Billy O'Brien sees Saturday's 0-0 draw with Dunfermline as a point gained in St Mirren's bid to stay in the Ladbrokes Championship.

The Buddies couldn't find a breakthrough on Saturday, but still closed the gap at the bottom to just four points following Ayr's defeat at the hands of Falkirk.

The goalkeeper - who kept his fourth clean sheet in 10 games for the Saints - confessed that, while wins are important at this stage, it's important to take the positives from Saturday's match. 

Personally, for me a clean sheet is job done," he said. "We're going into every game thinking we need the three points, but I think we need to realise that is a point gained.

"Every game is as big as each other now if we are going into games clawing points back and I personally think we can do it."

The match against Dunfermline was a big test of character for the young stopper after his error against Raith on Wednesday night allowed Ryan Hardie to put the Kirkcaldy side 2-0 ahead. But he was philosophical about that moment and admitted he was happy with the way he overcame it on Saturday.

It was the best way to bounce back - a clean sheet and I made a big save in the second half.

"It's the ups and downs of football," he continued. "I'm not a bloke who is shy to make mistakes and go into my shell.

"It's the worst thing about goalkeeping, if you make a mistake it's normally a big mistake that leads to goals. That's the part of goalkeeping that people don't like but to bounce back like that I'm pleased." 

Saints have nine matches left in the Ladbrokes Championship this season and O'Brien believes that the squad of players are the club are capable of lifting the off bottom place. 

"I think we're all happy going into every game," he said before commenting on the character of the squad. "We've got a good set of lads in there that are good players and they're good blokes. There's a real good chemistry building there. 

"We've got Ayr, Dumbarton and Raith again so it's in our hands. We can only do what we can do and if that's not good enough then that's not good enough. We will go into every game trying to win and we'll see what happens at the end." 

The St Mirren Under-20 side are back in action this coming Tuesday afternoon when they play host to their counterparts from Ross County.

The SPFL Development League encounter between the young Buddies and Staggies on Tuesday 14th March will take place at New Western Park in Renfrew and it will kick-off at 4:00pm.

For more news on the SPFL Development League please click HERE.

This coming Saturday (18th March) St Mirren head south to Dumfries to face Queen of the South in a Ladbrokes Championship match-up at Palmerston Park and a week later Saints are on the road again for the IRN-BRU Cup Final against Dundee United at Fir Park in Motherwell..

The latest info we have on Travel Clubs heading to Palmerston Park and/or Fir Park for these matches is as follows::

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

The bus for the Queen of the South game will leave Abercorn Street at 10:30am - a wee day out for all.

Bus tickets now on sale in the bar.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

Buses for cup final will leave Abercorn Sreet at 11:00am.

Bus one is already full.

Tickets for bus two go on sale after the Queen of the South game (18th March).

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

We will be leaving at 10:30am for Dumfries.

Bus tickets are now on sale in The Bankhouse.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

We will be leaving at 11:00am for the IRN-BRU Cup Final.

Bus seat tickets will be on sale in The Bankhouse from Saturday 18th March.

Chivas Travel Club

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

The bus for Dumfries will leave the Court Bar at 11:00am.

Tickets are now available from the Court Bar.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

The bus will leave from The Court Bar at 11:00am for the cup final.

Tickets for this bus are now on sale from The Court Bar.

North End Travel Club

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

The North End Travel Club bus  for the Queen of the South game will leave the Sneddon at 12:00pm (noon).

Bus tickets available in The Brewer's Tap, £7 each.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

Tickets for the bus for the IRN-BRU Cup final will be on sale on the bus to Dumfries on 18th March.

St Mirren in the Community are delighted to confirm that the SMiSA Panda Club will be open for Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Championship fixture against Dundee United at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Please note that there will be no pre-match football activities in the airdome due to prior bookings.

All youngsters aged between 5 and 12-years-old who are looking to attend the Panda Club should please be at Community Department for 6:45pm (1 hour before kick-off).

For further information about the SMiSA Panda Club or to book your place at the next SMiSA Panda Club match day please contact Stephen Gallacher by e-mail at stephen.gallacher@stmirren.com.

