Vaclav Hladky admits he's in for a busy night as the Buddies head to Celtic Park to face League leaders Celtic in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

While Saints defensive record is among the best in the Ladbrokes Premiership this season, Jim Goodwin's men have only conceded nine goals - the fourth lowest in the league, the Czech goalkeeper expects he'll face a number of shots this evening.

But even though Celtic have scored 19 goals from just four home league games this season, Vaclav says he's relishing tonight's contest.

Speaking to the press earlier this week, he said: "Yes of course I'm looking forward.

It will be a very busy time and I expect a lot of work.

"With this kind of match you don't have as much time to communicate with the other guys. Everyone has to do their best job and concentrate as it will be a very busy time. 

"You have to be concentrated every single second. They have the ability to score from crosses and shots from 30 metres so you have to be concentrating. 

"We talked with Jamie [Langfield] about what we expect. We expect shots on the goal and a lot of work with crosses.

"We know that our defensive work is good. We keep doing the work and hope we will be better on the other side of the pitch. We just do the best as we can, it's simple as that.

"For everyone it's a great experience to play at Celtic Park. This is what we do. In football the career is so short and you have to enjoy every match like this."

While Saints have yet to take a point on the road this season, Vaclav believes the side are improving week-by-week and performances give hope that points won't be far away.

Our start to the season was not too good with the results but good with our performances.

"We just keep doing what we are doing and I hope the results are coming. 

"Our organisation, communication, back four and whole team gets better and better match by match."

Saints are off to Celtic Park this evening to face Celtic in the second of three consecutive away matches.

FORM

St Mirren - LWLDDL

Celtic - WWWLWD

St Mirren sit in 10th place in the league having picked up eight points from our opening 10 matches, but have yet to pick up a point on the road this season. 

The Buddies have suffered narrow losses to Hibernian (0-1), Livingston (1-2), Ross County (1-2), Motherwell (0-2) and Kilmarnock (0-1) on our travels this season. 

Celtic currently sit top of the league having picked up 25 points from their opening 10 matches.

The Hoops come into tonight's match on the back of a 4-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday that kept them ahead of Rangers at the top on goal difference. 

Neil Lennon's side have won every game at home in the league this season defeating St Johnstone (7-0), Hearts (3-1), Kilmarnock (3-1) and Ross County (6-0). 

Celtic's last defeat at Celtic Park was in August when they lost 4-3 to Romanian side CFR Cluj in Champions League qualifying, while their last league defeat at home came in May 2018 when they lost 1-0 to Aberdeen on the final day of the season. 

PREVIOUS

St Mirren last picked up a point at Celtic Park almost 12 years ago in a 1-1 draw in December 2007. 

Current Saints captain Stephen McGinn gave the Buddies the lead on 74 minutes, but Saints were denied all three points by a Derek Riordan equaliser with five minutes remaining.

Our last win at Celtic Park came in April 1990. Tony Fitzpatrick was manager as the Buddies ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Guni Torfason, Geordie Shaw and Paul Lambert.

The Buddies last point against Celtic was at the Simple Digital in the 0-0 draw in September 2018, while our last win over Celtic was the 3-2 triumph in the League Cup semi-final in January 2013. 

Saints travelled to Celtic Park once last season, losing 4-0 in January of this year. Celtic were the victors the last time the teams came head-to-head, winning 2-0 at the Simple Digital Arena in April.

TEAM NEWS

Calum Waters returns to the squad after missing last weekend's trip to Kilmarnock due to his loan agreement.

Gary MacKenzie could also return to the squad after missing out on Saturday. 

MANAGER'S THOUGHTS

"Celtic are in great form. We know how good a side they are but we have to be positive and believe we can take something from the game otherwise what is the point.

"It's a game where you know Celtic are going to dominate possession. They are games that concentration is massive because of their movement, their rotation, they way that they break and we need to make sure that we are plugging holes at times, filling in for each other and trying to get in Celtic's faces as much as we can. 

"It would be a great way for us to get our first point on the road on the board and we have to believe that we are capable of doing that."

Regular time slots have become available for hire on Wednesdays and Sundays at the St Mirren Airdome.

For further information and to book the dome please contact Janis White on 0141-889-2558 or email info@stmirren.com.

Our Wall of Fame commemorative engraved tiles have made a lasting impression at The Simple Digital Arena.

Supporters and family members have a permanent place in the Club's story through having a personalised 'brick' in place on the walls of the Main Stand.

You can order a single brick (251mm x 65mm x 20mm) with up to two lines of lettering (15 characters per line, space and punctuation count as characters) or a double brick (215mm x 140mm x 20mm) with up to four lines.

The bricks are available with either black or gold lettering. The lettering is engraved and hand painted with a long-lasting infill.

Each brick comes with its own unique Certificate of Authenticity that you can frame or present as a gift.

Confirmation of your order will be posted to you with your unique certificate of authenticity on receipt of your application.

For anyone wishing to have a brick on the wall in time for Christmas, applications must be made by Wednesday 30th October at the latest.

Applications can be made via our e-store or by picking up a form at the reception of The Simple Digital Arena.

St Mirren Football Club can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement to terminate the contract of Jim Kellermann.

Jim joined the club in May 2018 from English side Aldershot Town and made seven appearances for the Buddies scoring once in a Betfred Cup tie against Dumbarton.

The club would like to thank Jim for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future career. 

Tomorrow evening (Wednesday 30th October) St Mirren make the trip along the M8 to Glasgow for a Ladbrokes Premiership match-up with Celtic.

The info on Travel Clubs heading to Celtic Park for the match is as follows:

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

The bus for the Celtic game will leave at 6:45pm.

