Stephen Mallan says he can't wait to face The New Saints in the IRN-BRU Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The Buddies take on the Welsh side after seeing off Albion Rovers, Hibernian and Ayr United to make the last four. 

And Mallan, who has scored twice in the IRN-BRU Cup this season, is looking forward to testing himself against opposition he has never faced before.

It's obviously exciting," he said. "I'm looking forward to it and it's just another challenge playing against a different team from a different country. 

We've got the chance to get into a final. No matter what competition it is you want to get to the final and the boys will be looking to give the fans something to cheer about."

Saints come into Sunday's match off the back of a 3-2 win over East Fife in the Scottish Cup - a win that sets up a quarter final encounter with Celtic at Celtic Park. Mallan admitted that he and his team mates also can't wait for that match.

I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure the other boys are as well," he said. "As a kid you want to play in the biggest stadiums in the world and I'd say Celtic Park is up there.

"Everyone is going to be watching the game so you want to go and do well. If you're going to play Celtic at Celtic Park you want to be in the starting eleven so I think all the boys will be fighting for places in the next couple of weeks for the league and cup games." 

The midfielder realises the challenge at hand taking on Brendan Rodgers' side, but believe Saints should take inspiration from the Buddies run to the League Cup final in 2013.

If we're going to try and win the cup then Celtic are the team to beat. They're the favourites and we'd need to beat them at some point. When St Mirren won the League Cup a few years ago we had to beat Celtic in the semi-final."

A late Conor O'Keefe goal sealed a thrilling 4-3 win for the St Mirren U20s over Kilmarnock last night at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

The young Buds were 2-0 ahead on the half hour mark after goals from Josh Todd and Ryan Watters. Kilmarnock levelled the scores soon after before taking the lead half way through the second half. But Saints weren't to be beaten as O'Keefe scored twice to win the game. 

It was Todd who put Saints ahead as he slipped the ball under the legs of the goalkeeper on 20 minutes after being played through by Kalvin Orsi.

Then, 10 minutes later, O'Keefe was bundled over in the box with the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Watters stepped up and tucked the ball into the corner of the net to double the advantage. 

But just six minutes later the visitors were back on level terms. Jack Paterson pulled their first goal back with a tidy finish from the edge of the box before Killie levelled after a lightening quick break from a Saints corner. 

And they could have been mere moments later when a wicked swerving effort from Adam Frizzell was superbly pushed over the bar by Chris Henry. 

Kilmarnock started the brighter in the second half and were ahead on 66 minutes through Frizzell, who slid in to knock a cross from the left into the net. 

But like Saints lead would only last six minutes, the Killie's only lasted three when O'Keefe lobbed the goalkeeper from narrow angle on the right side. 

With time ticking away a draw looked certain, only for O'Keefe to break through and lob the keeper for a second time with 94 minutes on the clock to secure three points in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The current standings in the SPFL Development League are available here.

St Mirren: Henry, McNaughton, Barclay, Fjelde, Gordon (McDonald, 45), Whyte, Todd, MacPherson, Watters (Pignatiello, 70), Orsi, O'Keefe
Subs Not Used: Willison, Johnston, Fawkes, McKendry

Kilmarnock: Lyle, Webb, Lidington (McFadzean, 57), Queen, Clark, Hawkshaw, Whittaker, Frizzell, Cameron (Morrison, 78), Paterson (Curtis, 62), McLean
Subs Not Used: Dempsie, Kayode, Cobain

Jack Ross gives stmirren.com his thoughts after Saints were paired with Celtic in the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup.

The manager also looks ahead to Sunday's IRN-BRU Cup semi-final clash with Welsh side The New Saints. 

The St Mirren Under-20 side are back in action tomorrow night when they play host to Kilmarnock.

The SPFL Development League encounter between the young Buddies and Killie on will take place at The Paisley 2021 Stadium and will kick-off at 6:00pm.

Allan McManus' side lost last week against Hamilton despite a spirited display, though came from behind to beat Dundee United 2-1 in their last home match. 

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

Lewis Morgan admitted he was delighted to help Saints secure their place in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 win over East Fife.

The 20 year-old climbed off the bench as a second half substitute to score twice as he helped send the Buddies through to the last eight, with a showdown against Brendan Rodgers' unbeaten Celtic on the cards. 

But the winger confessed he was just pleased that the team progressed to the next round rather than take the plaudits for his two strikes.

Yeah it was brilliant, especially at such a hard venue," he told stmirren.com. "I was disappointed not to start but maybe I needed that wee rest and to get that appetite back. The boys put such a massive effort into the game and I'm just happy that we've got into the next round, that's the most important thing. 

"When you're on the bench you want to come on and make an impact and try to get back in the team. I'm just disappointed I didn't get a third. I had a chance to get a hat-trick which would have topped it off. But I just wanted to make an impact when I came on to show why I feel like I should be playing."

And make an impact he did as Morgan's brief cameo earned him the official man of the match award. But he believed that it could have been given to anyone in the team on Saturday.

I thought I did well, but it's the impact of the two goals that got me it. It could have gone to anyone out there because it wasn't a great game to play in. There were lots of good performances in what were difficult conditions. 

"It was very difficult, trying to judge the flight of the ball and the pitch was quite hard as well. But all that matters is that we managed it in the end and got through what was a very difficult cup tie."

While speaking before the draw was made yesterday, Lewis said that he wasn't fussed who the Saints drew in the next round.

We are in it to win it. We're not in it to take part. We're two games away from a final which would be massive for our season."

St Mirren Football Club recently received a letter from the Erskine Care Home for veterans thanking supporters for their efforts in donating to a bucket collection.

