Season 2023/24 drew to a close for Saints with a narrow defeat at Celtic Park. Captain Mark O'Hara scored twice, but the Buddies were edged out 3-2 by cinch Premiership champions Celtic.

Stephen Robinson made four changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Hearts at The SMiSA Stadium on Wednesday night. Goalscorers James Scott and James Bolton came out, as did Jaden Brown and Mikael Mandron. They were replaced by Elvis Bwomono, Marcus Fraser, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Toyosi Olusanya. There was also a final outing for Keanu Baccus from the start with the manager confirming earlier in the week that the midfielder will leave following the expiry of his contract. 

There was a carnival atmosphere inside a sold out Celtic Park on the day that the hosts would receive the cinch Premiership trophy after winning the league. Celtic started quickly and could have taken the lead on just three minutes when Stephen Welsh rose the highest to meet a Luis Palma corner but glanced his header just wide of the far post. 

But Saints would stun the expectant crowd by taking the lead four minutes later when captain O'Hara blasted home from 12 yards out. The hosts' defence couldn't deal with Baccus' long throw with Callum McGregor knocking a header into the path of O'Hara who took it first time to slam into the corner of the net.  

Celtic equalised on 21 minutes when Kyogo Furuhashi beat the offside trap and held off the Richard Taylor. Alex Gogic came across to try and get clear but his header fell to the path of Matt O'Riley who lashed home. 

Saints hit the front again just five minutes later when O'Hara scored from the penalty spot. The Buddies were awarded the spot kick after Olusanya ran through when Welsh misjudged the flight of the ball over the top. The Saints forward was then bundled down by the Celtic defender and referee Matthew MacDermid pointed to the spot. O'Hara put the penalty high into the right-hand corner to score his 20th goal for the Saints, leaving Joe Hart with no chance despite going the right way. The skipper almost had a hat-trick when he met a Caolan Boyd-Munce corner at the back stick and headed off the post. 

Celtic levelled for a second time on 37 minutes when Furuhashi slid in at the near post to turn Reo Hatate's low cross from the right beyond Zach Hemming. They came inches away from taking the lead just a minute later when Furuhashi's cross was met by Palma but the unmarked winger somehow headed wide from close-range. 

Hemming made a good block to deny Furuhashi early in the second-half and followed up with a good save from Hatate's effort from the resultant corner. 

Baccus' long throw-ins continued to cause the Celtic defence problems in the second-half with Olusanya pouncing on hesitant defending to bring the ball down on his chest, but he slammed wide of target. Two minutes later, on the hour mark, the Saints forward looked poised to put us ahead for a third time only for Hoops defender Maik Nawrocki to slide in and block the attempt. 

Stephen Robinson made two changes with Charles Dunne and Ryan Strain coming on for what is likely their last appearances for the club. The pair replaced Taylor and Bwomono on 66 minutes. 

Olusanya was a nuisance for the Celtic defence with his pace and he had another opportunity with just under 20 minutes remaining when he raced on to a ball over the top but he just couldn't quite shake off Liam Scales to open up and smashed his effort high and wide. That was his final contribution as he was replaced by Mandron on 75 minutes. 

Celtic took the lead in the final minutes of time when Anthony Ralston's cross found Palma who tapped home at the back post to win it for Celtic.

Saints can look back on 2023/24 with immense pride after securing a second successive top six finish, as well as European football for the first time since 1987.

Full-Time: Celtic 3-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 66), Bwomono (Strain 66), Baccus, Boyd-Munce (Flynn 80), O'Hara (c), Tanser, McMenamin (Jamieson 80), Olusanya (Mandron 75)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Scott, Brown

Celtic: Hart (Bain 88), Ralston, Welsh (Scales 65), Nawrocki, Taylor, O'Riley, McGregor (c) (Bernardo 77), Hatate (Iwata 65), Kuhn, Kyogo (Idah 65), Palma
Subs Not Used: Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Maeda, Forrest

Referee: Matthew MacDermid 
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Steven Traynor
Fourth Official: Alan Muir
VAR: Kevin Clancy

The points were shared in St Mirren's final home match of the 2023/24 season ended in a 2-2 draw.

Stephen Robinson made a with Jaden Brown, Richard Taylor, Keanu Baccus and James Scott all starting while Ryan Strain, Marcus Fraser, Caolan Boyd-Munce and Toyosi Olusanya dropped to the bench. 

The Buddies started brightly and threatened in the early stages with Scott seeing an effort saved well by Craig Gordon, before the Hearts defence managed to block Mikael Mandron on the follow-up. 