Any remaining bus tickets are on sale from behind the bar.

Chivas Travel Club

The bus to Celtic Park will leave at 6:45pm.

Non members tickets for the bus are on sale from the Court Bar.

Please note that we are sharing the bus with the North End Club for this match.

North End Travel Club

We are sharing a bus to the Celtic game with the Chivas Club.

The bus will leave St James' Street at 6:45pm.

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

If you would like to travel on the bus please contact Fraser Burns on Facebook or twitter.

* - Under 13s attending the match must be accompanied by an adult.

Regular prices for wheelchair/ambulant disabled with free carer.

Please note that there will be no tickets available at Celtic Park prior to kick-off. Tickets will be available at the St Mirren Ticket Office up until 2:00pm on Wednesday 30th October.

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

Tue, 29th Oct: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Wed, 30th Oct: 10:00am to 2:00pm

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

Additional Information for Travelling Fans

On Wednesday (30th October), St Mirren make the short trip to the east end of Glasgow to face Celtic in a Ladbrokes Premiership match-up at Celtic Park.

The referee on Wednesday is Kevin Clancy and he will be assisted by Frank Connor and Andrew McWilliam. The Fourth Official will be Alan Newlands.

Tickets for our trip to Celtic Park to face Celtic on Wednesday 30th October are on-sale at the St Mirren Ticket Office and online.

The ticket prices as follows:

Full View

Adult - £30
Concession (13-15/Over 65) - £20
Under 13* - £12

Restricted View

Adult - £27
Concession - (13-15/Over 65) - £17
Under 13* - £9

* - Under 13s attending the match must be accompanied by an adult.

Regular prices for wheelchair/ambulant disabled with free carer.

Please note there will be no tickets available at Celtic Park prior to kick-off. Tickets will be available at the St Mirren Ticket Office up until 2pm on Wednesday. 

The Ticket Office hours for the remainder of the week are as follows:

Mon, Oct 28th - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Tue, Oct 29th - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Wed, Oct 30th - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Thu, Oct 31st - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Fri, Nov 1st - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Sat, Nov 2nd - CLOSED
Sun, Nov 3rd - CLOSED

St Mirren Ticket Office Tel: (0141) 840-6130.

St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com

A late Gary Dicker header consigned St Mirren to a 1-0 loss at Rugby Park in the Ladbrokes Premiership this afternoon. 

The Buddies created a number of chances and arguably deserved to take at least a point from the match, but left Ayrshire with nothing to show for their efforts.

Jim Goodwin was forced into one change from the side that defeated St Johnstone last week. Cammy MacPherson came in in place of Calum Waters who was ineligible to play against his parent side due to the terms of his loan agreement.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with neither side creating anything clear cut in the first 20 minutes. Eamonn Brophy had an effort smothered by Vaclav Hladky, while Kyle Magennis had a shot from 20 yards was blocked and Sam Foley sent an attempt over from the edge of the area.

Kilmarnock were forced into a change on 25 minutes with Alex Bruce coming on to replace Stuart Findlay who had to be stretchered off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Seven minutes after coming on Bruce was lucky not to be penalised for a pull on Danny Mullen inside the Kilmarnock box. Saints were left frustrated at the decision not to award a penalty but Mullen did manage to get a shot on goal after wriggling clear of the defender but it was palmed away by goalkeeper Laurentiu Branescu. 

Tony Andreu almost gave Saints the lead on 38 minutes. The Frenchman picked the ball up, drove in from the left and flashed a powerful drive just inches wide of Branescu's right-hand post.

The Buddies could have taken a lead into the interval but for a last-gasp block from Niko Hamalainen and Bruce to halt Jon Obika as the forward broke into the Kilmarnock box just before Willie Collum called time on the first-half.

Kilmarnock started the second-half brightly with Hamalainen firing a long-range effort into the arms of Vaclav Hladky less than two minutes after the restart.

But Saints were still creating opportunities with Obika flashing wide from the edge of the area before Branescu made a wonderful diving save to claw away a Mullen header. Kirk Broadfoot's long-ball into the box came off the head of Stephen O'Donnell and met Mullen who was denied by the Romanian goalkeeper at full-stretch. Mullen was up again less than two minutes later to meet a Paul McGinn cross but this one was easier for the Kilmarnock goalkeeper.

Andreu should have put Saints in front on 72 minutes when he got on the end of a terrific through ball from Obika but the Frenchman knocked wide from 15 yards out. Andreu, unfortunately, injured himself in the process and had to be replaced by Junior Morias.

With 12 minutes remaining the home side took the lead. Killie skipper Gary Dicker peeled away from Foley inside the box to meet a corner kick and bulleted home a header that proved to be the winner. 

Substitute Chris Burke should have doubled the home side's lead with just three minutes remaining but missed from just a few yards out. In the end, Dicker's header proved enough to seal Kilmarnock the points. 

Full-Time: Kilmarnock 1-0 St Mirren

St Mirren: Hladky, MacPherson, Broadfoot, McLoughlin, P.McGinn, S.McGinn (c), Foley, Magennis (Durmus 85), Andreu (Morias 73), Mullen, Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Erhahon, Flynn, Henderson, Djorkaeff

Kilmarnock: Branescu, O'Donnell, Del Fabro (Thomas 81), Findlay (Bruce 25), Hamalainen, Power, Dicker (c), El Makrini, Millar (Burke 68), Brophy
Subs Not Used: Koprivec, Hendrie, Jackson, St Clair

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Graham McNeillie
Fourth Official: Grant Irvine

Attendance: 6,389 (1,038 St Mirren fans)

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin gives his reaction after his side are narrowly beaten by Kilmarnock at Rugby Park after a late goal.