St Mirren 4-0 Saints

Saints made a good start to the match however, they were behind on 36 minutes as Keanu Baccus fired a shot from 25 yards into the net.

The hosts doubled their lead 3 minutes into the second half as Mikael Mandron took advantage of a slack back pass by James Brown to slot the ball home. Mandron then got his second and St Mirren’s third with 20 minutes remaining as he combined well with Olutoyosi Olusanya before slotting the ball home. Greg Kiltie added a fourth in the final minute of the match as he tapped the ball home from close range after Olusanya’s shot had hit the post.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening, kick off 7:45pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were in action this afternoon for the first time in three weeks as they made the trip west to Paisley to take on St Mirren at the SMISA Stadium. Saints battled out a goalless draw at Aberdeen in their last match at the beginning of the month and Steven MacLean made three changes to his starting eleven for this afternoons match. Luke Jephcott dropped to the bench whilst Drey Wright and Graham Carey missed out completely and they were replaced by James Brown, Nicky Clark and Diallang Jaiyesimi, who was making his first start for Saints. Ten-man St Mirren lost 3-0 at home to Rangers in their last game three weeks ago and manager Stephen Robinson made two changes to his starting eleven as Olutoyosi Olusanya dropped to the bench whilst Ryan Strain missed out due to suspension after getting sent off against Rangers.

Max Kucheriavyi got the match underway for Saints and the Perth side started the match strongly. On 6 minutes they were awarded a free kick in an inviting position after Nicky Clark was fouled by Alex Gogić. Clark took the free kick himself as he tried to curl the ball over the Buddies wall however, his effort hit Gogić in the wall before going behind for a corner.

The match then got into a midfield battle as neither side was able to test either keeper. On 28 minutes good play by Saints saw the ball break to Clark whose strike was deflected behind for a corner by former Saints player Scott Tanser.

PHOTO: Nicky Clark is fouled by Alex Gogić

Then on 31 minutes a long ball forward by Liam Gordon played in Dara Costelloe who did well to bring the ball down however, his effort went high into the stand behind the goal. Saints continued to look dangerous going forward and on 34 minutes Matt Smith picked out Gordon on the edge of the Buddies box and however the Saints captain saw his shot on the turn go narrowly wide of the target.

Then arguably against the run of play St Mirren took the lead as Greg Kiltie laid the ball off to Keanu Baccus who sent a fine right-footed strike from 25 yards beyond Dimitar Mitov and into the net.

That goal sparked the home side into life and with 5 minutes of the first half remaining Baccus tried to get his and St Mirren’s second of the game however, the strike from the midfielder went high over the bar.

PHOTO: Dara Costelloe shoots over the crossbar

Good play by Saints on 44 minutes saw James Brown cross an inviting ball into the box which was met by Diallang Jaiyesimi however, the header from the on-loan Charlton Athletic winger lacked power as Zach Hemming comfortably gathered.

The hosts doubled their lead on 48 minutes as Brown tried to chest the ball back to Mitov however, he played it straight into the path of Mikael Mandron who took advantage and slotted the ball into the net.

Saints tried to give themselves a lifeline two minutes later as Smith got a sight of goal however, his effort didn’t trouble Hemming.

PHOTO: Matt Smith has a shot at goal

The Perth side then made a double change on 55 minutes as Matt Smith and James Brown were replaced by Cammy MacPherson and Chris Kane.

On 64 minutes Jaiyesimi played the ball back to Luke Robinson whose delivery into the box was met by Costelloe at the back post however, he couldn’t direct his header on target.

That was followed by another double change as Steven MacLean introduced some more fresh legs as Stevie May and Jay Turner-Cooke came on to replace Nicky Clark and Max Kucheriavyi.

On 68 minutes MacPherson played the ball forward to Turner-Cooke who did well to hold off the challenge from Richard Taylor before getting a shot away however, it was straight at Hemming who comfortably gathered the ball.

PHOTO: Sven Sprangler is fouled by Keanu Baccus

Then 2 minutes later St Mirren got a third. Mandron passed the ball to substitute Olutoyosi Olusanya and the forward broke down the left channel before returning the ball to Mandron who slammed his effort past Mitov to end the game as a contest.

Saints made their final change of the game on 73 minutes as Tony Gallacher came on to replace Diallang Jaiyesimi.

A Robinson cross with 8 minutes remaining picked out Kane in the St Mirren box however, the downward header from the Saints number 9 went wide of the target.

However, St Mirren got a fourth goal in the final minute of the match as substitute Alex Greive burst into the box before picking out Olusanya who saw his effort hit the far post and Kiltie reacted quickest to the loose ball as he slotted it home at the back post to round off a comprehensive win for the hosts.

St Mirren: Hemming, Tanser, Taylor (Dunne 87’), O’Hara, Flynn (Bolton 87’), Mandron (Greive 87’), McMenamin (Olusanya 61’), Kiltie, Gogić, Baccus (Boyd-Munce 77’), Fraser

Unused Substitutes: Urminský (GK), Small, Nahmani, Jamieson

Booked: O’Hara, Baccus

Scorers: Baccus (36’), Mandron (48’, 70’), Kiltie (90’)

Saints: Mitov, Brown (Kane 55’), Considine, Gordon, Clark (May 65’), Jaiyesimi (Gallacher 73’), Kucheriavyi (Turner-Cooke 65’), Robinson, Smith (MacPherson 55’), Sprangler, Costelloe

Unused Substitutes: Richards (GK), McGowan, Jephcott, Olufunwa

Booked: None

Referee: David Dickinson

VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 5,552

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Nicky Clark holds of Mark O'Hara