Panda Club details for Wednesday’s game are as follows:

St Mirren v Dundee United
Wednesday 15th March 2017
6:45pm – 9:30pm

To find out more about the Panda Club click here

A selection of pictures from Saturday's 0-0 with Dunfermline at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Saints moved to within four points of nearest rivals, Ayr United, in the Ladbrokes Championship despite the stalemate.

Both sides had chances to win the match but in the end a point was apiece was a fair outcome

Match gallery pictures by John Millar - © millarpictures

Jack Ross speaks to stmirren.com after Saints draw 0-0 with Dunfermline at the Paisley 2021 Stadium in the Ladbrokes Championship.

It was an end-to-end contest with neither side able to make the breakthrough.

However, with Ayr losing against Falkirk it means Saints move to within four points of the Honest Men.

St Mirren cut the gap at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship to four points after a goalless draw with Dunfermline at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Both sides had chances throughout the match but in the end neither could make the breakthrough with both earning a point.

Saints started off brightly with Lewis Morgan winning an early corner before dragging a shot wide of Sean Murdoch's goal. 

But, as was the nature of the entire match, it was end-to-end stuff with Paul McMullan setting up Kallum Higginbotham with a good chance. However, Billy O'Brien did well to block. 

And a minute later, Cammy Smith was almost through on goal after being played in by Josh Todd, who was making his first St Mirren start. But the loanee was thwarted by a Murdoch and a Pars defender who closed down before he could get his shot away.

Adam Eckersley almost got his first goal for the Saints when he let fly from 25 yards. The full back caught the ball sweetly on his left foot and he thundered it towards the top corner only to see Murdoch push it over the bar. 

Morgan was Saints biggest threat in the early proceedings with the winger sending one straight into the arms of Murdoch before flicking the ball just wide of the right hand post after a ball in from Gary Irvine.

The visitors started to grow into the match are a strong spell from the home side with Harry Davis having to clear a dangerous looking ball into the box by Jason Talbot. It went out for a corner where Nicky Clark got his head on it, crashing off the bar and going out.

Stephen McGinn had a decent chance on the edge of the box when he was picked out by Todd. But the captain sent his low volley wide.  

Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 Dunfermline

Michael Moffat went close to giving the visitors the lead just 45 seconds into the second half when he fizzed the ball just over O'Brien's cross bar. 

Saints won a corner which Gary MacKenzie almost got his head on after an excellent delivery from Stevie Mallan, but it was well defended by Callum Morris. 

O'Brien made a great fingertip save to deny McMullan after the speedy forward went on a good solo run and unleashed a fierce effort which the goalkeeper had to touch over the bar.

Lewis Morgan had a gilt-edged chance on the break from Dunfermline's corner. Mallan robbed McMullan deep in the Dunfermline half and played it to Smith who picked out Morgan in acres of space. The winger took it first time, but his effort was weak and easily collected by Murdoch.

Saints tails were up though and Murdoch was made to work when substitute Rory Loy attempted to squeeze one it at the near post. 

The end-to-end nature of the match continued though with both sides searching for the breakthrough. O'Brien gathered from McMullan before Moffat created good space for himself in the box but couldn't get his shot away. 

The game started to peter out but there were still a few nervy moments for both teams going into the final ten minutes. 

O'Brien had to do well as he made a good stop to deny Michael Paton after a quick break from the Pars. It could so easily have been ended up in the back of Saints net but the keeper was alert to the danger and helped his side to earn a point and move closer to Ayr United in the table.

Full Time: St Mirren 0-0 Dunfermline

St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley, McGinn, Mallan, Smith (Stelios 80), Todd (Loy 54), Morgan, Sutton
Subs Not Used: Langfield,  Baird, Storie, Fjelde, Magennis

Dunfermline: Murdoch, Talbot, Ashcroft, Morris, Herron, Geggan, Wedderburn, Clark, Moffat, McMullan, Higginbotham (Paton 74)
Subs Not Used: Gill, Fordyce, Cardle, McCabe, Reilly, Spence

Referee: Stephen Finnie
Assistant Referee: Gary Hilland
Assistant Referee: Connor Ashwood

Attendance: 4,582

Josh Todd makes his first start for St Mirren as Jack Ross makes two changes to the side that lost to Raith Rovers on Wednesday night. 

