Jim Goodwin is confident his side can cope with the loss of key personnel ahead of tonight's cinch Premiership clash against Ross County. 

Saints will be without captain Joe Shaughnessy after his sending off against Hearts on Saturday, while Conor McCarthy is on the sidelines after a ligament injury. Scott Tanser also faced a late fitness test after being replaced in the first-half at Tynecastle.

But the manager believes he has enough in reserve from which to call upon.

Joe’s sending off so late in the game was a sore one to take, but at the same time we just have to learn to cope with it.

"I thought we coped relatively well with the loss of Conor McCarthy at the weekend against Hearts. Charles Dunne came in and was excellent for large spells of the game.

"That shows the kind of strength in depth we have in the squad. I’m very fortunate to have such good options coming off the bench

"I’ve got plenty of options to cope with it if I need to shuffle the pack."

Charles Dunne came into the side on Saturday in the absence of Conor McCarthy (Image: Craig Brown)

Saints head into the match without a win since a 3-2 victory against tonight's opponents back in October.

It's a run of six without a win, but Jim has been feels like the team will soon reap the rewards their performances merit. 

"I genuinely feel that someone is going to get a doing from us at some point.

"I saw Ross County hammering Dundee 5-0 two or three weeks ago and I believe that someone is going to be on the tail end of one of them from us and the sooner the better.

"However, I’d be more concerned if we weren’t playing well and creating chances.

"I’d be asking serious questions of the players and myself.

"You want to absolutely open the gap above the bottom teams but more importantly we want to close the one on the teams above us.”

St Mirren vs Ross County
cinch Premiership
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium, Paisley
Date: Wednesday 1st December 2021
Kick-off: 7:45pm

The match day officials for Wednesday's match against County are as follows:

Referee: David Dickinson
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeille
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: Don Robertson

Match Details

The game kicks-off at 7:45pm.

Season Tickets ARE valid for this game.

Match is all ticket – tickets will be on sale (subject to availability) UNTIL KICK-OFF.

On the match day St Mirren fans can purchase their tickets (subject to availability) at the St Mirren Ticket Office from 10:00am to 2:00pm or 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Please note that the West Stand Ticket booth will not be open for tomorrow night's match. The fastest and easiest way to buy tickets is online at stmirren.com/matchtickets. This will provide supporters with a QR code directly to their phones that will be scanned at the turnstiles for entry. 

Ross County fans can purchase their tickets (subject to availability) online only at stmirren.com/awaysupporters. 

St Mirren season ticket holders who cannot attend the match can watch live on St Mirren TV. Season ticket holders who wish to access St Mirren TV should click this link and follow the instructions in the article. 

Non-season ticket holders and Ross County supporters can watch live on ppv.stmirren.com for £12.50.

The St Mirren Ticket Office (Main Stand) opening hours in the build up to this match are as follows:

Wed, 1st Dec: 10:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 8:00pm

Ticket Office Phone No: (0141) 840-6130
St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com

Visitor Information

St Mirren have been drawn away to Ayr United in the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup. 

The tie will take place on the weekend of 22/23 January 2022. 

Full fixture details including ticketing arrangements will be announced in due course. 

St Mirren kick-off a busy month by hosting Ross County at the SMiSA Stadium on Wednesday.

The Buddies take on the Staggies in the first of six cinch Premiership matches in the month of December.

Jim Goodwin's side are looking to bounce back from a frustrating defeat at Tynecastle on Saturday after a 2-0 loss against Hearts saw Saints drop out of the top six.

Ross County sit bottom of the cinch Premiership, but have picked up seven points from a possible 12 to move to within three points of 11th place Dundee. The Dingwall outfit come into Wednesday's match on the back of a 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Saturday.

Match Details

St Mirren v Ross County
Competition: cinch Premiership
Date: Wednesday 1st December 2021
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium

Ticket Info

Tickets for Wednesday night's match are on-sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online. Vaccine certification is not required.

Away supporters can buy online at this link.

The match will also be available on PPV at a cost of £12.50 for anyone who can't make the match. However, due to UEFA broadcasting restrictions this service is not available in England. 

Previous 

St Mirren were victorious in the only meeting between the two so far this season.

Saints ran out 3-2 winners at the Global Energy Stadium in October. Eamonn Brophy, Marcus Fraser and Scott Tanser scored for the Buddies to extend their unbeaten run against the Staggies to six matches. 

County's last win against the Buddies was in September 2019 when they won 2-1 in Dingwall. 