That early Saints pressure would tell when Stephen Robinson's men took the lead with just eight minutes on the clock. A cross into the box was headed back across the face of goal by a Hearts defender straight to Scott who swept home from close range to score his first St Mirren goal.

The Buddies pushed for a second with Jaden Brown curling a low effort into the arms of Gordon on 13 minutes before Scott Tanser struck just over from the edge of the area after meeting a Scott nod down. 

But the visitors drew level on 20 minutes when Kyosuke Tagawa got in front of Richard Taylor to knock home a low Cammy Devlin ball in from the left. Tagawa missed a huge chance for his and Hearts' second just at the end of the first-half when he got on the end of a cross but somehow fired over. It was Tagawa that would threaten again after the break with Taylor making a brilliant block to the strike. 

Stephen Robinson made two changes just before the hour mark with Boyd-Munce and Olusanya introduced in place of Scott and Brown. And it was Boyd-Munce's brilliant ball that yielded Saints' second goal as he put it straight on to the head of James Bolton who sent the header beyond Gordon. 

Hearts equalised for the second time on 73 minutes and it was a quality finish from their substitute Lawrence Shankland who was first to react to Mandron's headed clearance. He hooked the ball over his shoulder into the far corner of the net. The forward should have put the visitors ahead just two minutes later after getting in behind the Saints defence to go clear on goal but his effort was well saved by Zach Hemming.

Saints came agonisingly close to a winner when Olusanya's strike from the edge of the area was deflected inches by the post after taking a nick off Kye Rowles. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-2 Hearts

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Dunne 84), Gogic, Taylor (Fraser 70), Brown (Olusanya 59), O'Hara (c), Baccus, Tanser (Bwomono 70), Scott (Boyd-Munce 59), Mandron, McMenamin
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Strain, Mooney, Jamieson

Hearts: Gordon, Kent, Sibbick, Rowles, Cochrane, Lembikisa (Oda 78), Devlin (Tait 59), Denholm (Wilson 71), Fraser, Tagawa (Boyce 71), Forrest (Shankland 59)
Subs Not Used: Clark, Atkinson, McKay, Vargas

Referee: John Beaton 
Assistant Referee: Alastair Mather
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: Colin Steven
VAR: Grant Irvine

Attendance: 7,222

Europe remains so close yet so far for Saints after they lost to Kilmarnock in Paisley.

The only goal came in the first-half, good work from Marley Watkins setting up Kyle Vassell to smash home from close range.

Watkins and Robbie Deas were denied by Zach Hemming as the visitors looked to extend their lead after the break. Saints' best chance came when Conor McMenamin slid the ball round the Killie defence for Toyosi Olusanya and he thumped a fantastic shot that rattled the woodwork with goalie Will Dennis beaten. There was late pressure from the home side but Killie stood firm to secure fourth place in the cinch Premiership, while Saints remain five points clear of Dundee with each side having just two games to go.

Stephen Robinson named an unchanged starting eleven from the one that defeated Dundee last week.

On a glorious day in front of a packed crowd, the early excitement came when Hemming misjudged his kick out and the ball thumped off Vassell before flying back over the bar. Olusanya lashed one over at the other end before Scott Tanser's spectacular effort was kept out by Dennis, however it was irrelevant as the flag then went up for offside. Such was the temperature that ref Euan Anderson stopped play midway through the half for a water break.

A tame Mikael Mandron header was saved by Dennis before a mistake from Alex Gogic gave Watkins a sight of goal but he dragged his shot wide. Mark O'Hara's header looked to have sent Mandron through on goal but a fantastic tackle from Robbie Deas allowed Dennis to gather the loose ball. Watkins then found himself in plenty of space on the right and made full use of it to slide a ball across goal that the Saints defence couldn't stop getting to Vassell. The striker took a touch and it looked as if a home player would be able to block any shot only for him to then thump it into the roof of the net to put the visitors in front at the interval.

Caloan Boyd-Munce's optimistic shot was well wide as hostilities resumed after the break, Dennis reacting quickly to stop Stuart Findlay unintentionally heading McMenamin's cross into his own net. A bit of a stramash at a corner saw Tanser denied by Dennis and Gogic put the loose ball wide before Ryan Strain's burst down the right saw allowed him to put in an inviting cross that Olusanya volleyed wide.

Watkins had a great chance to put Killie out of sight when he pounced on an error from Gogic, however Hemming blocked the shot with his legs at the expense of a corner. The delivery was cleared back to Matty Kennedy and his cross was headed towards goal by Deas, Hemming producing a great save to tip it over. Watkins headed wide as Killie threatened again, Saints making a triple sub with Boyd-Munce, Strain and Tanser being replaced by James Scott, Lewis Jamieson and Keanu Baccus respectively.

