St Mirren grabbed a vital win in the Ladbrokes Championship as they overcame Ayr United at Somerset Park.

Second half goals from John Sutton and Lewis Morgan sealed a 2-0 win for Jack Ross' side and boosted their hopes of climbing off the bottom of the league, with the gap over the Honest Men cut to five points.

All the pressure was on the Buddies going into this match and they started brightly in the opening exchanges. Indeed they could have been ahead within the first few minutes when Kyle Magennis had a shot blocked inside the Ayr box. 

And similar happened less than 10 minutes later when Lewis Morgan and Harry Davis both saw efforts denied following a corner kick before Morgan scuffed wide. 

Ayr started to grow into the match without putting any real pressure on Billy O'Brien in the Saints goal. But it was St Mirren who were continuing to create clear cut opportunities with John Sutton sending a shot over the bar after Cammy Smith's deflected effort fell into his path. 

Stephen Mallan went the closest on the half hour mark with a 25 yard drive that had to be pushed over the bar by United keeper Greg Fleming. 

Still Saints kept on the pressure winning three corners in quick succession before Smith sent a curling effort over. 

Half Time: Ayr United 0-0 St Mirren

For all St Mirren's chances, they couldn't break the deadlock before the half time interval. But it wouldn't take long into the second period before the Buddies got their rewards. 

Mallan sent a glorious through ball to John Sutton who charged forward one-on-one with the onrushing goalkeeper before taking the ball around him and finishing from a tight angle to spark joyous celebrations in the away end. It was no more than the Saints deserved and 

There wasn't much between the sides in the next 10-15 minutes with Ayr plotting a way back into the match and the Buddies searching for a second goal to give themselves a cushion. That could have come for the away side on the hour mark when Smith went so close to making it 2-0. The midfielder turned on the edge of the box and got his shot away only to see it stopped by the fingertips of Fleming who knocked it on to the post before gathering. 

Ayr made all their changes by 65 minutes and while they were trying to press forward they still weren't causing O'Brien any danger. But the goalie had to be alert with 15 minutes to go, doing well to come and bravely punch the ball before winning a foul. 

It looked certain that it would be a nervy end to the game for Saints before a deadly counter attack wrapped up the points for the visitors. The ball was played in to Morgan, who had sped up the left hand side, by Magennis before the 20 year-old kept up his good run of form by lashing a shot from the edge of the box into the far corner beyond Fleming's grasp. 

It was a goal that gave St Mirren that all important cushion heading into the final few moments with Ayr pressing forward in an attempt to salvage something from the match. Davis cleared one off the line with less than five minutes to go before O'Brien made a good save to deny Gary Harkins from a freekick. 

In the end it was St Mirren's day as they grabbed their third league win of the season to narrow the gap at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship. 

Full Time: Ayr United 0-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: O'Brien, Stelios, MacKenzie, Davis, Eckersley, Magennis, McGinn, Mallan (Fjelde 90), Smith (Todd 84) Morgan, Sutton
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Irvine, Baird, Loy, Storie

Ayr Utd: Fleming, Devlin, Boyle (Wardrope 45), Murphy (Forrest 65), Moore, Harkins, Cairney, El Alagui, Adams (Rose 33), Meggatt, Balatoni
Subs Not Used: Hart, Gilmour, McGuffie, McKenna

Referee: Craig Thomson
Assistant Referee: Brian Templeton
Assistant Referee: Thomas Shaw

Attendance: 2712 (1244 St Mirren fans)

Jack Ross makes three changes to the side that defeated The New Saints in the IRN-BRU Cup last week.

Cammy Smith and Gary MacKenzie return to the side after being cup tied and suspended respectively. Lewis Morgan's cameo appearances off the bench in recent matches earn him a place in the starting eleven. 

We'll have all the action from Somerset Park covered on Twitter and Facebook as Saints look to cut the gap at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship.

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

Jack Ross says he and his players understand how big tomorrow's match against Ayr United will be. 