Eamonn Brophy and Scott Tanser scored in our last meeting against Ross County (Image: Ken MacPherson)

The officials

The referee on Wednesday night is David Dickinson. He'll be assisted by Graham McNeille and Stuart Stevenson. The fourth official is Don Robertson.

Starting in the New Year, half-season tickets are valid from our game against Aberdeen on Tuesday 25th January 2022 and cover you for eight home league matches for the second half of the 2021/22 season.

The benefits include:

• Guaranteed access to the stadium under Covid regulations
• Eight Home league games for the price of seven
• Secured seating for the rest of the season

What are you waiting for? Get behind the Saints and help Jim and the team in their push for a first ever top six finish in the current league setup.

Half-Season Ticket prices are as follows:

Main Stand (Premium Padded)

Main Stand (Regular)

West Stand

South Stand (Excludes Celtic and Rangers matches)

HOW TO BUY
Half-season tickets are on sale now from the St Mirren Ticket Office and online.

The manager lamented missed chances as St Mirren fell to their first away loss in the cinch Premiership since August. 

We need to take opportunities. We need to try and find a way to be more ruthless and more clinical in front of goal."

St Mirren's five match unbeaten away run came to an end as the Buddies were beaten by Hearts at Tynecastle.

Jim Goodwin's men had plenty of chances but an inspired Craig Gordon performance for the home side coupled with goals from Gary Mackay-Steven and Stephen Kingsley meant Hearts took all the points.

The Buddies were forced into one change from the side that drew with Livingston last week. An injured Conor McCarthy dropped out and was replaced by Charles Dunne who made his first start since August.

Saints started well in the capital and Hearts goalkeeper Gordon had to make two good saves in a minute to deny the visitors the opener on 20 minutes. The Scotland international first beat away a Brophy drive from a tight angle, before making a terrific stop to deny Dunne from the resultant corner. 

Saints were dealt a blow just after the half-hour mark when Scott Tanser went down inside the St Mirren box and couldn't continue after treatment from the physio. 

The Buddies almost took the lead with three minutes of the first-half remaining when Joe Shaughnessy's strike was deflected goalward by Hearts defender Michael Smith. Gordon made a block with his feet to stop the ball creeping over the line.

In the final moments of the first-half Saints did have the ball in the net when Richard Tait finished neatly beyond Gordon but was denied by the linesman's offside flag. It was a tight call with Tait looking like he may have been in line with one of the Hearts defenders.

Richard Tait had a goal ruled out for offside (Image: Craig Brown)

The home side started the second 45 on the ascendancy with Jak Alnwick having to make a terrific save to block Gary Mackay-Steven's attempt before Smith also had a follow-up strike blocked by the Saints defence.

But Saints quickly came into it and could've taken the lead with three big opportunities in the space of a minute. McGrath was denied by a wonderful one-handed stop from Hearts goalkeeper Gordon and from a corner soon after, Marcus Fraser had a header blocked on the line and no one in black and white could follow-up. Moments after Gordon made another big save to turn over a McAllister dig from the edge of the box.

And those passed up chances would come back to haunt the Buddies a couple of minutes later when Hearts took the lead. Mackay-Steven swept home from 12 yards to put the home side in front just after the hour mark.

Hearts doubled their advantage with 15 minutes to go. Stephen Kingsley scored a stunning free-kick from 25 yards to put the home side 2-0 in front and secure the three points for Robbie Neilson's side.

Saints misery was compounded in the final minute of stoppage time when Shaughnessy was shown a second yellow card. 

Full-Time: Hearts 2-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Tait, Flynn (Kiltie 81), Power, Tanser (McAllister 34), McGrath, Ronan (Dennis 73), Brophy
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Millar, Erhahon, Main

Hearts: Gordon, Smith, Souttar, Halkett, Kingsley, Devlin, Baningime (Haring 86), Halliday, McKay, Mackay-Steven (Ginnelly 70), Boyce (Gnanduillet 80)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, McEneff, Woodburn, Cochrane

Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: Ralph Gordon
Assistant Referee: Jonathan Bell
Fourth Official: John Beaton 

Conor McCarthy will undergo surgery after sustaining a ligament injury in Saturday's match against Livingston.

The Saints defender had to be replaced after 36 minutes in the draw with Livingston after rupturing a ligament just above his ankle.

Jim Goodwin confirmed the 23-year-old will have an operation next week and be out for a number of weeks.

Unfortunately the results of the scan weren't great and we will need to pencil him in for an operation next week," the manager said speaking to the press.

"He has done two or three different things to the ankle. It's not something we think is going to keep him out for three or four months. I would imagine it will be the six-to-eight-week bracket.

