59	7
	SUBS
15	Caolan Boyd-Munce 59	8
20	Toyosi Olusanya 59	7
22	Marcus Fraser 70	6
18	Charles Dunne 84	6
42	Elvis Bwomono 70	6
27	Peter Urminsky
24	Lewis Jamieson
33	Evan Mooney
23	Ryan Strain

11/05/2024 – KILMARNOCK (H)

May 11, 2024May 20, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
11th May 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 0-1 Kilmarnock

Vassell 37

ATT: 7,654

Referee: E Anderson
VAR: G Aitken

The home side miss out on a chance to qualify automatically for European football after losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock, however with Dundee going down 3-0 at Tynecastle and only 2 matches remaining, Saints actually strengthen their hold on 5th place as the goal difference is now 2 better off than at the start of the day.
In what was a scrappy and error strewn match, Kilmarnock seize on poor play between Fraser and Tanser to break quickly on Saints and score the only goal, with Vassell smashing home Watkins cutback after 37 minutes.
Saints give plenty of effort get back into the match, with Olusnaya the main threat and he cracks a shot from the edge of the box off the bar, but in general Saints attacking play is predictable and laborious and Killie see off the threat fairly comfortable.
This defeat extends Saints absurd record against Derek McInnes as a manager, with just 1 league win in 32 matches over 3 clubs, and no wins in 7 against Kilmarnock since he became boss at the Ayrshire club.

No,	Player	Rating
1	Zach Hemming	7
23	Ryan Strain 67	6
2	James Bolton 83	7
13	Alex Gogic	6
22	Marcus Fraser	6
3	Scott Tanser 67	6
6	Mark O’Hara	7
15	Caolan Boyd-Munce 67	6
10	Conor McMenamin	7
20	Toyosi Olusanya	7
	SUBS
9	Mikael Mandron	6
17	Keanu Baccus 67	7
14	James Scott 67	6
24	Lewis Jamieson 67	6
5	Richard Taylor 83	6

28/04/2024 – RANGERS (H)

May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
28th April 2024
SMISA Stadium, Paisley

St. Mirren 1-2 Rangers

Bolton (Own Goal) 32
MANDRON 37
Dessers 74

ATT: 6,800
Referee: Nick Walsk
VAR: D Robertson

A familiar story unfolds in Paisley as Saints lose to Rangers again, despite having the better of the play and crreating the best chances throughout a tense 90 minutes.
It is a tale of 2 goalkeepers, as Zach Hemming makes 2 uncharacteristic mistakes to gift Rangers both their goals, while Jack Butland makes multiple saves for Rangers, including an extraordinary save from a James Bolton volley that would have given Saints a deserved 2-1 half time lead.
Mikael Mandron grabs the Saints equaliser after 37 minutes, after Bolton had given Rangers the lead when he tried to desperately to rectify Hemmings misjudgment of a cross, but could only knocked the ball into his own net. That lead lasted only 5 minutes however, when the impressive Mandron headed in a looping O’Hara cross.
A few minutes later, Bolton looked to have given Saints the lead when he volleyed a loose ball goal-ward after a scrambled corner, however Butland somehow readjusted his body to flick the ball over the bar.
The second half was a scrappy affair, and Rangers grabbed a late winner when some slack defending allowed Tavernier to cross and after Hemmings had misjudged the ball, Dessers had the simple task of netting at the back post from a yard.

04/05/2024 – Dundee (A)

May 10, 2024May 15, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
4th May 2024
Dens Park, Dundee

Dundee 1-3 St. Mirren

GOGIC 37
TANSER 59
OLUSANYA 72
Mellon 76

ATT: 6,877 (2,056 Saints fans)
Referee: M McDermid
VAR: A Muir

European football is now just 2 points away for Saints after a comprehensive win over their only challengers for 5th place, Dundee.
Toyosi Olusanya almost nips in to score after only 10 seconds, and this sets the tone for the afternoon as the away side dominate for long periods and win with ease.
Saints finally open the scoring after 37 minutes when the imperious Alex Gogic reacts quickest to a loose ball and gives the keeper no chance.
Scott Tanser doubles the lead 22 minutes later with a unerring finish on the volley after he had chipped the ball over a Dundee defender, as the home side repeatdly failed to deal with Saints superior attacking play.
This was evident again after 72 minutes when Baccus drives into the box and finds Mandron, who dances through challenges before laying off to Olusanya who fires under the keeper to give Saints an unassailable 3 goal lead, which could have been double this number had Saints been more ruthless.
Mickey Mellon notched a late goal for the Dee, but by then most of their supporters had left and Saints comfortably negotiated the rest of the match.

No,	Player	Rating
1	Zach Hemming	8
23	Ryan Strain 87	8
2	James Bolton	8
13	Alex Gogic	9
22	Marcus Fraser	8
3	Scott Tanser	8
6	Mark O’Hara	8
15	Caolan Boyd-Munce	8
10	Conor McMenamin 61	7
20	Toyosi Olusanya	8
9	Mikael Mandron 77	8
17	Keanu Baccus 61	7
14	James Scott 77	7
18	Charles Dunne 87	7

13/04/2024 (Celtic A)

April 22, 2024May 10, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

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)

April 9, 2024May 10, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

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.

30/03/2024 (Motherwell A)

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

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.

16/03/2024 (Kilmarnock A)

March 20, 2024May 20, 2024 / cairterscorner1877 / Leave a comment

cinch PREMIERSHIP
16th March 2024
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock 5-2 St. Mirren

DUNNE 20
MANDRON 39
Vassell 61
Armstrong 65 (pen)
Watkins 68
Vassell 73
Watson 79

ATT: 8,460 (2,481 Saints fans)
Referee: R Hardie
VAR:

In what was a crucial pre-split match between 4th and 5th position in the league, Saints travelled to Kilmarnock determined to build on their 1 point lead over the Ayrshire side, backed by 2,500 fans who had made the trip.
Stephen Robinson makes several changes from the previous match, with in-form midfielder Kwon curiously missing out and replaced with skipper Mark O’Hara for his first start since December.
Injuries had denied both James Bolton and Elvis Bwomono a place in the squad, with Ryan Flynn and Charles Dunne surprisingly chosen over Brown and Taylor for rare starting places. Conor McMenamin was the final change, replacing Lewis Jamieson.
Despite these changes, Saints were utterly dominant in the first half, scoring twice and looking extremely comfortable as the home side struggled to cope the visitors, in particular from cross balls and set pieces, with the latter providing both goals, one for Dunne who netted his first goal for the club and a 10th of the season for Mikael Mandron.
Saints looked to have weathered any Kilmarnock onslaught in the opening period of the 2nd half, in fact Mandron missed the best chance of this period when he scuffed wide from 8 yards with the goal at this mercy, and this was to prove crucial as a short period of complacency followed which was ruthlessly punished by Kilmarnock.
Darius Vassell pulled one back for the home side after 61 minutes following some poor and indecisive defending, and within 18 minutes, Kilmarnock scored a further 4 times to win a match Saints seemed to have comfortably already won after an hour.
As well as being arguably the poorest 18 minutes ever played in the history of the club, this capitulation denied Saints a guaranteed top 6 place with 3 matches to spare, and dropped the side to 5th.