Stephen Robinson met with the press this afternoon at the St Mirren Training Ground to preview tomorrow's cinch Premiership match away to Hearts. 

The manager spoke on how he hopes his side can replicate last weekend's first-half performance against Hearts, Friday night football and how his hard-working staff have helped cut costs following the release of the club's annual accounts for the year 2021-22. 

ST MIRREN FOOTBALL CLUB LTD. (THE) (the “Company”)

Company Registration No. SC005773

Notice of Annual General Meeting

NOTICE is hereby given that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Company will be held on the 26th day of January 2023 at the SMISA Stadium, St Mirren Park, Greenhill Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA3 1RU at 7:30pm for the following purposes:

Ordinary business

1. To consider the Accounts for the year to 31 May 2022 and the reports of the Directors and Auditors.
2. To transact any other ordinary business of the Company. 

By Order of the Board

Date: 11/01/2023 

………………………….

Secretary

Registered Office: SMISA Stadium St Mirren Park, Greenhill Road, Paisley, Renfrewshire, PA3 1RU

Notes

A Member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy, in the terms set out on the attached, to attend and vote in his place. The proxy (in accordance with the terms of the existing Articles of Association) should be deposited at the Registered Office of the Company not less than 48 hours before the time of the Annual General Meeting.

Highest ever attendance rates since SMiSA Stadium opened

On Christmas Eve 2022, we had a match to remember with St Mirren’s 3-1 victory over Aberdeen, which played out in front of one of the largest crowds ever recorded at SMiSA Stadium since it opened over a decade ago.

The momentum has swept into the new year with the St Mirren v Hearts match also smashing records to rank in the club’s list of top attendance figures.

Chief Operating Officer Keith Lasley said: "With your continued dedication and support, St Mirren’s SMiSA Stadium will achieve the highest average attendance in a season. The stadium has become a fortress with supporters showing up in thousands, that support will help the drive forward throughout the rest of the season."

One way of making sure you are able to watch the St Mirren is by purchasing a half season ticket, which is the best way to support us reaching this target and the only way to guarantee you can attend the upcoming games.

St Mirren’s SMiSA Stadium has stood tall in trying times, acting as a base for many local initiatives and working alongside partner, Kibble to offer food drives and the set-up of a warmbank. The SMiSA Stadium was purpose-built for community, for you, and it has been heart-warming to see fans unite, fill the stands, and celebrate.

Half-season tickets have been reduced in price following our home matches against Aberdeen and Hearts. 

It's Friday night football for Saints this weekend as we take on Hearts for the second time in a week. 

Saints were originally scheduled to face the Jambos at Tynecastle in September, but that was postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. 

The Buddies unbeaten run was extended to six matches following Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hearts at the SMiSA Stadium. Ryan Strain's early goal gave Stephen Robinson's men the lead, but Robert Snodgrass scored with a cross that evaded everyone in the box and found the net to grab a share of the spoils. 

Both sides are now unbeaten in their last six matches. 

Match Details

Hearts v St Mirren
Competition: cinch Premiership
Date: Friday 13th January 2023
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Venue: Tynecastle Park

Ticket Info

Our allocation of tickets for this match has sold out. The club has requested more tickets from Hearts but we were told this wouldn't be possible. 

International subscribers to St Mirren TV can watch the match live on tv.stmirren.com as part of their subscription. 

Previous

Last weekend's 1-1 draw at the SMiSA Stadium was the first time the two sides have squared off this season. 

Friday night will be our first trip to Tynecastle since our Scottish Cup quarter-final in March. Hearts took a 2-0 lead at Tynecastle, but a strike from Eamonn Brophy and our 2021/22 goal of the season from Connor Ronan brought Saints level. Ultimately, Hearts would go on to win 4-2. 

Ryan Strain celebrates after giving St Mirren the lead against Hearts on Saturday (Image: Allan Picken) 

The officials

The referee on Friday night is David Munro. He'll be assisted by Drew Kirkland and Andy Milne, while Graham Beaton is fourth official.

The Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR) is Graham Grainger with Graeme Leslie the Assistant VAR. 

A number of our younger players are currently out on loan at clubs across Scotland. Here's a look at how some of them got on at the weekend. 

Jay Henderson scored his first goal for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in just his second appearance for the Highland side. After helping Billy Dodds' side to a 6-1 win over Cove Rangers on his debut last Monday, Jay scored the second goal in Inverness' 4-1 victory away to Arbroath on Saturday. Those wins have boosted the Caley Jags' play-off hopes as they sit four points off fourth place Partick Thistle with a game in hand. 

Kieran Offord was an unused substitute for Alloa Athletic in their 2-1 win over Queen of the South. The forward had played 64 minutes the week previous when Brian Rice's side drew 0-0 with Kelty Hearts. The Wasps sit joint fourth with Airdrieonians in cinch League One. 

Speaking of Aidrieonians, Dean McMaster was also an unused substitute for the Diamond in their 3-0 win over Peterhead at Balmoor Stadium on Saturday. Lewis Jamieson missed out due to injury. 

Ewan Thomson and Aiden Gilmartin missed out on action on Saturday as Cowdenbeath's match against Dalbeattie Star was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 

Jay Henderson scored his first goal for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in just his second appearance for the Highland side (Image: ICTFC)

As part of extending our offering to fans we recently announced our plan to instal Executive Boxes at the SMISA Stadium.

Unfortunately, the detailed costings for the planned approach came in at almost double that first indicated. As such the Club Board has reluctantly decided to shelve the plans for now and investigate alternative options.

We will update fans in due course and thank everyone who has been involved in the project to date.

Tickets for our Scottish Cup Fourth Round tie against Dundee are now on sale to season ticket holders. 

Season ticket holders have until Sunday 8th January 2023 to guarantee their seat before all remaining seats become available on general sale from Monday 9th January.

Saints host the cinch Championship side at the SMiSA Stadium on Saturday 21st January.

St Mirren vs Dundee
Scottish Cup Fourth Round
Venue: The SMiSA Stadium, Paisley
Date: Saturday 21st January 2023
Kick-off: 3pm

Season ticket holders have until Sunday 8th January to guarantee their seat at the St Mirren Ticket Office or online. 

Please note season tickets will not be valid and your season ticket card won't be activated for this match.

You will receive an email with your e-ticket which can be printed off or used on your mobile device and scanned at the turnstiles.  

Ticket prices are as follows:

 *Over-65, 13-17 and full-time students. 
**Must be bought with a full-paying adult

Wheelchair will be charged at concession price of £12. 

Ambulant disabled will be charged at age appropriate rate and carer free of charge if proof provided.

The manager was full of praise for his side and felt we should have won following our 1-1 draw with Hearts at the SMiSA Stadium. 

St Mirren and Hearts played out an entertaining draw in Paisley that featured some late VAR drama as Saints extended their unbeaten home run to 10 matches.

Saints were well on top in the first half but only had one goal to show for their efforts, Ryan Strain's deflected free-kick giving them the lead inside five minutes. A goal early in the second half drew the visitors level, Robert Snodgrass' cross-come-shot deceiving everyone as it sailed into the net. That moment seemed to transform the sluggish Jambos who enjoyed the better of the second half.

It looked like the points would be shared but Saints sensed one last change when they were awarded a stoppage time free-kick. However, VAR intervened and eventually deemed that not only had Marcus Fraser committed the foul, but he had done so seriously enough to merit a red card. His team-mates were untroubled in what little time remained as the spoils were shared.

It was a much changed Saints team to the one that drew with Kilmarnock on Monday. Mark O'Hara swapped places on the naughty step with Ethan Erhahon, while Joe Shaughnessy replaced Declan Gallagher at the back. There were also starts for Alex Gogic and Alex Greive, Greg Kiltie and Eamonn Brophy having to make do with the bench. Lawrence Shankland, who spent two spells on loan in Paisley what feels like a lifetime ago, led the Jambos attack.

