Gary MacKenzie made his return to Jack Ross' starting 11 on Saturday afternoon, in the side's 1-0 win over Brechin City.

The Buddies were well on top throughout but only had one goal to show for their dominance. In the end MacKenzie believes the three points are all that matters.

Speaking to Buddievision, the centre half said: "I spoke with the manager and he told me I was going to be playing. But I've had no questions prior to that, because the boys have been doing so well. It's part of football and I understand that if the team is doing well - we're top of the league - you sometimes just need to wait your turn. It was good to get back out and get a win with a clean sheet. It wasn't the nicest in the end, but the three points is the most important thing.

"We limited them to very little, I think Sammy had a save and someone hit the post, but we could have made it so much more comfortable for ourselves in the first half. We started the game really well, we had a few chances and didn't quite take them - we missed the penalty.

"You almost feel the game going a bit flat, which really suits them, and it's hard to then get back out of that and get the momentum back in our favour. We had to dig in and you just need to do what you have to do to get over the line. That's something the team has learned to do over the last year; to grind out a result or get a result. Like I said, the three points is the most important thing at this point of the season."

St Mirren took the lead through a Kyle Magennis free kick on the 15 minute mark, getting his first goal of the season in the process.

Saints' afternoon could have been a little more comfortable had they taken one of a number of chances they had created including a missed penalty from Ian McShane on the 21st minute. 

"I think if you look back at the games we've played against Brechin this year, they've made a game of it. The two previous games they can count themselves unlucky not to get something, so we knew it was going to be tough. Which is why it was important that we started the game well and try to be ruthless to put any hope that they had to bed.

"That's maybe then why that nervousness or anxiousness comes into the game the later it goes on, because we didn't quite do that. The other side of that is you then need to role your sleeves up and you don't concede and you get the three points however possible.

"I think after last weekend, it was really quite poor, people on the outside might start to question whether you're feeling pressure or you're having a wobble. So I think it was important today, regardless of how we did it, to get the win."

Saints' next game is on Friday night away to Dundee Utd, after Tuesday's original fixture at home to Falkirk was rescheduled to March.

This will be the fourth and final time the Paisley side will play their Championship rivals this season, with The Buddies winning two out of the three previous meetings.

MacKenzie knows the team will have to be at their best to get a result at Tannadice. 

"That's the games that everybody should want to play in - it'll be on the television.

"We've done well against them and there'll be a lot of pressure riding on it, but we'll see who stands up to it."

During the January transfer window a number of players moved out on loan to play regular football. Here's a look at how some of them got on last weekend. 

Robbie Leitch and Darren Whyte faced each other on Saturday as Queens Park hosted Forfar Athletic in League One. Leitch was a first half substitute for the home side as he replaced the injured Dominic Docherty on 37 minutes. Darren Whyte played the full 90 minutes as the sides drew 2-2. The result kept The Spiders bottom of the table while Forfar remain two points clear of Albion Rovers. 

Cameron MacPherson, who scored his first Stranraer goal last Tuesday, helped The Blues to an important 1-0 win over Alloa Athletic. That moved Stranraer to within a point of Jim Goodwin's side who occupy the final play-off spot. Jordan Kirkpatrick started for The Wasps while Ross Stewart, who seemed set to miss a few weeks of action due to injury, returned as a second half substitute. 

Veteran striker Darryl Duffy started for Airdrieonians but was powerless to help them fall to a 3-0 defeat away to promotion chasing Ayr United. 

In League Two, Conor O'Keefe netted his first goal for Annan Athletic as they scored two late goals to win 2-0 at home to Stenhousemuir. The winger was a late substitute for The Galabankies and helped seal the win in the 91st minute. Evan Horne played the full match as Annan close the gap on Stenhousemuir to five points. 

Andrew McDonald played the full 90 minutes for Elgin City but it was a day to forget for The Black and Whites as they lost 4-0 away to Edinburgh City.

St Mirren manager Jack Ross gives his thoughts on today's 1-0 win over Brechin City as Saints move 11 clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship.

St Mirren regained their 11 point gap at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship with a 1-0 win over Brechin City at The Paisley 2021 Stadium. 

The Buddies controlled the match for large spells of the first half and took the lead through a Kyle Magennis free kick. Ian McShane had the chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot but saw his effort saved by Brechin goalkeeper Patrick O'Neil. In the end one goal was enough to see Saints pick up all three points and get back to winning ways. 

Saints got off to a quick start winning a succession of corners in the opening few minutes but couldn't profit from any of them despite the returning Gary MacKenzie going mightily close.

St Mirren cranked up the pressure with Cammy Smith having an effort from 25 yards saved by Patrick O'Neil before a good run from Liam Smith saw the full back get into a good position inside the box, but he fired over. 

A goal looked inevitable after the start made and it would come with 15 minutes on the clock. Gavin Reilly was fouled around 25 yards and referee Steven McLean awarded Saints a free kick. Kyle Magennis stepped up and powered his effort off the bar and into the net via a bounce off Brechin goalkeeper O'Neil. It was awarded as an own goal but it would be harsh to take the strike away from Magennis as he opened his account for the season.

