Kyle Magennis was full of praise for the St Mirren support following Saturday's 3-1 win over Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

More than 1000 Buddies made the trip through to West Lothian as Saints came from behind to pick up a valuable three points in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Kyle, who made his first appearance since an injury in December, said the fans have been brilliant all season and confessed there is a good feeling around Saints just now.

The fans have been phenomenal," he told stmirren.com.

"It's been a tough season for them after the highs of last year and this year has been pretty low. But there's a real good buzz about the place now. 

"The fans have been patient with me. Obviously they have wanted me back but it's been brilliant that they haven't tried to rush me back. 

"They told me to take my time and make sure it's right so it's been brilliant from them."

Kyle had been out of action since an injury sustained against Hibernian at the start of December, but made his return to action as a 76th minute substitute when he replaced fellow St Mirren Youth Academy graduate Ethan Erhahon.

The midfielder had a chance to make an instant impact with an effort well saved by Livingston goalkeeper Liam Kelly, but admits it was just nice to be involved in first team action again.

I'm absolutely buzzing and it's brilliant to be back.

"I had a wee chance which would have made the comeback even better but I'm buzzing the boys scored two goals after that and it was a simple 10 minutes after that to try and keep Livingston out. 

"When I came back the last time I played four games and I was feeling brilliant. I think I just overstretched and it went again.

"When that happened I was pretty down but you just have to get through it and word hard in the gym and get back to where you were."

Saturday's win saw the Buddies extend their gap over bottom side Dundee to six points and move to within two points of 10th place Hamilton Accies.

But Magennis says the side are only thinking about what they can do to affect the situation at the bottom.

We are just focusing on us and we take every game as it comes. Other results will take care of themselves.

"If we go and put performances in like that every week we should be alright."

Throughout the season we have been entertaining fans in and around the family stand on match days.

However, for the upcoming home match with St Johnstone on Saturday 27th April we plan to go even bigger and better.

Paisley Panda said: "We have really enjoyed providing entertainment on a match day this season which has helped to provide a better match day experience for the whole family but as the season draws to close we want to sign off with a bang.

"Before the match with St Johnstone we will have several inflatables including the hilarious hungry hippo, beat the goalie, live music from local artists including the very popular Lisa Kowalski, face painting, St Mirren balloon art, appearance from Paisley Panda, prizes to be won and free sweets for the kids."

Everyone is welcome with events kicking off from 1pm behind the family stand.

The Panda Express is back!

After a successful first outing the family supporters bus will be returning for our crucial away match against Motherwell on Saturday 4th May.

Tickets are priced at £5 per person and will include a drink and crisps.

The bus departs the stadium at 1:45pm.

To book please contact colin.bright@stmirren.com. 

Tony Fitzpatrick paid tribute to Billy McNeill following the passing of the Scottish football legend last night. 

McNeill played 790 times for Celtic between 1957 & 1975 - captaining the side to their European Cup triumph in 1967 - and was also capped 29 times for Scotland.

After hanging up his boots, McNeill managed Clyde, Aberdeen, Celtic (twice), Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Saints chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick knew McNeill well and paid tribute to the man known as 'Cesar'. 

Tony said: "I have incredible memories of Billy and I'm so proud to say he tried to sign me as a player. As a man he was an absolute gentleman and a great leader of men. I was in his company quite a lot and he really was an incredible man.

"Even though we knew he was unwell you think guys like Billy McNeill are immortal. It's a huge shock to your system when you hear news like this.

"We've had incredible players over the years in Scottish football such as Kenny Dalglish, David Cooper etc. But I think Billy, along with Sir Alex Ferguson, is the biggest name ever in Scottish football. Billy McNeill is a name that everybody will remember forever. He was a proper gentleman and everything you wanted in a hero. 

"I know every director, the players, the staff and supporters would pass on our wishes to Billy's family. It's such a sad loss."

The St Mirren Reserves are in SPFL Reserve League action as they travel through to the capital to face Hearts at the Oriam this afternoon.

