Stevie Mallan believes avoiding relegation ranks as the best achievement of his career. 

The midfielder, who broke through the 100 appearance mark this season, played a pivotal role in keeping the Buddies in the Ladbrokes Championship - pitching in with 12 goals throughout the season. 

The 21 year-old also had a hand in setting up Rory Loy's leveller that was enough to earn the Saints the draw they needed to remain in the league. 

It's up there as one of the best achievements of my career," he said.

"From where we have come from to finish seventh is an unbelievable achievement for the boys. For everyone - the boys, the backroom staff, it's just an unreal occasion for us all."

It's been a difficult season for St Mirren and Mallan is first to confess he wasn't at his best in the opening months of the campaign.

He credits manager Jack Ross for his turnaround in form along with the club's recruitment in January.

It was a brilliant achievement," he said on scoring 12 times this season. "I wouldn't have got to double figures if it wasn't for the gaffer coming in and changing things.

"If I'm being honest with myself I had a shocking six months. That was nothing to do with management or the boys I just felt I just wasn't playing the way I can. I spoke to a few people to try and get the finger out and thankfully I did.

"At the same time the gaffer brought in new players and we've all gelled together. The last part of the season was a really good one for myself and the team. You could see the recognition we got from playing Celtic, beating Hibs and Dundee United. It's just been a really good few months and thankfully we've ended it on a high. 

"At one point we were nine points adrift at the bottom of the league. Something had to change. The gaffer sat us down and we went through every game until the end of the season and looked at how many points we needed. I don't think we were that far off it.

"The boys had said we wanted to go on an unbeaten run and although that never happened we were close with the points. It was a pivotal moment because we believed that we could do it and we've finished seventh instead of bottom. It's been amazing for everyone." 

With Saints needing at least a draw to ensure their status in the league, they were dealt a setback early in the second half when Grant Holt put Hibernian ahead.

However, the Buddies responded in great fashion, creating several chances before equalising through Loy.

Mallan believes that fired the team up and hopes his next challenge will be fighting to win a league. 

As soon as that goal went in it just woke us all up," he said. "It was an eye opener. 

"When that goal was scored it was a terrible feeling. But we kicked on and the fans got right behind us. It was a brilliant run from Morgy and a really good team goal with me, Rory and Magennis.

"It's the most I've ever celebrated a goal. We needed the draw and we got it. It was the best achievement of my career and hopefully my next one will be going for a league and not relegation."

Stephen McGinn says his return to St Mirren has been the best spell of his footballing career. 

The midfielder rejoined the club in January after leaving English side Wycombe Wanderers. 

He was quickly made club captain by manager Jack Ross and played an integral part in helping the Buddies secure their Ladbrokes Championship status.

And with survival achieved, the 28 year-old's one year contract extension has been activated.

Staying in the league has triggered my extra year," he told stmirren.com. "I wanted to come here, get back to enjoying my football again, wanted to play for a manager that I trust and it's exceeded my expectations. I've absolutely loved the four months.

"What the players, the fans, the manager have done here has turned it into the best spell of my career. I really hope we can keep it together because the sky is the limit with the potential of some of the young players in the team.

"We knew they would start fast and for the first 10/15 minutes Hibs were brilliant. We said at half time that this was going to happen again and to lose a goal inside the first minute was a nightmare. But I think it shows the character that the whole club has shown since January that it did take going 1-0 down to have the reaction to bring it back to 1-1.

"We have so many young players in this team and the performances they are delivering under pressure, they are going to have big careers." 

Much has been made of the Saints support and with over 1800 travelling through to Edinburgh, the skipper wanted to thank them and believes they have played just as big a role in keeping the Buddies in the league.

"It's hard to describe," he said of how he was feeling after St Mirren completed one of the great escapes in football. "I was getting emotional at the end when I was going over to see the fans.

"It's something I've been thinking of for three or four months. With the backing we've had from the fans since I have come in, they've played a part as much as any goal scored, clean sheet or win.The goal celebrations and the celebrations at the end will live with me forever. 

"The only thing I can have a wee complaint with about the fans is that I was sure it was 2-1 to Ayr! They celebrated twice and whoever celebrated the awarding of the penalty before it was scored needs to have a look at themselves," he joked. 

It was a family affair for McGinn, with brother John receiving his winner's medal as part of the Hibs team that finished the season as Champions.

