St Mirren 2-0 Saints

St Mirren took the lead on 36 minutes as Mikael Mandron’s long range deflected effort hit the post before deflecting in off Dimitar Mitov’s back.

On 64 minutes Mandron sealed the win for the Buddies as he volleyed home from the penalty spot after the Saints defence didn’t deal with a Scott Tanser cross.

The Buddies thought they had scored a third goal with 18 minutes remaining as Hyeok-kyu Kwon sent a fine solo finish beyond Mitov however, the goal was ruled out by VAR as the on-loan Celtic midfielder was adjudged to have fouled Matt Smith when he won the ball in midfield.  

Next up for Saints is a midweek trip to Aberdeen on Wednesday evening, kick off 7:45pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints headed west to Paisley today as they took on St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium. There were three changes to the Saints starting eleven which started the 3-0 defeat to Rangers last weekend as Tony Gallacher, Kerr Smith and Nicky Clark came in to replace David Keltjens and Connor Smith who both dropped to the bench, whilst Ryan McGowan missed out completely. St Mirren lost 1-0 to bottom side Livingston last Saturday and manager Stephen Robinson made two changes to his starting eleven as Charles Dunne and James Scott both dropped to the bench and they were replaced by James Bolton and Lewis Jamieson.

Caolan Boyd-Munce got the match underway for the hosts and they created the first chance of the match on 5 minutes. Mikael Mandron teed up Boyd-Munce however, his strike was tame as Dimitar Mitov comfortably gathered. Boyd-Munce created another chance for the Buddies 2 minutes later as the Northern Irish intercepted a Liam Gordon pass to Dan Phillips and he carried the ball forward before unleashing a strike which was blocked by Gordon as the Saints captain cleared the danger.

The hosts had much of the early pressure as they dominated possession however on 19 minutes Nicky Clark won Saints a free kick after he was fouled by Alex Gogić. Matt Smith took the free kick as he floated the ball into the box but Marcus Fraser turned it behind for a corner however, Graham Carey’s delivery from the right was well held by Zak Hemming.

PHOTO: Graham Carey and Hyeok-kyu Kwon

On 27 minutes Boyd-Munce unleashed a strike from 25 yards however, his effort was weak as Mitov gathered the ball.

The pressure from the home side eventually told on 36 minutes as they took the lead. Mikael Mandron had a go from distance as the strike from the forward took a deflection off Gordon and then hit the post before hitting Mitov’s back and landed in the net.

PHOTO: Kerr Smith gets forward

The Buddies created a chance to double their lead on 41 minutes as Greg Kiltie cutback from the byline picked out Elvis Bwomono however, the header from the Ugandan defender didn’t trouble Mitov as it went over the bar.

There was a delay to the start of the second half due to a technical issue with VAR however, play was soon underway with both sides agreeing to start the second half without VAR.

Saints got a sight of goal on 47 minutes as Tony Gallacher cut inside from the right before unleashing a shot which drifted high and wide.

PHOTO: Referee Grant Irvine talks with the managers Craig Levein and Stephen Robinson before the start of the second half

3 minutes later Mitov made a good double save to prevent the hosts from doubling their lead. Firstly, Boyd-Munce’s cross from the right was met by Mandron but his header at the back post was brilliantly saved by Mitov. The ball then broke to Marcus Fraser however, his header was again well saved by the Bulgarian keeper.

Saints made their first change of the game on 63 minutes as Diallang Jaiyesimi came on to replace Graham Carey.

However, the Buddies would double their lead a minute later. Former Saints player Scott Tanser sent a dangerous ball into the box which was only partially cleared by Andy Considine and Mandron was on hand to slam home a half-volley into the net.

St Mirren thought they had scored a third goal on 72 minutes as Hyeok-kyu Kwon pushed Matt Smith off the ball in midfield to win possession for the home side before bursting forward. The on-loan Celtic midfielder then fired a fine solo strike past Mitov. However, with VAR now working, referee Grant Irvine was called over by Andrew Dallas to review the goal on the monitor and the goal was ruled out as the South Korean was adjudged to have fouled Matt Smith when he won possession in midfield.

PHOTO: Dan Phillips is tackled by Caolan Boyd- Munce

Craig Levein then made his second change of the game on 76 minutes as Kerr Smith made way for Max Kucheriavyi.

Saints came close to scoring on 87 minutes as Adama Sidibeh saw his strike well saved by Zach Hemmings. The loose ball then broke to Matt Smith however, his follow-up effort was dragged wide of the target.

Play quickly switched to the other end as substitute Keanu Baccus flashed an effort wide of the target.

6 minutes was added on at the end and deep into stoppage time a Kucheriavyi corner from the right was met by Considine. The defender headed the ball into the path of Sidibeh however, Zak Hemming as alert to the danger as he pushed the ball behind for another corner as the hosts comfortably saw the game out to secure the points.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh's late header is saved by Zach Hemmings

There was worrying scenes at full time when Adama Sidibeh required treatment on the pitch from medical staff from both clubs before leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Tanser, Mandron (Ayunga 83’), Kiltie, Gogić, Boyd-Munce, Kwon (Baccus 75’), Fraser, Jamieson (Olusanya 75’), Bwomono

Unused Substitutes: Urminský, (GK), Taylor, Flynn, Scott, Dunne, Brown

Booked: Baccus

Scorers: Mitov (36’ OG), Mandron (64’)

Saints: Mitov, Gallacher, Considine, Gordon, Clark, Carey (Jaiyesimi 63’), Sidibeh, Robinson, M. Smith, Phillips, K. Smith (Kucheriavyi 75’)

Unused Substitutes: Richards (GK), May, Olufunwa, Sprangler, Kimpioka, Keltjens, C. Smith

Booked: Sidibeh, Phillips

Referee: Grant Irvine

VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 5,991 (277 Saints fans)

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Kerr Smith is tackled by Greg Kiltie