Kick-off takes place at 2pm.

To find out more about the SPFL Reserve League please click here.

St Mirren picked up a huge three points after a brilliant 3-1 win over Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena this afternoon. 

Saints had to come from behind to defeat 10-man Livingston to extend the gap over Dundee at the bottom to six points and move to within two of Hamilton Accies.

The home side started brightly with Keaghan Jacobs and Scott Robinson sending efforts just wide inside the opening 10 minutes.

But they were dealt a major blow on 17 minutes when Craig Halkett was shown a straight red card after he was adjudged to have denied a goalscoring opportunity. The Livi captain caught Brad Lyons as he the Northern Irishman charged through on goal and referee William Collum showed no hesitation in pulling out the red card.

Despite that setback, it was the 10 men who took the lead on 20 minutes. To Livi's credit it was a well worked goal which finished with Scott Robinson on hand to tap home a cutback from Steven Lawless.

While it was frustrating for Saints, the Buddies found themselves level just six minutes later. Anders Dreyer fed the ball to Paul McGinn out on the right and the full-back charged into the box, finishing from a tight angle to make it 1-1.

Both sides had chances before half-time with Ryan Flynn making an incredible clearance to deny Scott Pittman a tap-in, while Danny Mullen shot straight at Kelly from the edge of the box after a neat interplay with Dreyer.

Oran Kearney made an attacking substitution at the break with Simeon Jackson coming on to replace Gary MacKenzie. And the Buddies were right at Livingston from the get go. Mullen rose the highest to meet a Paul McGinn cross just a minute after the interval but Kelly was equal to the header.

Just five minutes after coming on Jackson had a chance to put Saints ahead after being found in space inside the box. Dreyer slipped the ball through to the striker but Kelly beat away the shot.

Mullen almost had us in front near the hour mark but for a vital block from Hakeem Odoffin. Mihai Popescu's lovely through ball found Jackson who broke into the box and played it across the box for Mullen whose first time flick was sent over by the leg of the Livi defender.

Saints were having the majority of the pressure but couldn't find a way through. Kyle McAllister and Kyle Magennis were both introduced in place of Brad Lyons and Ethan Erhahon. The substitutions paid dividends with Magennis almost scoring just after coming on. His one-two with Dreyer found him in on goal but Kelly blocked the attempt.

However, it was from that passage of play that Saints would find themselves in front. Livingston couldn't clear their lines after Kelly's save allowing Stephen McGinn to put the ball into the box where it broke nicely to Mullen who, with his back to goal, turned and unleashed a powerful effort into the left corner to send the away stand into raptures.

The scenes only intensified as the Buddies added a third less than two minutes later. Kyle McAllister drove on and unleashed a shot from range down the throat of Kelly. The keeper couldn't hold it with Jackson was on hand to knock it into the net from close range to earn Saints a valuable three points.

Full Time: Livingston 1-3 St Mirren 

St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Baird, MacKenzie (Jackson 45), Popescu, Erhahon (Magennis 76), S. McGinn (c), Flynn, Lyons (McAllister 63), Dreyer, Mullen
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Muzek, Hodson, Ferdinand

Livingston: Kelly, Lithgow, Halkett, Gallagher, Jacobs, Lawson, Pittman, Sibbald (Lamie 52), Robinson, Lawless (Odoffin 23), Hardie (Menga 73)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Byrne, Tiffoney, De Vita

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Stuart Hodge
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncan

Attendance: 2,347

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

Saints manager Oran Kearney reflects on a good afternoon for his side as the Buddies defeated Livingston 3-1 at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

St Mirren travel through to West Lothian on Saturday to face Gary Holt's Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena. 

It's the first match following the league split with 11th placed Saints looking to preserve their Ladbrokes Premiership status with five matches remaining.

FORM

St Mirren - DLWLLW

Livingston - DWLDWL

After a break last weekend, the Buddies come into this match on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Hamilton on match day 32. 