The collection, organised by the St Mirren Fans Council, took place at the Paisley 2021 Stadium ahead of the match against Dunfermline on the 19th of November 2016 and raised £127.23 for the charity.

In a letter addressed to the club, Morgan Dorrian of Erskine said: "On behalf of everyone at Erskine, thank you all at St Mirren Football Club for allowing us to hold our recent bucket collection which raised £127.23 - not bad for such a cold night!

"Every donation we receive helps us to continue to care for around 1,000 veterans and their spouses each year across our four homes. Your generosity makes a huge difference and ensures that we can provide a broad range of support and activities that enrich our veterans' lives." 

The club would like to thank all the fans who donated and the St Mirren Fans Council who helped organise the collection.

St Mirren have been drawn to face Celtic in the quarter finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup. 

Jack Ross' side have beaten Spartans, Dundee and East Fife on their way to the last 8 where they will now take on Brendan Rodgers' side.

The match will take place on the weekend of Saturday 4th/Sunday 5th March.

A selection of pictures from yesterday's 3-2 win over East Fife in the Scottish Cup fifth round tie at Bayview Stadium. 

Cammy Smith got his first goal for the Buddies to open the scoring before Lewis Morgan scored a double to send Saints through to the quarter final.

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

A delighted Jack Ross gives stmirren.com his thoughts after the Saints progress to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup with a 3-2 win away to East Fife.

Lewis Morgan played the role of super sub as he scored twice after coming off the bench to help St Mirren seal their place in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup. Cammy Smith opened his account for the Buddies in the first half before Morgan scored a double following Chris Duggan's early second half penalty that had gotten East Fife back on level terms. Duggan scored again from the spot with the very last kick of the ball but it wasn't enough to prevent Saints from making the draw for the last eight.

Saints were in control in the early period though the blustery conditions were making it difficult for both sides. Indeed the wind almost played a massive part with just five minutes on the clock. Stelios Demetriou, making his first start for the Buddies, launched a high ball in search of Rory Loy when the gail blew it over the head of East Fife goalkeeper Ryan Goodfellow who had to chase back and grasp the ball with Loy trying to pounce.

East Fife had a glorious chance to put themselves ahead just before the 20 minute mark through substitute Chris Kane. Initially a corner was headed back out by the Buddies, but only as far as Nicki Paterson who whipped the ball back into the six yard box to meet Kane's head with the defender putting too much on it. 

The home side thought they had the lead as the game approached 30 minutes, only to see it ruled out. The ball was whipped in from a corner but Saints keeper Billy O'Brien was fouled as the ball made it's way into the net. 

And it was Saints who would go ahead mere minutes later after a good old fashioned stramash in the box. The wind was again wreaking havoc when the ball was whipped into the box and East Fife's keeper couldn't gather before the defence failed to clear their lines. Stephen McGinn then had a shot that was blocked before Smith finally poked the ball home with a tidy finish.  

The Buddies were clearly buoyed by the goal and were on the ascendancy as Gary MacKenzie went close to doubling Saints' lead five minutes before half time. The big centre half rose above his East Fife counterpart to get his head on a tremendous Adam Eckersley cross, but it went just by the post.

Half Time: East Fife 0-1 St Mirren

East Fife started after the break well and went close on two occasions early in the second half, in between a good chance for Kyle Magennis. First, Duggan saw a shot from outside the box flash just wide before the home side were certain they were level through Scott Robinson. The forward lobbed O'Brien and had looked to have equalised for his side, only to see Harry Davis slide in and clear just at it looked to creep over the line. 

But it only took them two minutes after this to get on level terms. Davis, the hero moments earlier, fouled Ross Brown in the box leaving the referee with no choice but to award a penalty. Duggan stepped up to take the spot kick and coolly dispatched it beyond O'Brien to make it 1-1.

The hosts looked bright after the goal which prompted Saints manager Jack Ross into action as he introduced John Sutton and Lewis Morgan in place of Loy and Craig Storie. 

It would pay dividends as St Mirren were ahead with 20 minutes to go. Stevie Mallan picked the ball up in the middle of the East Fife half and drove towards goal before delightfully picking out Morgan who finished beyond Goodfellow after creating good space for himself down the left to give the Buddies the lead for the second time in the match.

And it could've been 3-1 just a minute later when Smith found himself in space inside the box but, after getting himself into a shooting position, the forward fired wide.

Saints would make it 3-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining when Morgan scored with a stunning effort to book the Buddies place in the last eight. The 20 year-old picked the ball up around 25 yards from goal before curling it beautifully into the bottom corner beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.

That was all but game over though the hosts would get themselves on the scoresheet again with the final kick of the ball when they won a second penalty. Duggan stepped up once more and make no mistake from the spot again as he sent O'Brien the wrong way. However, as soon as the ball was retrieved from the net, referee Don Robertson blew his whistle and with it confirmed The Buddies place in the next round.

Full Time: East Fife 2-3 St Mirren 

St Mirren: O'Brien, Stelios, Davis, MacKenzie, Eckersley, Storie (Morgan, 66), Magennis, McGinn, Mallan, Smith (Fjelde, 90+1), Loy (Sutton, 57)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Baird, Irvine, Clarkson

East Fife: Goodfellow, Watt (Kane, 12), Slattery, Page, Kerr, Brown (Insall, 75), Duggan, Smith (Lamont, 66), Robinson, Penrice, Paterson
Subs Not Used: Flockhart, Austin

Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Kylie McMullan
Assistant Referee: Stuart Hodge

Attendance: 1,483