Findlay continued to threaten his own goal, Dennis grabbing his sliced clearance, before Saints went desperately close to drawing level. McMenamin sent a wonderful ball down the left that curled in behind the Killie defence for Olusanya and his first time shot beat Dennis but not the bar, the ball rattling the woodwork before bouncing to safety. He had another chance at a late corner as the Killie defence stood firm to confirm fourth place in the league.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Kilmarnock

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Taylor 83), Gogic, Fraser, Strain (Jamieson 67), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Baccus 67), Tanser (Scott 67), McMenamin, Mandron, Olusanya
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Brown, Bwomono, Mooney

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Ndaba, Mayo, Findlay, Deas, Kennedy, Watson, Donnelly, Armstrong (McKenzie 80), Vassell (Cameron 76), Watkins (Stewart 90)
Subs Not Used: O'Hara, Murray, Davies, Stewart, Polworth, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen

Referee: Euan Anderson
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Ross Hardie
VAR: 

Attendance: 7,645 

Match Report by Stuart Gillespie

St Mirren picked up an important three points in the race for Europe after a brilliant win away to Dundee in Stephen Robinson's 100th match in charge.

Alex Gogic gave Saints a half-time lead before goals from Scott Tanser and Toyosi Olusanya put us further in front in the second-half. Dundee pulled a goal back through Michael Mellon, but it was not enough to stop the Buddies returning to Paisley with the points.

There was one change to the side that lost narrowly to Rangers last week with Greg Kiltie not fit enough to start the game having not trained during the week. Olusanya came in for the forward who was on the bench.

Saints started brightly - forcing a number of corners in the opening minutes with James Bolton putting a free header over in the third minute after meeting Caolan Boyd-Munce's ball in. Scott Tanser should have scored when he was found in space inside the area but he lashed the effort over. The offside flag was raised in any case. 

Zach Hemming got two strong hands behind a powerful effort from Luke McCowan on 36 minutes. The Dundee captain had a lot of room to run into and let fly from 20 yards with the Saints goalkeeper down well to push away. Owen Dodgson then saw his follow-up deflected over. 

The Buddies took the lead with just over five minutes of the half remaining. A Boyd-Munce corner was fed back out to Ryan Strain who swung the ball in from the right-hand side. The Dundee defence couldn't deal with it and Gogic reacted quickest to force home at the near post. 

Dundee started the second-half with intent when Lyall Cameron had a powerful strike held by Hemming in the first minute after the restart. 

But it was Saints who would have the best opportunity when Ryan Strain saw his free-kick tipped over the bar by McCracken on 58 minutes. Just a minute later the Buddies would double their advantage when Scott Tanser scored. A flick-on was met by Bolton who nodded on himself with Tanser managing to squeeze in ahead of the Dundee defence. The left-wing-back composed himself before smashing into the corner of the net to the delirium of the near 1,500 travelling support. 

It could have got better just three minutes later when substitute Keanu Baccus found Olusanya to send him one-on-one with the goalkeeper but the Dens stopper managed to block. 

Olusanya would get his name on the scoresheet as he made it 3-0 with less than 20 minutes to go. Mikael Mandron found his path too crowded to get a shot away but slipped the ball to Olusanya on the left-hand side of the box. The forward fired into the net through the legs of McCracken. 

Dundee pulled a goal back with 13 minutes to play when substitute Michael Mellon headed in from close-range. The forward met a header back across goal at the far post and nodded in to reduce the deficit. 

The hosts would exert more pressure as they looked for a way back into the match with Cameron sending a long-range strike just by the post, while Hemming did well to tip a low McCowan hit on to the post as well. But Saints held firm and could have added a fourth in the final stages with James Scott seeing his effort from the edge of the area pushed away by McCracken.

In the end it was a perfect way for Saints to celebrate Stephen Robinson's 100th match in charge as the Buddies move five points ahead of Dundee with three to play.

Full-Time: Dundee 1-3 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Fraser, Strain (Dunne 87), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya (Scott 77), Mandron, McMenamin (Baccus 61)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Brown, Flynn, Kiltie, Jamieson

Dundee: McCracken, McGhee, Dodgson, Donnelly, Lamie (Costelloe 77), Portales, Cameron (Mulligan 82), McCowan, Bakayoko (Main 66), Tiffoney (Mellon 66), Sylla (Boateng 46)
Subs Not Used: Sharp, Astley, Robinson, Robertson

Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: John Stewart
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: Alan Muir

Attendance: 6,877

St Mirren were edged out 2-1 by Rangers at The SMiSA Stadium in our first cinch Premiership post-split fixture.