It was the ideal situation," he said. "It was a day I'll be able to look on with fondness. We managed to stay in the league and John has got his championship trophy so it was a great day for us both. He set up the first goal which I wasn't happy with and I'll be having a word with him. But I'm delighted for him, they've deserved it and it was brilliant to play in that atmosphere."

A gallery of pictures from yesterday's 1-1 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road which secured Saints Championship status. 

Rory Loy netted on the hour mark after Grant Holt had given the hosts the lead. Loy's goal was enough to gain the Buddies the point they needed to avoid the relegation play-offs and saw St Mirren end the campaign in seventh.

Match gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography and  John Millar - © millarpictures

Jack Ross gives his thoughts on the 1-1 draw with Hibernian that ensures the Buddies will be playing Championship football next season. 

Exactly five months after it started in Dumfries, Saints completed the great escape by getting the point they needed against Hibs.

It wasn't easy – but then it never is where St Mirren concerned. After a goalless first half they were safe, despite 10-man Raith Rovers being ahead against Ayr. However, just after the break Grant Holt put the Championship winners in front and Saints were heading for the play-offs.

But the response from the Buddies was tremendous and they drew level after an hour, home-grown heroes Lewis Morgan, Kyle Magennis and Stevie Mallan combining for Rory Loy to score a priceless equaliser that sparked bedlam behind the goal.

And with Ayr equalising, that seemed to be that – only for Hibs to step things back up and the Honest Men to miss a penalty that the Saints fans had already celebrated as being converted.

Instead, Raith scored a last minute winner and three agonising minutes of stoppage time had to be endured before ref Alan Muir finally put Saints out of their misery by blowing his whistle to mark the end of the season and the completion of Mission: Impossible.

Saints boss Jack Ross stuck with the side that had demolished Raith a week earlier, hat-trick hero Stevie Mallan starting alongside Stephen McGinn in midfield. The skipper's brother John was in the Hibs team along with fellow former Buddie Darren McGregor.

A point was enough to keep Saints up but they should have been behind after just three minutes. John McGinn's tremendous cross field ball found Holt and the experienced striker knocked it down for the unmarked Andrew Shinnie, however he blazed over when he should at least have worked Billy O'Brien. The Buddies had struggled in the opening quarter of an hour but had a penalty claim when Morgan got the better of David Gray and then hit the deck under a challenge from the Hibs fullback, however ref Alan Muir curiously gave a goal-kick.

Gradually Saints began to settle and started to pose a few questions of the home defence. Gary Irvine ended up in the book for a foul on Martin Boyle – somewhat unfortunate considering Saints only lost possession when the referee got in the way. The free-kick came to nothing, Mr Muir perhaps feeling guilty and immediately blowing for a foul on Jack Baird when the ball was swung in.

Stephen McGinn had a tame shot blocked before Irvine's day was done as he failed to shrug off an injury and was replaced by Stelios just before the break. He arrived just as Saints forced a couple of corners and when the second was only partially cleared Mallan pulled it back for Morgan but he curled his shot over. In stoppage time the winger was clattered by Holt, earning the Hibs frontman a booking.

The striker made amends in the best possible way just a couple of minutes after the break. John McGinn curled in a great cross and Holt got on the end of it to divert it past O'Brien. With Raith winning against Ayr despite being down to 10 men, Saints were heading for ninth place. They were in danger of going even further behind too, Cummings heading over as the visitors struggled to stop crosses coming into their box.

A Stephen McGinn ball sparked them into life, Morgan causing Efe Ambrose problems and finding Loy with a low cross but his shot was blocked by McGregor. Jack Baird shot over from the edge of the box before Loy went close again, Magennis sending him away only for the on-loan striker's shot to be blocked by Ofir Marciano at his near post.

Mallan then got his first sight of goal but shot over before Saints deservedly drew level. Stelios' clearance found Morgan and he ran across the pitch before Magennis. He had the ball stolen off him by Mallan and as he shaped to shoot he had the ball nicked away by Loy who calmly slotted it across Marciano into the far corner. The Saints fans behind the goal went bezerk as their side found themselves half an hour from safety.

The job wasn't done though, O'Brien needing two attempts to save Martin Boyle's shot as Hibs got going again. The champions had perhaps gone to sleep after their goal but were showing they planned to finish the season on a high, however the away fans' mood was buoyed by news Ayr had equalised against Raith.