Saints were in total control of the match and didn't seem keen to settle for just one goal. Cammy Smith pounced upon a poor clearance from O'Neil but scooped his shot over the bar. Then captain Stephen McGinn almost added his name to the scoresheet a minute later.  A blocked Lewis Morgan shot was played into the skipper's path by Reilly but his curling shot was pushed away by O'Neil. 

From the resultant corner The Buddies were awarded a penalty as Kostadin Gadzhalov brought down a Saints player inside the box. Ian McShane, returning to the side, stepped up to take the spot kick, but was denied by O'Neil who dived to his right to push the attempt away.

But The Buddies still created good openings with Cammy Smith the next to be thwarted by the Brechin goalkeeper. Cammy then found Liam Smith inside a good area in the box five minutes later with the loanee firing just over the cross bar. 

Saints continued to push for a second early after the interval - this time Cammy Smith was denied by the bar rather than O'Neil as the forward smashed the ball from distance. 

The woodwork then came to St Mirren's rescue three minutes later as Brechin almost found themselves level. Liam Watt had a go from distance and has goalkeeper Craig Samson beaten only for the shot to smack off the post. 

The game went a bit flat with neither side creating much. Brechin's Dylan Mackin was denied on 75 minutes by a good save from Samson. The Buddies tried to grab a second to kill the match in the final 10 minutes with substitute Jack Baird sending a header over from a corner and Lewis Morgan shooting into the arms of O'Neil.

One goal proved to be enough though as Saints regained their 11 point lead over Livingston heading into the final 10 matches of the season.

Full Time: St Mirren 1-0 Brechin City

St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley, McGinn, McShane (Flynn 60), Morgan, C.Smith (Baird 78), Magennis, Reilly (Hippolyte 68)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Stelios, Hill, Mullen

Brechin: O'Neil, Dyer (Layne 68), Dale (Storie 76), Tapping, Watt, Spark, Morrison (Orsi 53), Gadzhalov, Crighton, Mackin, E.Smith
Subs Not Used: G. Smith, Fusco, Graham

Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Assistant Referee: David McKniff

Attendance: 4,358

Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography and John Millar © - Millar Pictures

St Mirren will look to get back to winning ways this week as they take on Brechin City at the Paisley 2021 Stadium in the Scottish Championship on Saturday.

This will be the third time the teams have met this season, with the other two games finishing 2-1 in favour of The Buddies.

The first game took place in Paisley back in September and was a tough old slog for the home side, who relied on a 79th minute winner to rescue the three points. The Buddies started the game brightly and took the lead after 14 minutes when Cammy Smith slipped the ball under the keeper to get his sixth goal of the season. The Angus side pegged Saints back just before half time though, when former St Mirren U20s player Kalvin Orsi got on the end of deep cross to head past the opposing Craig Samson. It was late in the second half before St Mirren restored their lead, Dale Hilson managing to get a toe on to the end of a Ross Stewart cross to score his one and only goal for the team.

The next game was a similar story with a similar outcome; St Mirren took the lead early on when Gavin Reilly raced away from the Brechin defence to calmly place the ball past their keeper. Again, Saints were pegged back though as Isaac Layne managed to get in front of Jack Baird and knock the ball past the oncoming Samson to level the score. And just like the previous match The Buddies got the winner in the second half. Cammy Smith was brought down in the box and was awarded a penalty, which he stepped up to take himself and converted. 

Saints had been unbeaten in the league since the beginning of December, but that record was snatched away from them last week as they suffered a 4-1 loss at the hands of title challengers Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

January signing Ryan Flynn had got the Paisley side in front within the first two minutes of the game, but a brace from ex-saint Ryan Hardie and a Lee Miller strike gave the West Lothian side a comfortable 3-1 lead going in at the break. Saints plugged away in the second half, with debutant Myles Hippolyte having his effort cleared off the goal line, but to no avail. Livi’s win was completed in injury time, as a defensive mixup resulted in Scott Robinson lifting the ball over Craig Samson to make the score 4-1.

There could be a potential debut tomorrow, as this week Jack Ross added former AC Milan midfielder, Massimo Donati, to the squad. The Italian has been training with the team for the last couple of weeks after being released by Hamilton Academical in January.

Both title contenders Livingston and Dundee Utd are in action on Friday night as they face each other at the Tony Macaroni Arena. Saint's will be hoping for a draw, so they can potentially extend the lead at the top of the Championship on Saturday to 13 points if they overcome Brechin. 

Our match day programme, published in partnership with Curtis Sport, will be available from the Club Shop ahead of Saturday’s game.

This issue, for the Ladbrokes Championship match against Brechin City, is a 48 pager with a £3 cover price.