An own goal saw the visitors take a first-half lead, but Mikael Mandron levelled the scores just five minutes later. Saints created a number of chances but were thwarted by Jack Butland in the Rangers goal before Cyriel Dessers scored the winner for Rangers in the final stages of the match.

Stephen Robinson made four changes to the side that lost at Celtic last time out. James Bolton, Ryan Strain, Conor McMenamin and Mikael Mandron came in for Richard Taylor, Elvis Bwomono, Keanu Baccus and Toyosi Olusanya.

The Buddies started brightly and could have opened the scoring inside the first minute with Mandron doing well to steal the ball off a Rangers defender and getting himself in on goal but saw his strike pushed away by Butland.

Mandron was denied by another good stop from the Rangers goalkeeper on eight minutes when his low effort from the angle was pushed away, though it appeared McMenamin was offside in the build-up.

McMenamin had Saints' next opportunity when his low effort from 20 yards deflected off John Souttar and into the arms of Butland. Rangers looked to hit the Buddies on the counter with Fabio Silva making his way into the box, but Alex Gogic did brilliantly to block the strike. Zach Hemming made a good save as he got both hands behind John Lundstram's hit from the edge of the area. The Saints goalkeeper did well three minutes later when he tipped Tavernier's curling effort over. 

After a period of Rangers pressure, it was Saints who came close to breaking the deadlock just before the half hour mark when McMenamin headed over after meeting Mandron's nod across. 

The visitors would take the lead on 32 minutes when Bolton knocked into his own net from close-range. Hemming couldn't get enough on a cross to put it out of play and Mohamed Diomande had sneaked in at the back post to head it across from Dessers who forced home. 

The Buddies drew level just five minutes later when Mandron scored his 11th goal of the season. The French striker got in ahead of Leon Balogun to meet Mark O'Hara's deep cross and headed in off the post to the delight for the 5,000+ home support.

Saints were agonisingly close to taking a lead into the interval only to be denied by a brilliant save from Butland who somehow got a hand out to turn Bolton's effort over.

There wasn't much to write home about in the opening stages of the second 45 with the only real opportunity coming on 64 minutes when O'Hara fired over from inside the area. Stephen Robinson decided to make his first change on 70 minutes when Toyosi Olusanya came on to replace goalscorer Mandron. 

But it was Rangers who took the lead for a second time with just over 15 minutes remaining when Cyriel Dessers met Tavernier's cross at the far post and headed home. 

Saints made two changes immediately after the goal with Lewis Jamieson and James Scott introduced in place of McMenamin and Greg Kiltie. 

Jamieson had an opportunity in the closing minutes of normal time when Saints were awarded a free-kick 20 yards from goal after Butland cleared the ball but took out Olusanya. The Rangers goalkeeper was booked and Jamieson stepped up to take the free-kick but sent it into the wall. 

Both sides had chances in injury with the immense Gogic making an incredible last-ditch goal-line clearance to deny Rangers a third. Olusanya was then presented an opportunity when he raced into the box down the left-side but was stopped by a big challenge from Balogun. 

The final chances came Saints way with Jamieson's low strike deflected by for a corner from which Bolton saw his effort cleared from the goal-line by Tavernier as the visitors held on for the points. 

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Rangers

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Fraser, Strain (Brown 84), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Baccus 84), Tanser, McMenamin (Jamieson 76), Mandron (Olusanya 70), Kiltie (Scott 76)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Dunne, Bwomono

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (c), Balogun, Souttar, Barisic (Wright 77), Diomande, Lundstram, Cantwell (Lawrence 77), Silva (McCausland 56), Dessers, Sterling
Subs Not Used: McCrorie, Goldson, Dowell, Roofe, Davies, Raskin

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Fourth Official: Chris Graham
VAR: Don Robertson

Attendance: 6,800

Three second-half goals saw Saints defeated 3-0 at Celtic Park.

After an even first 45 finished goalless, Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah netted after the interval to secure the points for Brendan Rodgers' side. 

There were two changes for the Buddies from the side that lost to Hearts last week. Captain Mark O'Hara returned to the midfield alongside Keanu Baccus who also started. Hyeokkyu Kwon was unable to play against his parent club so he dropped out of the squad while Mikael Mandron dropped to the bench. Toyosi Olusanya led the line with Greg Kiltie playing just off him. 