There was a minute's applause ahead of kick-off in honour of Saints legend Frank McGarvey, who sadly passed away on New Year's Day, before his old club took the lead after just a few minutes. When Keanu Baccus' charge forward was abruptly brought to a halt, it give Saints a free-kick in a dangerous position. Strain stepped up to take it and his effort deflected off Tony Sibbick in the the wall, sending it spinning past Zander Clark into the bottom corner.

Ryan Strain curls home a free-kick from 25 yards (Image: Allan Picken)

Unfortunately, Strain's afternoon wouldn't continue much longer. The wingback was clearly in a lot of pain when he went down with no one near him and he had to be replaced with Ryan Flynn. Just before that, we'd had the first VAR check of the afternoon to see if a Shankland shot had been blocked by an arm, with ref Chris Graham eventually told he could get on with things.

Despite the loss of Strain, Saints looked the more likely to score next. Some neat passing play gave Curtis Main a sight of goal and his dragged shot almost turned into a great pass to Greive, the Kiwi just unable to get on the end of it. A long throw from Shaughnessy then caused problems for the Hearts defence, who could only head it back out to the lurking Flynn. His fierce shot looked goalbound but it hit off Greive, who hadn't been able to get out the way, and went wide.

The Hearts fans had had little to get excited about but a Robert Snodgrass free-kick gave them some hope, however Kye Rowles couldn't connect properly and headed wide. Saints were appealing for a penalty when Baccus collected Main's tremendous cross before going down under a challenge from a Hearts defender, however Mr Graham decided the Aussie midfielder had gone down too easily and booked him for simulation instead. Main curled one over the bar a few minutes later before Greive had two great chances to extend the lead in stoppage time, first volleying over Flynn's cross then failing to connect with a great ball across goal from Main.

Kiltie replaced the booked Baccus at the break before some silky play from Main saw him sting the palms of Clark. The next ball into the Hearts box caused chaos – but not as much as a cross at the other end. The home defence dealt with the initial Jambos corner but the ball was worked back to Snodgross, whose delivery was missed by everyone (despite Shankland trying to claim it) and bounced into the net.

Mark O'Hara curled a free-kick wide after Kiltie was fouled by Rowles as Saints tried to restore their lead before Hearts almost went in front, Barrie McKay being given far too much time to find Alan Forrest who shot into the side netting. Hearts were enjoying plenty of space on the Saints left, Michael Smith delivering a tempting cross for Shankland but he headed straight at Trevor Carson. His next header went over the bar, at which point the expected VAR check for a possible handball by Gogic failed to materialise.

Saints had struggled since the equaliser but began to come into things, Main forcing his way through the Hearts defence before he stabbed a shot at Clark. The goalie denied Main again when he turned his shot away at the end of a slick counter attack before Kiltie shot wide from the edge of the box. Another counter saw Olutoyosi Olusanya – who had replaced Greive – sent away but he shot wildly over when he should perhaps have passed.

VAR had had a relatively quiet day, but that changed deep into stoppage time when Saints were awarded a free-kick. After a long wait, Mr Graham was eventually told to have a look at the monitor, which he duly did for a good few minutes before deciding his clear and obvious error had been not sending Marcus Fraser off.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Hearts

St Mirren: Carson, Fraser, Shaughnessy (c), Dunne, Strain (Flynn 18), Baccus (Kiltie 46), Gogic, O'Hara, Tanser, Greive (Olusanya 78, R.Taylor 90), Main
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Campbell, Reid, F.Taylor, Brophy

Hearts: Clark, M.Smith, Rowles, Sibbick, Cochrane, Devlin (Grant 81), Forrest (Humphrys 69), McKay Ginnelly, Snodgrass, Shankland
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Kio, Atkinson, Neilson, Henderson, C.Smith

Referee: Chris Graham
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford
Fourth Official: Mike Roncone
VAR: Colin Steven
Assistant VAR: Daniel McFarlane

Attendance: 7,249