O'Brien did well to punch away a Cummings free-kick before Hibs replaced Andrew Shinnie with Keatings. Baird then saw his deflected shot saved by Marciano, before the Saints fans celebrated Ayr getting a penalty – only for it to be missed. The mood almost darkened further when it looked as if Cummings had scored but his shot whistled narrowly past the post. Jordon Forster, who'd come on at the break, headed from a corner as Saints found themselves clinging on before Loy was booked for fouling the other half-time sub Fraser Fyvie.

The Buddies replaced Cammy Smith with Rocco Quinn before John Sutton took over from Loy with three minutes left. It looked as if Saints would do it but there was bad news from Fife as Raith snatched a last minute winner. Suddenly the Buddies were a goal away from being dragged into the play-offs but they ran down the clock superbly in the corner before conceding a goal kick.

That was the signal for Mr Muir to take the ball and blow for full-time, much to the delight of the Saints players, management and fantastic supporters. From 19 points behind Raith, the Buddies had finished ahead of them, Ayr United and Dumbarton to ensure there will be Championship football in Paisley next season – and who thought we'd be saying that on that cold, dark Tuesday night at Palmerston in December?

Full Time: Hibernian 1-1 St Mirren

St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine (Stelios 43), Baird, MacKenzie, Eckersley, Smith (Quinn 84), S.McGinn, Magennis, Mallan, Morgan, Loy (Sutton 88)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Webster, Fjelde, Todd

Hibernian: Marciano, Gray (Forster 45), Ambrose, McGregor, Stevenson, Boyle, J.McGinn, Bartley (Fyvie 45), Shinnie (Keatings 76), Holt, Cummings
Subs Not Used: Laidlaw, Humphrey, Graham, Martin

Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: Willie Conquer
Assistant Referee: Alan Hogg

Attendance: 19,764

Jack Ross names the same starting eleven for the third week in a row as Saints look to secure their Ladbrokes Championship status.

St Mirren will be playing Championship football next season if they either win or draw with Hibernian this afternoon.

The Buddies need one more push to secure survival and look to build for next season.

We'll have all the action covered on our Twitter and Facebook pages. St Mirren Radio will also be live from 2:50pm

St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine, MacKenzie, Baird, Eckersley, Magennis, Mallan, McGinn, Morgan, Smith, Loy
Subs: Langfield, Stelios, Webster, Quinn, Sutton, Fjelde, Todd.

Jack Ross has praised the St Mirren support and vowed that the side will give them their all tomorrow when they face Hibernian. 

The Saints travel to Easter Road tomorrow knowing a win or a draw will be enough to avoid the play-offs. 

And while Jack confesses it's as tough a game as there could possibly be to finish with, he also has belief in his Buddies side to put in a performance that would see them ensure their status in the Ladbrokes Championship for next season.

Almost 2,000 Buddies are set to travel through to the capital to back the team and the gaffer believes they have played a huge part in the club's recent upturn in form.

Speaking on the level of support the team has received, Jack told stmirren.com: "I think it has been evident how much they have helped the players over these 'must-win' games both home and away.

I think they are enthused by the team that they have got playing for them at the moment. But equally, if you speak to the players they will tell you how great the support has been, how much it has helped them, how much it has helped drag them through games.

"On Saturday, when you are going into the Lions den to an extent, they'll be vocal, they'll be noisy and they will know that we will give them absolutely everything on the pitch.

"I think because of the support we are taking it'll make it a competitive atmosphere and that sometimes lends itself to the game."

Saints season could be over come 4:45pm tomorrow afternoon and while Jack knows how big a task it will be coming up against the Champions, he feels his side can finish the job.

I would like this Saturday to be the final match of the season for obvious reasons," he said. "It's been a demanding time for us over the last few months because of the importance and significance of every single game so keen to finish the job on Saturday. I believe that we can do so. I understand it's a difficult game but desperate to do so on Saturday. 

"I think because of what is at stake for us it won't have an end of season feel about it. I expect Hibs to be as motivated to win the game as they would be if it was a match to win the Championship. Everything is set up for it to be a terrific game and I hope we take what we need from it. 

"I don't think I need to worry about the players going there and not feeling like they can win the game," he continued. "They know what they are capable of at the moment. They know how they are playing individually, the form they are in and how they've come together as a team.