Saints were forced into an early change when Elvis Bwomono has to be subbed off on 23 minutes. The wing-back had tried to play on after a clash with Hyunjun Yang but a few minutes afterwards realised he couldn't continue and was replaced by Ryan Strain. The Australian went into the book not long after his introduction following a foul on Yang. 

The Buddies had a big opportunity to hit the front on 26 minutes when Olusanya played a dangerous low ball in from the right that found Kiltie. But the forward couldn't get the connection required to guide it beyond Joe Hart. The hosts then broke up the park with Matt O'Riley seeing an effort blocked inside the box. 

Greg Kiltie couldn't get the connection required to take the ball beyond Joe Hart (Image: Allan Picken)

Baccus almost got himself on the end of a Tanser cross with 10 minutes of the first-half remaining, but Celtic goalkeeper Hart managed to get in ahead of the midfielder to punch clear. Two minutes later it was Baccus' countryman Strain who had a decent chance to put Saints in-front when Kiltie's cross from the left drifted all the way to the far end of box where Strain had time to take a touch and hit only for the effort to be cleared by Maik Nawrocki.

Saints made another change at the break as Jaden Brown came on for Tanser. Stephen Robinson was forced into a THIRD change on 50 minutes when Kiltie could no longer continue after colliding with Cameron Carter-Vickers and he was replaced by Lewis Jamieson.

The home side would take the lead on 52 minutes when Hatate fired them in front. The Japanese midfielder had too much space to run on to an Alastair Johnston pass and lashed a quality finish into the top corner with the outside of his foot to break the deadlock. The hosts had a good chance to double that advantage just two minutes later but Yang fluffed his lines from close range and Saints cleared.

After a period of pressure, Saints looked for a way back into the match with Baccus' low ball finding substitute Jamieson in the Celtic box but it was blocked by Nawrocki before Tomoki Iwata managed to launch clear. Just a minute later Kyogo made it 2-0 to Celtic when he got his head on to a Johnston cross and bulleted home from close range. 

Celtic could have added a third before the eventually did in the closing stages. Hemming made a good block at his near post to deny Hatate on 66 minutes before a stunning save to turn substitute Luis Palma's effort over on 78 minutes. 

But the hosts would round off the afternoon with a third in the closing minutes of normal time when substitute Adam Idah netted. Hemming saved O'Riley's low strike after the Denmark international had been teed up by Palma, but the ball spun up in the air for Idah to nod into the net despite Hemming's best efforts to keep the ball out. 

Saints will return to league action in a fortnight - our opponents yet to be determined - with the top-six split fixtures due to be announced in the coming days. 

Full-Time: Celtic 3-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Dunne 83), Bwomono (Strain 23), O'Hara (c), Baccus (Scott 83), Boyd-Munce, Tanser (Brown 46), Kiltie (Jamieson 50), Olusanya (Mandron 72)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, McMenamin

Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Nawrocki (Welsh 64), Taylor, Iwata (Bernardo 72), Hatate (McGregor 72), O'Riley, Yang (Palma 72), Kyogo (Idah 72), Kühn (Forrest 80)
Subs Not Used: Bain, Lagerbielke, Ralston

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence
Assistant Referee: John McCrossan
Fourth Official: Peter Stuart
VAR: David Dickinson

St Mirren secured a second successive top-six finish despite being beaten by Hearts at a packed and windy SMiSA Stadium.

Storm Kathleen made her presence felt from the word go and both sides were almost blown away in the first half. However, the Jambos led at the break thanks to Jorge Grant's penalty, which came after ref Alan Muir and VAR decided Marcus Fraser had blocked Kenneth Vargas' shot with his arm.

The visitors doubled their lead in bizarre circumstances after the break, Alex Cochrane's corner bouncing about the six-yard box before trundling over the line. Toyosi Olusanya then halved the deficit as he finished his lung-bursting run from the half way line with a composed finish.

Saints thought they would then get the chance to equalise from the spot when Conor McMenamin went down inside the box, however nothing was given despite a lengthy VAR check. However, before full-time news came through that both Hibs and Dundee had lost, meaning the Buddies are sure of their place in the top six regardless of what happens in the final week before the split.

After the teams entered the field to a tremendous reception from the home fans, there was little to get excited about as the fierce wind took its toll. Cammy Devlin shot well wide in the first minute but that was your lot for the first half hour until Kenneth Vargas saw his shot deflected wide off of Fraser. As the players got ready for the corner, the dread words “VAR check” were announced over the tannoy. Ref Alan Muir checked the monitor and decided it had hit Fraser's arm before pointing for a penalty that Jorge Grant was more than happy to fire home.