The Saints travel to Somerset Park to face Ian McCall's side in the Ladbrokes Championship, with the Honest Men sitting eight points above the Buddies.

And, while the manager believes that nothing will be decided on the back of tomorrow's clash, he is aware of how important it is to try and come back to Paisley with three points.

It's enormous for us," he told stmirren.com "The players know that and we've stressed that to them. We did the same last week with the semi-final. The players understand the significance of it and I expect them to produce a performance that reflects that. 

"They have to have that edge about them," he continued. "What I've said all along is that I want them to have that edge about them every week going into games. But the way the season has panned out, they have to have this real edge about them tomorrow that they understand the magnitude of the game.

"Listen, nothing is decided either way tomorrow but we understand the importance of us going and winning the game."

Jack made several changes to the squad in the January transfer window and with three matches played since the window slammed shut, the manager is pleased with the way the team are gelling together. 

We go in tomorrow in a good frame of mind. I think the group is coming together and I think they think that as well. I think there are good characters amongst them.

"But it's different then coming together on the pitch and understanding each other's game. If you add to that there were a few that were playing catch up in terms of fitness. Eckersley comes into that bracket, Stephen McGinn comes into that bracket and guys like Rory [Loy] and Cammy [Smith] hadn't been playing regularly. These players are all catching up in terms of their fitness and they're starting to look like they are getting to full fitness."

One of those players who joined in January was Stephen McGinn, who was made club captain at the start of February. The manager praised the midfielder's attitude and performances so far and believes he'll be up for the battle tomorrow.

I want someone to reflect my passion for the club on the pitch and desire to drag the club forward and he has that," he explained.

"That's why he came here in the first place. He didn't come because he had to, but he wanted to drag the club out of the position it is in because he has affection for the club.

"That's been shown in his performances and last week he was terrific. I know how much he is enjoying that responsibility and how determined he is to push on tomorrow." 

Saints travel to Somerset Park tomorrow to face Ayr United in what will be a huge match in the Ladbrokes Championship. 

The Buddies sit at the bottom of the league - eight points behind Ian McCall's side - in the battle to avoid the drop to League One.

The teams have already met four times this season with Saints coming out on top twice with the other two ending in 1-1 draws. 

The first clash between the sides came in July as the Honest Men visited the Paisley 2021 Stadium in the newly reformed Betfred Cup. Jack Baird was the Saints hero that evening with a 92nd minute goal gaining the Buddies three points in Group G on a stifling hot night in Paisley. 

They met again in August, this time at Somerset Park in league action, with Tom Walsh scoring a late headed goal to rescue a point for the Buddies after Jamie Adams had given the hosts an early lead. 

The IRN-BRU Cup quarter-final was the stage of the next encounter as Jack Ross' side played host to McCall's Honest Men. Andy O'Connell fired the visitors in front with a little over 20 minutes to go and looked to have gained his side a place in the last four of the cup. But the Buddies battled back as John Sutton scored two in two minutes to seal Jack Ross' first win as St Mirren manager. 

Just before Christmas, Ayr came to the Paisley 2021 Stadium again as the teams faced off for the second time in the Ladbrokes Championship. Lawrence Shankland missed a great chance to put the Buddies ahead in the second half as he sent a penalty wide before Paul Cairney fired the visitors ahead. Sutton grabbed his third goal in two games against Ayr when he bulleted home a header with less than ten minutes to go to secure a share of the spoils. 

While nothing will be decided on the back of tomorrow's match, it will likely play a significant role in how the rest of the season plays out. And with very little between the two sides this season there's every chance we could be in for another close encounter. 

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 25th February), St Mirren head down to Ayrshire to face Ayr United in a Ladbrokes Championship fixture at Somerset Park.

The info we have to date on Travel Clubs heading to Somerset Park is as follows:

North End Travel Club

The North End bus to Ayr will leave the Sneddon at 1:00pm.