"We go there in the best possible frame of mind as we could be at any point this season. I think the occasion will suit us, the pitch will suit us, but we also understand how difficult a game it will be. We are going to the team that has deservedly won the league at their stadium when they are being presented with the trophy so from that sense it's as difficult a match as it could get to finish with."

Last weekend's win over Raith means St Mirren's destiny is in their own hands and the manager admits it will be good to go into tomorrow's match knowing that if they take care of themselves they will be safe.

It means throughout the course of the game if we are doing our job that we don't need to think about results elsewhere. It could change as the game goes on but it's good going into it knowing its in our own hands.

"It's testament to the hard work people have done at the club over the last few months. It's a good position to be in and we hope it's a position that ensures we maintain our status without going through the play-offs."

St Mirren travel to Edinburgh tomorrow looking to secure their Ladbrokes Championship status as they face Hibernian at Easter Road.

The hosts have already won the Ladbrokes Championship, landing it on 15 April thanks to their win over Queen of the South and a helping hand from the Buddies who drew 2-2 with Falkirk. Tomorrow sees the Hibees presented with the title in front of a near sold out Easter Road. Nearly 2000 Saints supporters are expected in the capital tomorrow to cheer on their side. 

The Buddies take on Neil Lennon's side knowing that a win or draw mean the Saints will be playing their football in the Championship next season.

The first meeting of the two came in Paisley back in August with Jason Cummings at the double helping the visitors win 2-0. 

St Mirren would come out on top when the sides met again in October, this time at Easter Road in the IRN-BRU Cup, with goals from Stevie Mallan and David Clarkson seeing the Buddies overcome Hibs 2-1 after Alex Harris had given the home side the lead. 

Hibernian would gain a measure of revenge three weeks later when Saints made the trip through to Edinburgh again. Jack Ross was now in situ as manager, but it wasn't enough to prevent a home win with first half goals from Martin Boyle and Grant Holt doing the damage. 

It's been a long road to this point with St Mirren rooted to the bottom the last time the two sides met. Jack Ross and his players welcomed Hibernian to the Paisley 2021 Stadium a little over two months ago sitting eight point adrift at the foot of the table. A double from Cypriot full back Stelios Demetriou secured a 2-0 win for the home side, cutting the gap to just five points and Saints haven't looked back since. 

The Buddies have won five of their last 10 league matches since that win with the 5-0 triumph over Raith Rovers last weekend ensuring that the Buddies can't finish bottom of the table. Meanwhile, Hibs defeated bottom Ayr United 4-0 at Somerset Park meaning that the Honest Men have to defeat ninth placed Raith by 5-0 or more to avoid automatic relegation. Anything other than a Raith win will mean that St Mirren will avoid the play-offs regardless of the result at Easter Road. 

A long season for the Saints could be set to come to an end tomorrow. However, if results go against St Mirren it will mean a play-off place against the team that finishes fourth in League One, with the first leg taking place on Wednesday night. One last push required, come on you saints!

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 6th May), St Mirren head east along the M8 to Edinburgh to face Hibernian in a Ladbrokes Championship match-up at Easter Road Stadium.

The latest info we have on Travel Clubs heading to Easter Road Stadium for the match is as follows:

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

The bus for Easter Road will leave at 1:00pm.

Tickets for this bus are now sold out.

Chivas Travel Club

The bus for the Hibs game will leave from The Court Bar at 1:00pm.

This bus is now fully booked.

North End Travel Club

The North End Travel Club bus to the Hibs game will leave the Sneddon at 12:30pm.

The bus is now fully booked.

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

The bus for Easter Road will leave Abercorn Street at 12:30pm.

Our bus for this game is now sold out.

 * Students must show valid ID as proof of status.

** Must be in receipt of the higher rate of DLA/PIP. If a carer is needed and proof can be provided then the carer ticket will be free of charge.

Please note that the St Mirren Ticket Office has only 50 tickets left for this match. They are only available for purchase/collection up till 2:00pm today (Friday 5th May). There will be no sale of tickets on the match day.

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

05/05/2017 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
06/05/2017 - CLOSED

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

Additional Information

Tomorrow, Saturday 6th May, St Mirren head to Edinburgh to face Hibernian in the Ladbrokes Championship.

The ticket prices have now been confirmed for the fixture at Easter Road Stadium and these are shown above.

The referee tomorrow is Alan Muir and he will be assisted by Willie Conquer and Alan Hogg.