St Mirren are in IRN-BRU Cup action tonight as the Buddies welcome East Kilbride to the Paisley 2021 Stadium tonight for the first ever meeting between the two sides.
Saints' IRN-BRU Cup campaign was almost over as soon as it began with the Buddies going 2-0 down to Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill inside the first 13 minutes with brother Ross and Michael Dunlop putting the home side in control. But goals from Stephen Mallan, Lewis Morgan and John Sutton in an eight minute spell dragged Saints in front. But before they didn't have much time to enjoy their lead with Ross Dunlop scoring his second a little over a minute after the Buddies had gone 3-2 up. That took the game into extra game where a Lawrence Shankland header nudged St Mirren into the fourth round.
The Buddies could have hardly wished for a tougher draw after being paired with eventual Ladbrokes Championship winners Hibernian at Easter Road. Head of Youth Allan McManus was in his final match as caretaker manager and helped guide Saints to the last eight with a surprising 2-1 win over the home side. Hibs had taken the lead through Alex Harris on 37 minutes, but a Stephen Mallan free-kick on four minutes later restored parity at the break. Just as the game appeared to be heading towards extra-time, David Clarkson popped up to squeeze the ball beyond Ofir Marciano in the Hibernian goal to sent St Mirren through.
After two away ties, St Mirren were drawn at home in the quarter-finals with Ian McCall's Ayr United the visitors to the Paisley 2021 Stadium. However, just like the previous ties, St Mirren found themselves behind when Andy O'Connell profited from poor Saints defending to score his first goal for the Honest Men. But with just seven minutes left to play John Sutton scored twice in a two minute spell to turn the game around and send St Mirren into the semi-final for a second season running.
Saints were one game away from the final, but standing in their way was a 'Battle of Britain' clash with Welsh Champions The New Saints. The 11 time Welsh league winners took a first half lead after a terrific finish from Ryan Brobbel. Captain Stephen McGinn dragged the Buddies back into the match with a stunning strike on the hour mark to level the score before Mallan scored five minutes later to put the home side ahead. John Sutton missed a penalty with a little over ten minutes to go but made amends on the 80th minute to give St Mirren a two-goal cushion. Rory Loy's 90th minute finish put the seal on a brilliant comeback as the Buddies made it to the final.
Despite a strong first half showing, St Mirren were narrowly beaten by Dundee United in the final. Tony Andreu gave the Tangerines the lead, but Saints' fighting spirit was alive as Rory Loy slotted home an equaliser almost immediately from kick-off. Both sides had chances to win it but in the end Danish striker Thomas Mikkelsen rose above the St Mirren defence to bullet home a header and win the cup for United.
Ahead of this season's Challenge Cup, St Mirren can take heart from a strong record that has seen them earn a semi-final place and two final appearances in their last three campaigns in this cup.
East Kilbride currently sit atop of the Lowland League with three wins and a draw from their opening four fixtures. They also put in a decent showing in their Betfred Cup group, defeating Stenhousemuir 2-1 away and drawing 0-0 with Ladbrokes Championship side Queen of the South at Palmerston. However, they are set to be without the influential Sean Winter who recently picked a hamstring injury, while first choice goalkeeper Matt McGinley could also miss out.
Kilby manager Billy Stark is a familiar face in Paisley having made 345 appearances for the Buddies back in the 70s and 80s. The former midfielder, a St Mirren Hall of Fame inductee, was part of the Saints' First Division winning side of 1976/77 and the Anglo Scottish Cup triumph in 1980. Ex-Saints Ross Caldwell and Declan Hughes also feature for the Lowland League side.
St Mirren will be looking to make amends for Saturday's derby loss, while it will also allow Jack Ross the chance to give some valuable game time to other squad members. Lowland League side Kilby come into tonight's match knowing they are the underdogs but will hope that they can claim a major scalp in their first ever match in the IRN-BRU Cup.