The latest edition includes the following:

Front Cover – Harry Davis.
The Gaffer - St Mirren manager Jack Ross with his thoughts on recent matches and his pre-match message for the fans.
Buddies News Update – News of the latest happenings in and around the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
Last Time Out – Match report and pictures of the recent Championship match against Queen of the South.
The Opposition – Brian Corry runs the rule over Saturday's visitors, Darren Dod's Brechin City side.
Hall of Fame – David Cochran highlights the St Mirren career of Tony Fitzpatrick.
Player Interview – James Hunter talks with Saints' assistant manager, James Fowler.
Action Shot (Centre Pages) – Ryan Flynn.
SMiSA – John White updates on the latest news from the St Mirren Supporters' Trust.
Fans Corner – Ticket prices, travel clubs update, match info and dates for fans to keep in their diary.
Matchday Gallery – Pictures from the post-match presentations in the corporate suite after the recent home match against Queen of the South.
Kit Sponsors 2017/18.
Football, Bloody Hell – Alan Gallacher compares the 1999/2000 and 2005/06 First Division Championship winning sides.
Marketing Matters – Commercial Manager, Campbell Kennedy brings us up to date with all the commercial activities within the Club.
St Mirren Fixtures & Results 2017/18 – A handy reference page of all the fixtures for this season.
Team Lines – The two squads and match officials for Saturday’s match.

To buy this issue or to place your programme subscription for the 2017/18 season click HERE.

If you live outside the UK & Ireland, St Mirren TV is your way to watch Paisley’s top football side live in action each and every home match day.

This service, which is delivered by media students from the University of the West of Scotland, will cover all of St Mirren’s home games.

As usual the St Mirren TV team will be presenting all the action from The Paisley 2021 Stadium when Brechin City are the visitors on Saturday afternoon.

If you want to tune in here is the info you will need:

St Mirren vs Brechin City
Ladbrokes Championship
Venue: Paisley 2021 Stadium, Paisley
Date: Saturday 24th February 2018
Kick-off: 3:00pm GMT

To access this match day service:

1 Day Pass – €6.99 EUR
Season Pass – €69.99 EUR

To view Terms & Conditions and get started with St Mirren TV please click HERE.

For technical support with St Mirren TV please e-mail tvsupport@stmirren.com

Come along to the Paisley 2021 Stadium tomorrow afternoon and join in with the Matchday Experience which kicks-off at 2:15pm in and around the Family Stand.

Building on the successful initiatives that have seen St Mirren win the accolade of Most Family Friendly Ground in the Scottish Supporters Association Fan Awards, the Club's SLO and Paisley Panda with support from SMiSA and the SMFC Fans' Council present a range of activities to improve the matchday experience for families and all younger Buddies.

The entertainment will kick-off in and around the Family Stand at 2:15pm tomorrow and will include activities such as balloon artists, face painting, muscians and performers and football free stylists.

So come along early and get involved in the fun activities before getting ready to back the Buddies in the Ladbrokes Championship match against Brechin City. #BackTheBuds

We are giving fans the opportunity to vote for the man of the match and also put two lucky fans in with the chance of winning a £10 voucher for the Club Shop.

Every home game we’ll throw open the voting on the 60 minute mark for 20 minutes where votes can be cast on Facebook and Twitter. All you have to do is use the hashtag #SMFCMOM followed by the name of the player you are voting for, eg ‘#SMFCMOM MORGAN’.

With 10 minutes of the game remaining all the votes will be counted then the Stadium Announcer will confirm the winning player over the tannoy system.

From all the fans who nominate the winning player one will be picked at random from the Facebook account and another from the Twitter account and they will each be awarded a £10 voucher for the Club Shop. The winners will be notified through the account they posted from.

So get yourself ready on the hour mark of Saturday’s game against Brechin City and get voting with #SMFCMOM.

Paisley Panda will once again be hosting the ever-popular match day competition ‘Bung a Baw’ at Saturday’s match against Brechin City.

To take part in ‘Bung a Baw’ fans need to purchase a small foam ball which is numbered and they will then have a chance to throw their ball towards our club mascot Paisley Panda in front of the Family Stand. Each person will have 60 seconds to do this and the winner will be the person who has thrown the ball closest to the feet of the Panda. The winner will be confirmed over the PA system.

The competition is sponsored by The Linwood Farm Restaurant who are supplying a family meal voucher as the prize for the contest winner.

Each ball will cost £1 to buy. The balls will be available from sellers inside the Family Stand in the 30 minutes leading up to kick-off and then again in the first 5 minutes of half-time before the competition starts (subject to availability). Each ball is numbered and participants will also get a ticket with the corresponding number which they will use to claim the prize if they win.

‘Bung a Baw’ continues to be very popular so Paisley Panda advises that you get in early tomorrow to purchase your ball to take part.

As well as taking care of ‘Bung a Baw’, Paisley Panda will be giving away sweets to the kids in and around the stadium courtesy of the Black and White Army website.

Paisley Panda has also teamed up with the St Mirren Club Shop so you will be able to buy hats and scarves for the game from the 'Bung a Baw' stands.