Fraser tried to make amends with a shot that was deflected away from goal and keeper Zander Clark eventually gathered. Saints looked a bit brighter after going behind but still hadn't created a chance as the half came to a close, which might explain why Stephen Robinson made two changes at the break with Keanu Baccus and McMenamin coming on for Kwon and Bwomono. At the same time, Hearts replaced Stephen Kingsley with Tony Sibbick.

The Jambos could have doubled their advantage within seconds of the restart as the Buddies found themselves caught short at the back, Devlin and Vargas trying their best to exploit the opening before the latter dragged his shot wide. The forward shot wide again after getting the better of the Buddies defence before Saints finally produced a chance of note as the hour mark approached, Olusanya's shot taking a deflection that seemed to have sent it on its way to the bottom corner before Clark produced a great save to keep it out.

Any momentum Saints were building was soon snuffed out. Alex Cochrane's corner was parried out by Zach Hemming, the ball ricocheting off another player before trickling into the net. It was hard to tell who got the final touch but the Hearts fans behind the goal didn't care as they celebrated their side doubling their lead.

Jonah Ayunga and Mark O'Hara were brought on for Mikael Mandron and Greg Kiltie as the Buddies desperately tried to salvage something from the afternoon. They nearly gave themselves some hope almost immediately as Richard Taylor got on the end of a corner but his header went wide. Alan Forrest then saw his shot blocked for a corner as Hearts looked to kill off any hope, but from the set-piece Saints broke, Olusanya outmuscling Dexter Lembikisa at the halfway line and charging forward before calmly slotting past Clark.

Toyosi Olusanya celebrates after a terrific solo goal (Image: Allan Picken)

The Buddies now sniffed a point but nearly undid their good work when Alex Gogic was disposed by Devlin and he burst into the box, but some frantic defending kept out the combined efforts of him and Vargas at the expense of a corner. Taylor was replaced by James Scott before Saints were screaming for a penalty when McMenamin went down inside the box, Mr Muir unmoved. He was then advised by VAR to have a look at the monitor but, despite a lengthy check, stuck with his original decision.

That was to prove Saints' last real chance of the game but results elsewhere ensured the fans were still in a good mood come full-time, results elsewhere ensuring top six football for the second year running – and with a game to spare into the bargain.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Hearts

Report by Stuart Gillespie

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor (Scott 79), Bwomono (McMenamin 46), Kwon (Baccus 46), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya, Mandron (Ayunga 64), Kiltie (O'Hara 64)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Bolton, Dunne, Brown

Hearts: Clark, Rowles, Kent, Kingsley (Sibbick 46), Cochrane, Tait (Denholm 59), Devlin, Grant (Fraser 86), Lembikisa (Atkinson 73), Vargas, Forrest (McKay 73)
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Oda, Tagawa, Wilson 

Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: David Roome
Assistant Referee: Drew Kirkland
Fourth Official: Nick Walsh
VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 7,740

St Mirren picked up a point at Fir Park after Marcus Fraser's first goal since October 2021 was cancelled out by a Theo Bair equaliser for Motherwell.

Fraser's first-half header had Saints ahead, but Bair levelled for the hosts with just over 15 minutes remaining to grab a share of the spoils. 

Ryan Strain returned to the starting eleven as he made his first appearance since November. James Bolton also returned from injury after breaking his hand before the international break, while Toyosi Olusanya came in from the start. That meant Charles Dunne and Conor McMenamin dropped to the bench with Ryan Flynn not in the squad. 

The hosts started brightly and went close to opening the scoring on just four minutes when Georgie Gent got in down Saints right-hand side but saw his low effort pushed on to the post by Zach Hemming. Fraser then made a vital defensive intervention on 10 minutes to ensure Blair Spittal couldn't hit the target after being found on the end of a cut-back. 

But Saints almost hit the front just a minute later when Olusanya used his strength to outmuscle Gent to get his shot away. His effort was blocked by the feet of Liam Kelly before Strain's follow-up was deflected into the 'Well goalkeeper's arms. The Buddies should have gone ahead on 15 minutes when Strain's free-kick cracked off the bar and came back out to Mandron, but he headed on to the bar as well before Motherwell managed to deal with the danger.

Stephen Robinson's side would hit the front three minutes later though when Fraser got his head on the end of a corner to nod beyond Kelly and score his first goal of the season. 

Marcus Fraser celebrates after goal against Motherwell (Image: David Henderson)

Saints could have doubled their lead on 34 minutes after the ball fell kindly in the box to the unmarked Scott Tanser but he fired his effort high and wide. Olusanya then had a big opportunity in the final moments in the half when he was found by Tanser, though he couldn't get enough of a connection on his strike which allowed Kelly to gather. 