"He is a young lad, he has never had any serious injuries. He is physically strong and I would expect him to heal quickly.

"The thought of going into surgery now is not as big a deal as it used to be. We are hoping for as good a turnaround as possible."

Charles Dunne returned to the side in place of McCarthy last weekend and the 28-year-old is now set for his first start since a 0-0 draw with St Johnstone in August when St Mirren face Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow. 

And with Dunne, the manager knows he has a more than able stand-in available. 

Charles Dunne came on last week and was excellent. We have a very, very good replacement.

"Physically I think Charles is one of the outstanding centre-backs in the league, in terms of his all-round profile - 6ft 3in, rapid, technically very, very good.

"He started the season very well, picked up a knock and has found himself on the sidelines for a number of weeks because the three lads who have been playing have been very consistent. So Charles has had to be patient.

"He came on Saturday and was excellent. We are very lucky to have him. It's not like I am turning to an 18 or 19-year-old replacement.

"I am putting in a centre-half who has a wealth of experience and has all the ability in the world. Hopefully we can keep the big man fit because he deserves that."

Charles Dunne is likely to come in for the injured Conor McCarthy.

This weekend only, all our 2021/22 Replica kit is now available with 20% off!

That includes our home & away kits, as well as our newly launched goalkeeper kit, essentials for the season.

Whether you’re buying to make a saving for yourself or as a gift, for the Saints fan in your life, this will be your only opportunity to buy the kits for less in 2021.

Offers end at Midnight on Monday 29th, don’t miss out.

SHOP NOW

All your deals:

• 20% off trainingwear
• 20% off replica kit

Tickets are on-sale now for St Mirren’s upcoming cinch Premiership home matches against Ross County and Hibernian.

Saints host the Staggies on Wednesday 1st December, while Hibernian come to Paisley on Saturday 11th December.

Tickets for these matches can be purchased at the St Mirren Ticket Office or online at stmirren.com/matchtickets.

Ross County and Hibernian fans can buy their tickets at stmirren.com/awaysupporters.

Group Offers Return

Our fantastic group ticket offer in the Tony Fitzpatrick Family Stand is returning for our matches against Ross County on Wednesday 1st December 2021 and Motherwell on Sunday 2nd January 2022.

Two adults and up to 20 children (U12s) can attend either match for just £24. More details on how to redeem this offer can found here.

St Mirren v Celtic tickets

Tickets for our match against Celtic on Wednesday 22nd December will go on general sale to home supporters only on Tuesday 14th December.

Please note that, as is always the case for matches against Celtic and Rangers, tickets are only available to those registered on our ticketing platform. Away end tickets will be sold by Celtic directly.

Tony Fitzpatrick Family Stand season ticket holders have from Thursday 2nd December until 2pm on Monday 13th December to guarantee a seat in either the Main or West Stand for our cinch Premiership match against Celtic.

Tony Fitzpatrick Family Stand season ticket holders who buy tickets before 2pm on Tuesday 21st December will get them at the reduced price of £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Children with under 12 season tickets will be moved free of charge with a paying adult/concession season ticket holder. This is subject to availability after Monday 13th December.

Please note these cannot be purchased online. They can only be purchased by visiting the ticket office or over the phone.

Any Tony Fitzpatrick Family Stand season ticket holder who misses the Tuesday 21st deadline will have to pay the full price of £27 for adults and £17 for concessions. 

We understand there is frustration along surrounding the use of the stand for away fans. Please be assured that discussions have been taking place at club at board level and with SMiSA members. We are trying to work a reasonable solution that accommodates everyone, but at this time these conversations remain ongoing. 

Hearts v St Mirren (Sat 27th Nov)

Saturday sees St Mirren travel to Edinburgh to face Hearts in the cinch Premiership.

Hearts have informed us that there will be no cash turnstiles on the day of the match so tickets must be purchased in advance from the ticket office. The St Mirren Ticket Office is open on weekdays between 10am-2pm with a late opening between 5pm-8pm tonight (25th Nov).

Please note that spot checks will be in place for this match so all supporters over the age of 18 need proof they are double vaccinated or have proof they are exempt. No refunds will be available for anyone who purchases a ticket without proof of their vaccination status. 

Aberdeen v St Mirren (Sat 4th Dec)

Our cinch Premiership match away to Aberdeen on Saturday 4th December will be pay-at-the-gate only.

Gate prices are as follows:

Adult - £26
Over-65 - £20
Over-75 & 18-21 - £16
Under-18 - £12
Under-12 - £6
Carer - FOC