Saints fell behind to Accies on 63 minutes, but responded quickly with Anders Dreyer netting the equaliser three minutes later to grab us a share of the spoils. 

The Buddies' last win came over Dundee at the Simple Digital Arena at the end of March when we defeated Dundee 2-1. 

Livingston, meanwhile, picked up a point in their last match after a 0-0 draw against Celtic at Celtic Park.

They were victorious in their last home match with goals from Ryan Hardie and Craig Halkett giving them a 2-0 win over Hamilton.

The Lions have been in impressive form at home this season. Gary Holt's side have won a third of their Ladbrokes Premiership matches overall this season with 10 of those 11 wins coming at the Tony Macaroni Arena. 

PREVIOUS

Ryan Flynn scored a last-gasp winner for the Buddies the last time the two sides met. 

The midfielder was on hand to follow up after Simeon Jackson's shot was saved to give St Mirren a 1-0 win over Livi at the Simple Digital Arena in March.

That was Saints' first win over the Lions in three attempts this season having lost both of the previous matches.

Gary Holt first match in charge as Livingston manager came against St Mirren back in August. The Lions came away from Paisley with three points that afternoon with first half goals from Jack Hamilton and Alan Lithgow seeing the visitors win 2-0. 

This will be St Mirren's second visit to Livingston this season having already made the trip to the Tony Macaroni Arena in December. Alfie Jones, now back at Southampton, headed the opener for Saints to give Oran Kearney's men a first half lead. But second half goals from Scott Pittman, Ryan Hardie and Craig Sibbald gave Livingston a 3-1 win.

WHAT A WIN WOULD MEAN

St Mirren will be looking for three points to try and close the gap on 10th place Hamilton and keep above bottom side Dundee.

Saints could move to within a point of Accies with a win providing that Hamilton lose at home to Motherwell in the Lanarkshire derby. 

A win could also see the Buddies go six points clear of the bottom if Dundee lose away to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Three points for Livingston would keep them in the hunt for a seventh place finish. Just two points separate ninth-placed Lions from seventh-placed St Johnstone.

TEAM NEWS

Danny Rogers and Greg Tansey remain out for the Buddies, while Duckens Nazon will serve the final match of his suspension. 

Kyle Magennis played 45 minutes for the St Mirren Reserves on Monday, but tomorrow's game may come too soon for the 20 year-old. 

WHAT THE GAFFER SAYS

"I don't buy into it when people say a team has nothing to play for. I don't expect Livingston to be any different from the Livingston we have faced this season which has always been a tough task. 

"Preparations have been good. We have done our homework and we'll try our hardest to find a way to win the game. We have players who are comfortable playing on plastic pitches. We've played on it before and we've played on plenty of plastic pitches this season."

Please note that the Stadium, Ticket Office and Club Shop will all be closed this coming Monday (22nd April). 

Anyone wishing to buy tickets will still be able to do so online. 

The Stadium, Ticket Office and Club Shop will all be open as usual on Tuesday.

* Registered disabled fans are entitled to a free carer if required.

Please note that anyone who has ordered a ticket for collection at the St Mirren Ticket Office must collect it by 2:00pm today (Friday 19th April). 

Tickets for this match are on sale from the St Mirren Ticket Office and are also available to purchase through Livingston's ticketing website.

Supporters can choose a seat in Section L of the Nordan East Stand and can have a digital ticket, which can be on their phone or printed at home or choose to have them posted.

Livingston have confirmed that tickets will be available for St Mirren fans at thd match from 12:30pm at the Almondvale Suite which is situated at the South Stand of the stadium.

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

Fri, 19th Apr: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Sat, 20th Apr: CLOSED

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

Additional Information for Travelling Fans

On Saturday (20th April), St Mirren make the trip to West Lothian to face Livingston in a Ladbrokes Premiership match-up at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

The referee on Saturday is William Collum and he will be assisted by Alan Mulvanny and Stuart Hodge. Fourth Official will be Gavin Duncan.