St Mirren manager Jack Ross was named the Ladbrokes Championship Manager of the Month yesterday, after picking up 10 points out of 12 in the month of January.

The team have been in fine form over the New Year period, going on a nine game unbeaten run in the league. But The Saints’ gaffer doesn’t fear his team will get ahead of themselves.

It was the second month in a row that the gaffer has picked up the award and he said: "I know people always say ‘how to do you stop players from getting carried away’ or ‘make sure their feet are on the ground’, but what I have here is a group I’ve worked, in the main, with over the last year.

Obviously we’ve had some change in personnel, but a good core of them that have been here.

"The good thing is there has been a consistency in our approach, when we were bottom of the league and now we’re top of the league, we do the same things. We prepare in the same way, we work in the same way.

"The players trust that method of working, so for us going into this period, it’s reassuring for me as a manger that they’ll not look to do anything differently and they know I wont do anything differently.”

Ross is also keeping his own feet on the ground and insists he isn't phased by the prospect of potentially managing in the Premiership next season, if his side are able to hold on to first spot in the Scottish Championship. St Mirren currently sit 14 points ahead of second place club Dundee Utd.

He continued: "I don't really think too much about it, simply because - and I'm not saying you don't ever allow yourself to think further ahead - I just love managing full stop.

I love this job; I loved the job when we were bottom of the league, I love the job now, I loved the job when I was at Alloa. I just really enjoy doing it."

"I enjoy the the challenge of games week in week out. I enjoy the problem solving aspect of it, I enjoy trying to find a way to win games and I enjoying working with my players. If that happens to come with us progressing to a different league, and different challenges, then brilliant. If it doesn't I'll still enjoy it."

Buddievision subscribers can watch the manager's full press conference along with Stephen McGinn's here.  

Join us on Friday 9th March 2018 in the Westmarch Suite at The Paisley 2021 Stadium for our Annual Academy Fundraiser Night.

The aim of the evening is to raise funds for our highly acclaimed Academy and facilitate the ongoing commitment we have to our successful youth programme .

The evening will kick off with a glass of bubbly on arrival before sitting down to a superb two course meal after which you will be entertained by Jamie King McArthur 'The King of Swing' one of the busiest and highly regarded young performers on the circuit who will perform a mix of classic Rat Pack and swing hits to current chart hits followed by a DJ set that will keep the dance floor full all night long.

The evening will also include a superb raffle and Grand Auction with all funds raised going towards the Academy.

Tickets for the event are sure to sell quickly and are available priced as follows:

• £36 (minimum booking two people on a shared table)
• Table of ten £360

All prices are inclusive of VAT.

To book your place please contact Commercial Manager, Campbell Kennedy direct on 0141-840-1337, email commercial@stmirren.com, email Claire Coventry claire.coventry@stmirren.com or download the booking form here.

Please note that time slots have become available this week for the following times, at the St Mirren Airdome;

- Tuesday 6th Feb 7.30-8.30pm & 8.30-9.30pm

For further information and to book the dome please contact St Mirren in the Community on 0141-889-2558.

Please note that football centres at the St Mirren Airdome are OFF this weekend (10th and 11th February) due to the mid term break.

Centres at the dome will resume on the week beginning Monday 12th February.

Please note that football centres at the following venues are OFF due to the mid term break;

Arkleston Primary School (Tuesday 6th and 13th February)

Ralston Primary School (Wednesday 7th and 14th February) 

Gryffe High School (Friday 9th and 16th February)

Liam Smith got off the mark for St Mirren this week, with an audacious effort from outside the box that whistled past Queen of the South Goalkeeper Alan Martin on the third minute.

Saints ran out 2-0 winners, with Harry Davis scoring from the penalty spot after Smith's early opener enough to secure The Buddies' 17th league win of the season.

Speaking to Buddievision, Smith said: "I've played quite a few games now, but it's not something that comes around very often for me. I was pleased, and glad to eventually get the three points as well.

"The boys were giving me a bit of stick as well, saying they don't think they have ever seen it from me either - in training or that. It was a nice finish, so I'm pleased with it."

The Saints increased their unbeaten run in the league to nine games, and even managed to stretch their lead at the top of the table to 14 points after Saturday's victory. Jack Ross' side have only failed to win at home twice this season; drawing 2-2 with Morton  in October and losing 1-0 to Dumbarton at the beginning of December.

Smith believes that on their day, nobody can beat them. He said: "When we play well, there's no team in this league that can match us.

"I think teams know coming here, with our record, that if they don't score the first goal then it's going to be a tough afternoon for them.

"And I think that was evident, we took the game by the scruff of the neck and played well."

 The Scotland under-21 star has been on loan at St Mirren from Hearts since the beginning of the season, and with Man of the Match performances like Saturday, it's no wonder he is becoming a favourite with the Paisley fans.

"I just want to be consistent in my performances and I think so far I've done that. If I keep doing that then hopefully we'll end up top of the league come the end of the season." 

Tickets for St Mirren's trip to Tannadice to face Dundee United on Friday 2nd March will go on sale at 10:00am tomorrow (Tuesday 6th February) from the St Mirren Ticket Office and online.

The ticket prices and match details for this match are as follows:

Dundee United vs St Mirren
Ladbrokes Championship
Venue: Tannadice Park, Dundee
Date: Friday 2nd March 2018
Kick-off: 7:45pm

Ticket Prices

Adult - £20
Concessions (over 65, under 18 and full-time students with valid proof) - £10

Anyone requiring a wheelchair ticket can contact the Ticket Office on 0141-889-2558. 