Bus tickets now available in the Brewer's Tap, £6 each.

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

Our bus for this match is now sold out.

Chivas Travel Club

Our bus for this match is now sold out.

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

Our bus for this match is now sold out.  

Additional Information for Travelling Fans

Tomorrow, Saturday 25th February, St Mirren head down to the Ayrshire coast to face Ayr United in a Ladbrokes Championship match-up.

The gate prices have now been confirmed for the fixture at Somerset Park and these are shown above.

The referee tomorrow is Craig Thomson and he will be assisted by Brian Templeton and Thomas Shaw.

For fans heading to Ayr this Saturday and planning to go by rail please note that both pre and post match that there will be no rail service between Paisley and Kilwinning.

There will be a replacement bus service to cover and a timetable for that service can be seen in the image below.

For fans heading to Ayr this Saturday and planning to go by rail please note that both pre and post match that there will be no rail service between Paisley and Kilwinning.

There will be a replacement bus service to cover and a timetable for that service can be seen in the image below.

Due to St Mirren reaching the final of the IRN-BRU Cup on 25th March, the Ladbrokes Championship match originally scheduled for that weekend away to Morton has been postponed with a new date for the fixture now confirmed.

The rearranged fixture against Morton will take place at Cappielow Park on Tuesday 11th April and it will kick-off at 7:45pm.

The SPFL has announced that the IRN-BRU Cup Final will take place at Fir Park on Saturday 25 March with a 12:30pm kick off.

It will be the fifth time that Fir Park will have hosted the Scottish Challenge Cup Final having staged the competitions first two finals in 1990/91 and 1991/92 as well as those in seasons 1993/94 and 1997/98. 

Following agreement with both St Mirren and Dundee United, the SPFL has revealed that adult tickets will be priced at £20, concessions (juveniles ages 13 to 18 years-old, over 65s & students) at £10 and U12s at £5. 

St Mirren will face Dundee United in the Final of the competition after seeing off Albion Rovers, Hibernian, Ayr United and The New Saints. 

Ticketing arrangements will be announced in due course. 

Once again we are giving St Mirren fans the chance to ‘live the dream’ while helping out the Youth Development Programme at the same time.

Two teams – one home and one away – made up of St Mirren fans will kick-off our annual fixture that will be played on the pitch at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on Sunday 30th April with a 12pm kick off. 

There will be two teams with 15 players per team (1-11 and four substitutes).  Each shirt will be available to bid on in a blind auction with all proceeds going to the St Mirren Youth Development Programme. Managers and guest players will be announced nearer the time.

Come and be part of this exciting day which will include:-

* The St Mirren Match Day Experience – Playing the game on the pitch at the Paisley 2021 stadium.

* Wearing an official team strip that you will also get to keep after the game.

* Medal presentation to all players from a special guest.

* Food and refreshments post match.

The rules are as follows: 

*Bidding for home shirts 6 to 11 and 12 to 14 will close at 3pm on Tuesday, April 18th. 

*Bidding for home shirts 1 to 5 and 15-16 will close at 3pm on Wednesday, April 19th.

*Bidding for away shirts 6 to 11 and 12 to 14 will close at 3pm on Thursday, April 20th.

*Bidding for away shirts 1 to 5 and 15-16 will close at 3pm on Friday, April 21st. 

*You must be 18 years of age or over to both bid and take part in 'Saint for a Day'. 

*By bidding on the auction you are declaring that you (or the person you are bidding for) are fit and well to take part in the event. 

*In the instance of getting two identical bids for the same shirt number in the same team, the email that has the earliest date and time stamp will be accepted as the leading bidder. 

*Payment must be made immediately if you have been the successful bidder.

To have a chance to take part on the day please send your blind auction bid by e-mail to claire.coventry@stmirren.com (Minimum bid is £100).

In the e-mail you must state which team you are bidding to play in (home or away) and which shirt number for that team you are bidding on. Good Luck!!