It was Olusanya again who had a good chance to extend the lead only to be denied by a brilliant defensive block by Dan Casey that helped turn the ball wide. 

Keanu Baccus and Conor McMenamin were introduced just after the hour mark and the former came so close to making it 2-0 with a curling effort from the edge of the area that went inches by the post. 

Those missed opportunities would come back to bite when Theo Bair levelled the scores on 74 minutes. The Canadian forward managed to get in beyond the Saints defence to tap home a Stephen O'Donnell knock down. 

Saints would look to try and grab a winner with substitute Jonah Ayunga forcing a save from Kelly after a low drive on 80 minutes, but the Buddies would have to settle for a point that keeps us five points clear of seventh place Hibernian heading into the final two matches before the split. 

Full-Time: Motherwell 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Taylor 29), Gogic, Fraser, Strain (Bwomono 46), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce (Baccus 61), Tanser, Kiltie, Mandron (Ayunga 78), Olusanya (McMenamin 61)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Kwon, Scott

Motherwell: Kelly, McGinn, Casey, Devine (Mugabi 64), O'Donnell (Blaney 87), Zdravkovski, Gent, Spittal, Halliday (Miller 64), Vale (Nicholson 84), Bair
Subs Not Used: Oxborough, Shaw, Moses, Ross, Butcher

Referee: Matthew MacDermid
Assistant Referee: Sean Carr
Assistant Referee: Alastair Taylor
Fourth Official: Peter Stuart
VAR: Grant Irvine

St Mirren suffered defeat as Kilmarnock came from behind to take the points and move above Saints in the cinch Premiership.

Goals from Charles Dunne and Mikael Mandron had St Mirren 2-0 to the good at the half-time interval. But four goals in 12 second-half minutes saw Kilmarnock turn the game on its head before David Watson added a fifth with just over 10 minutes remaining to ensure the points remained at Rugby Park.

There were four changes from the side that defeated Aberdeen in our last outing with Elvis Bwomono and James Bolton missing out due to injury and illness. Hyeokkyu Kwon and Lewis Jamieson also dropped to the bench while Charles Dunne, Ryan Flynn, Mark O'Hara and Conor McMenamin came in. 

The Buddies started brightly in front of a 2,500 strong travelling support who were making their voices heard. The first chance fell Saints' way when Mandron met a Caolan Boyd-Munce free-kick. But the striker couldn't get the connection that he would have wanted as he headed wide.

The good start was rewarded on 20 minutes when Dunne scored his first goal for the club. The defender reacted quickest to meet a loose ball from a corner and slammed into the net. 

Charles Dunne scores his first St Mirren goal (Image: Jeff Holmes)

Zach Hemming made a brilliant save with 10 minutes of the first-half remaining when, at full stretch, he touched Marley Watkins' header over. Still it was Saints on top and a handball appeal saw a VAR check for a St Mirren penalty heading into the final few minutes of the half. Nothing was given but from the corner that had resulted, Mandron swept home his 10th goal of the season to make it 2-0 to the delirium of the travelling support. 

The Buddies had a big opportunity to extend that lead early in the second-half when a cross found Mandron in the box but he dragged the effort wide and even though the offside flag was raised, replays appeared to show the striker was onside. 

Kilmarnock pulled a goal back just after the hour mark through their captain Kyle Vassell. His first effort was blocked but he managed to get a second bite at it and squeezed the ball under Hemming to reduce the deficit. 

The hosts then managed to draw themselves level four minutes later when Flynn was penalised for a challenge on Watkins in the box. The referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot and the VAR agreed with Danny Armstrong slotting low into the left-hand corner beyond Hemming who has dived the right way but just couldn't keep it out. 

That frustration turned to shock for Saints when Kilmarnock completed their comeback to go ahead on 68 minutes when Watkins headed into the far corner of the net to make it 3-2. 

Vassell added his second and Kilmarnock's fourth five minutes later when he met a long ball from Watkins and fired into the net. And with a little over 10 minutes remaining Watson rounded off the scoring with a solo effort after waltzing through the Saints defence and sliding the ball into the net.