The St Mirren Ticket Office opening hours for this week are as follows:

Tue, Feb 6th - 10:00am - 2:00pm
Wed, Feb 7th – 10:00am - 2:00pm
Thu, Feb 8th – 10:00am - 2:00pm
Fri, Feb 9th – 10:00am - 2:00pm
Sat, Feb 10th – CLOSED
Sun, Feb 11th - CLOSED

St Mirren Ticket Office Tel: (0141) 889-2558

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

A gallery of pictures from St Mirren's 2-0 win over Queen of the South in the Ladbrokes Championship on Saturday.

Liam Smith scored his first St Mirren goal on four minutes with a superb strike into the top corner from 25 yards to put The Buddies ahead.

Harry Davis made it 2-0 from the penalty spot just after the half hour mark to give Saints another valuable three points.

Gallery pictures by John Millar © - Millar Pictures

The Street Stuff Football and Dance Camps at the Paisley 2021 Stadium kick-off this Friday (9th February) running until Tuesday (13th February). 

All activities are FREE for young people aged 8+ and lunch will be provided to all participants. 

Young people who would like to attend can register at the stadium on the day. 

Timetable
Friday 9th February - 1:00pm-5:00pm
Saturday 10th February - 1:00pm-5:00pm
Monday 12th February - 1:00pm-5:00pm
Tuesday 13th February - 1:00pm-5:00pm

For more information please contact Stephen Gallacher at stephen.gallacher@stmirren.com.

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. 

Ross Stewart netted his fourth goal for Alloa on Saturday as his 17th minute strike gave Jim Goodwin's side a 2-1 win over title chasing Ayr United at Somerset Park. Ex-Saints loanee Lawrence Shankland had given Ayr the lead before another ex-Saint, Jamie McCart, equalised for the Wasps. Stewart played the full 90 minutes for Alloa, while Jordan Kirkpatrick featured for 75 minutes being replaced as a substitute by Callum Smith.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Robbie Leitch when he was substituted on 38 minutes as his Queens Park side, managed by ex-St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson, fell to a 3-1 loss to League One leaders Raith Rovers at Hampden. 

Darryl Duffy helped Airdrieonians on to a 1-0 win away to Forfar that keeps the Diamonds just six points off from the promotion play-offs in League One.

Conor O'Keefe and Evan Horne played the full 90 minutes as League Two side Annan were held to a 1-1 draw at home against 10-man Cowdenbeath. 

St Mirren continued their impressive league performance this afternoon, with a 2-0 victory over Queen of the South at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

The Saints went into today's match knowing they could increase the gap between themselves and second place with a win, due to Dundee Utd's game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle being postponed earlier in the day.

St Mirren started off very lively, when two minutes into the game Kyle Magennis managed to find space at the edge of the box and struck at goal, only to be denied by Queens goalkeeper Alan Martin, who was equal to it and parried away.

The deadlock was broken only two minutes later though, when Liam Smith found himself in similar space to what Magennis had moments earlier, but this time the on-loan full back made the Queens defence pay, by lashing the ball past Alan Martin into the top right hand corner, scoring his first ever goal for the club.

The Doonhamers did work their way back into the game a bit, after a couple of good attempts from Stephen Dobbie and Ross Fergusson. After a series of corners from the away side they did manage to get the ball over the line eventually, after a rebounded Dobbie strike was touched in. But the assistant referee had flagged for offside, as Jack Ross' men held on to their lead.

The Buddies responded well and started to pile on the pressure as they had a succession of corners. One short corner almost resulted in a goal from Lewis Morgan, but was tipped over from Alan Martin.

The resulting corner was cleared and picked up by Adam Eckersley who attempted a long range effort on goal, but was handled in the box by Queens captain John Rankin. Referee Steven Kirkland had no option but to point to the spot and award St Mirren a penalty.

Strangely, it was central defender Harry Davis who stepped up to the plate, and as cool as you like the Englishman tucked home from 12 yards; sending Martin the wrong way, Davis doubled Saints' lead on the 33 minute mark.

Saints could have been even further ahead before half time: Jack Baird winning a header from a corner that went just wide, and Gavin Reilly managed to get a toe onto a low cross from Liam Smith, which trickled agonisingly past the post. 

Half Time: St Mirren 2-0 Queen of the South

The second half didn't have quite the same action as the first, with most of Saints' attacks reduced to long range efforts. Attempts from Davis, Morgan, Smith and Mullen where not enough to make life difficult for sub goalkeeper Jack Leighfield. 

The last five minutes St Mirren did need to show their resolve though, as Gary Naysmith's side strived to find way back into the game. There was a couple of late attempts from Rankin and Dobbie, but nothing that worried Saints keeper Samson.

The game finished 2-0 to St Mirren, who now hold a 14 point gap over second place Dundee Utd. 

Full Time: St Mirren 2-0 Queen of the South

St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, Baird, Davis, Eckersley, McGinn, Magennis, Flynn (Hill 88), C.Smith (McShane 77), Morgan, Reilly (Mullen 65)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Stelios, MacKenzie, Sutton

Queen of the South: Martin (Leighfield 59), Rooney, Fordyce, Brownlie, Cameron, Rankin, Dobbie, Thomson, Fergusson (Todorov 70), Mercer (Thomas 45), Dykes 
Subs Not Used: Murray, Bell, Harvey

Referee: Steven Kirkland
Assistant Referee: Willie Conquer
Assistant Referee: Colin McAlpine

Attendance: 4585

Gallery pictures by John Millar © - Millar Pictures

St Mirren boss Jack Ross gives his thoughts on a 2-0 win over Queen of the South which sees Saints extend their gap at the top of the league to 14 points.