The Englishman comes in for Kyle Magennis while Stelios Demetriou takes a place on the bench, replaced by Gary Irvine. 

Kick-off is at 3pm at the Paisley 2021 Stadium and we'll have all the action covered on our Twitter and Facebook pages. 

Supporters out with the UK and Ireland can watch the match live on smfcuws.tv

St Mirren: O'Brien, Irvine, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley, McGinn (c), Mallan, Smith, Todd, Morgan, Sutton
Subs: Langfield, Baird, Stelios, Loy, Storie, Fjelde, Magennis 

Stephen McGinn believes there will be a reaction to Wednesday's loss at Raith Rovers when the Saints face Dunfermline at the Paisley 2021 Stadium tomorrow.

The captain spoke exclusively to stmirren.com and stated that he believes the players are desperate to get back to winning ways after having won their two previous league matches.

McGinn says he was frustrated with loss on the back of a recent run of good form, but admitted he believed Saints were on top in Kirkcaldy.

It's hard to put your finger on it," he said. "We were in control of the game without playing that well. I suppose, in hindsight, we were playing so well, we were playing with so much confidence we almost maybe got carried away and were thinking we had to win, whereas Raith had the mentality that they weren't going to lose.

"We're really disappointed with the result and it was a tough one to get over. We are raring to go on Saturday and continue to keep moving up. It was never going to be easy. 

"I'd like to think that anyone at the game saw we were the better team. We will win football matches because we're a good team. If we keep playing the way we have been playing we'll be alright."

Speaking on Saturday's visit from the Pars, the midfielder is convinced that the players will be up for it. 

"We will have a reaction," he said. "The feeling we've got in the dressing room, there's no one here who doesn't care. There will be a reaction and we'll play well on Saturday. We'll give it everything we've got because we have to. We're running out of games and we'll be bang at it on Saturday and ready to go." 

It's been a hectic schedule for the Buddies in recent weeks with the side facing seven matches in the month of March. And while the captain admits it can be mentally and physically draining, it's good to have matches coming around thick and fast.

To go toe-to-toe with the best team in the country on Sunday was a great feeling, but it was tough.

"We put a lot into it and we put a lot into last week against Ayr. Mentally and physically the three games last week were punishing and it's a punishing schedule. The other side of it means it's nice that we don't have to suffer the other night too long and we have a chance to put it right on Saturday. 

"I don't feel as if the momentum is just gone," he continued. "We know that we are going to win football matches between now and the end of the season. We just need to make sure we win more than the teams around us."

A week on Saturday (18th March) St Mirren head south to Dumfries to face Queen of the South in a Ladbrokes Championship match-up at Palmerston Park and a week later they are on the road again for the IRN-BRU Cup Final against Dundee United at Fir Park in Motherwell..

The latest info we have on Travel Clubs heading to Palmerston Park and/or Fir Park for these matches is as follows::

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

The bus for the Queen of the South game will leave Abercorn Street at 10:30am - a wee day out for all.

Bus tickets now on sale in the bar.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

Buses for cup final will leave Abercorn Sreet at 11:00am.

Bus one is already full.

Tickets for bus two go on sale after the Queen of the South game (18th March).

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

We will be leaving at 10:30am for Dumfries.

Bus tickets are now on sale in The Bankhouse.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

We will be leaving at 11:00am for the IRN-BRU Cup Final.

Bus seat tickets will be on sale in The Bankhouse from Saturday 18th March.

Chivas Travel Club

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

The bus for Dumfries will leave the Court Bar at 11:00am.

Tickets are now available from the Court Bar.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

The bus will leave from The Court Bar at 11:00am for the cup final.

Tickets for this bus are now on sale from The Court Bar.

North End Travel Club

Queen of the South v St Mirren - 18/03/2017

The North End Travel Club bus  for the Queen of the South game will leave the Sneddon at 12:00pm (noon).

Bus tickets available in The Brewer's Tap, £7 each.

St Mirren v Dundee United - 25/03/2017

Tickets for the bus for the IRN-BRU Cup final will be on sale on the bus to Dumfries on 18th March.