Full-Time: Kilmarnock 5-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Dunne, Flynn (Jamieson 70), O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce, Tanser (Brown 72), Kiltie (Ayunga 71), Mandron, McMenamin (Olusanya 66)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Taylor, Baccus, Kwon, Scott

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Watson, Wright, Findlay, Deas (Ndaba 90), Armstrong (Stewart 82), Donnelly, Kennedy (McKenzie 82), Watkins (Van Veen 82), Vassell (Cameron 82)
Subs Not Used: O'Hara, Murray, Balagizi, Mackay-Steven

Attendance: 8,460 (2,481 St Mirren supporters)

It was the late, late, late show from Saints against Aberdeen as they conjured an escape to victory that even Sylvester Stallone would have deemed far fetched.

The Buddies had been behind from the first minute, an absolute screamer of a goal from Connor Barron. But despite Saints dominating the possession and creating chances throughout, it looked like that goal would be enough to give Neil Warnock his first win as Aberdeen manager.

But in added time, Saints were awarded a free-kick for a foul just outside the box on Toyosi Olusanya. Then VAR intervened and, after a lengthy delay, decided the foul had been inside the box. Returning skipper Mark O'Hara was cool, calm and collected from the spot to level things up.

Given the afternoon it had been, the fans would probably have been satisifed with a point but Saints weren't finished. As play resumed, Conor McMenamin flighted a ball into the box, the ball was headed back across goal by Mikael Mandron and Olusanya stabbed it into the roof of the net, sparking scenes of bedlam on the park and around three-quarters of the stadium as no points became a deserved three in the blink of an eye.

The away side hit the front in the opening seconds. The Saints defence seemed to have snuffed out the threat of Duk but the ball found its way to Barron around 30 yards from goal. The visiting support shouted at him to shoot and he duly did, unleashing a thunderbolt that sailed past Zach Hemming into the top corner to give the Dons the best possible start. Watching FIFA president Gianni Infantino would have been impressed.

Greg Kiltie's shot was easily dealt with by Kelle Roos as Saints tried to respond. They could have been level when the Dons goalie tipped Scott Tanser's header onto the post, resulting in a scramble that saw Lewis Jamieson's attempt to smash the ball home deflected wide – the VAR check that followed eventually deciding there was nothing worthy of a penalty.

Hemming got down well to parry Duk's shot as the visitors looked to double their lead before Jamieson went close again, meeting Caolan Boyd-Munce's inviting ball over the top with a tremendous volley that clipped the top of the bar, possibly with a bit of help from Roos. Mikael Mandron then went close with a header before another VAR check came up blank.

Jamieson was replaced by Toyosi Olusanya at the break but it was the Dons who threatened Hoilett drawing a good save from Hemming – although it proved irrelevant as the flag then went up for offside. That wasn't an issue when the ball fell to Graeme Shinnie 20 yards out but the Saints keeper saved easily. A neat passing move from the home side ended with Boyd-Munce picking out Elvis Bwomono but his volley found the side netting seconds before he was replaced by McMenamin, Jonah Ayunga replacing Kiltie at the same time.

Boyd-Munce smashed a shot over when the ball broke to him at the edge of the box before Aberdeen threatened again, Killian Phillips volleying over and Bojan Miovski firing a low free-kick straight at Hemming. Mark O'Hara and Richard Taylor replaced Boyd-Munce and Bolton as Robinson threw his final roll of the dice. Midway through four minutes of stoppage time Saints were awarded a free-kick just outside the box when Devlin fouled Olusanya – only for VAR to get involved for a third time. After what seemed like an eternity, it finally decided the foul had been inside the box. Skipper O'Hara was given responsibility from the spot and slotted it away with aplomb.

The lengthy delay meant four minutes of stoppage time was looking like a pipe dream and Saints took full advantage of the extra minutes. McMenamin crossed a ball to the back post for Mandron to head back across and Olusanya got in front of his man to force it into the net. There were limbs in the stands and scenes on the pitch as every player, including Hemming, celebrated an amazing turnaround.

There were still a few minutes to play but mentally Aberdeen were done, some visiting players sinking to the ground at full-time as the Buddies celebrations really got going.

Full-Time: St Mirren 2-1 Aberdeen

By Stuart Gillespie

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton (Taylor 81), Gogic, Fraser (c), Bwomono (McMenamin 63), Kwon, Boyd-Munce (O'Hara 81), Tanser, Jamieson (Olusanya 46), Mandron, Kiltie (Ayunga 62)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Dunne, Brown, Scott

Aberdeen: Roos, Jensen, Gartenmann, MacDonald, Devlin, Barron, Phillips, Shinnie, Hoilett (McGrath 63), Duk (McGarry 64), Miovski
Subs Not Used: Doohan, Milne, Duncan, Clarkson, Polvara, Hayes, Sokler

Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: John Stewart
Fourth Official: Calum Scott
VAR: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: 7,019