St Mirren

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

On the surface, this was a battle to retain Premiership status. At a more fundamental level, Monday night's frenzy was for the writing of the history books.

St Mirren have three Scottish Cups and two League Cups to show for their century and a half of attempts at national silverware.

Each of these achievements were era defining for the men that earned them, and their names bestow street signs, the Mirren Mile, the walls of the SMISA stadium and the stairs that take you from pitchside to the back row.

In short, win a cup for us and some form of provincial immortality awaits.

Rightly or wrongly, this current squad, battered and broken as they are by a gruelling campaign of injuries, upheaval and misfortune, came within half an hour of their slice of immortality carrying the asterisk of relegation.

Now, and forever more, this chapter of the club's history will tell only of three goals in December that saw silver carried back home to Paisley Town Hall.

As contracts wind down, Monday night represented a goodbye for a number of senior players who have been at the heart of a special period in Saints folklore.

These men were fighting for that goodbye to happen in a state of relief and reflection on what good had come before; to take a breath and accept the acclaim that three top-half seasons, a European adventure and Hampden glory had earned.

St Mirren Football Club turns 150 years old in 2027, and plans for commemorations and celebrations have been long in the planning.

The collective will of those on the pitch in the play-off final and the many more in the stands was to preserve the shimmer of that anniversary being marked by a top-flight Saints side.

The football may not have been pretty, but there was poetry in moments. Marcus Fraser, 32 by the time pre-season arrives, fought through the pain barrier to get himself on the pitch in Saints colours for a 263rd time.

When times are desperate, Fraser is the man most would want to know was suited up for battle. In December, he wore the armband and set the tone - crashing in his early opening goal and then emptying his tank to ensure it meant something.

On Monday night night, Fraser started with the armband before handing it to long-time team-mate and club captain Mark O'Hara shortly after the hour. Within five minutes, O'Hara handed Fraser a gift of his own at the back post and the centre-half duly obliged with a close-range volley for the ages.

Alex Gogic, so often the hero, was gladiatorial in black and white. At times, he was the back three.

When Fraser crashes in his winner, it is Gogic that grabs his brother in arms and smothers him in front of the Family Stand. That image, more than any other since Hampden in December, will come to define the lesser heralded aspects of this challenging season.

In Craig McLeish, the Buddies have had a tactically-astute interim manager willing to make changes to the engrained status quo in pursuit of better football and league safety.

While the road to eventual security has had worrying moments, the manager deserves plaudits for stepping up at a time of need and in being his own man while doing so.

Whether this translates into a more permanent appointment for the well-respected youth coach is another matter, and the balance of public opinion in PA3 is probably calling for a more experienced name to pick up the reins.

Should this be it, for now at least, McLeish can hold his head high in keeping top-flight football in Paisley for a further year.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

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With St Mirren's Premiership survival now assured, the focus turns to who will lead the club next season.

Interim boss Craig McLeish wants the job and hopes he has done enough to earn it after steering the club to safety via the play-offs since stepping up from his academy duties following the departure of Stephen Robinson to Aberdeen in March.

Former Partick Thistle striker and manager Kris Doolan believes McLeish's lack of experience could count against him.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Doolan said: "We will all be debating but it depends in house, what the club want to do.

"Have they seen enough of Craig and the way he is around the place? Because it's not just necessarily what he does on the pitch, it'll be everything.

"If he's going to be the manager, how does he interact with our staff? How is he leading in the press?

"It will come down to what the board at St Mirren want. Do they want a younger manager or do they want an experienced manager? Will they twist or stick?

"Do they want to see a more exciting style of play? Possibly, but ultimately they've been successful under Robinson as well.

"Stephen's teams maybe didn't get the credit that they should because yes, they're well drilled, but being well drilled also makes you successful."

We asked for your views after St Mirren secured Premiership survival with a 1-0 second-leg win over Partick Thistle in the play-off final.

Here's what some of you said:

Stu G: I'm drained. That was a tough watch. We've just not been at it for a while now and you never know where the goals are going to come from, but workhorse Marcus Fraser pops up at the back post. The usual VAR wait to confirm it and we breathe again. Big plaudits to Thistle. Great over both games, and had they won, you couldn't have grudged them.

Ali: Watching this game felt like flipping a coin. We were lucky it came up our way. Hats off to the players that showed up and showed character. Craig McLeish has accomplished his mission, and while I'm not entirely convinced he's the person to keep us going forward, he certainly deserves plaudits for keeping us up. This game feels like the end of an era. With Stephen Robinson having departed for Aberdeen, it feels almost a certainty that now a handful of players will follow suit.

John: Well done to Saints. However now we are safe, take time to reflect and make decisions that are right for the club and the fans. The board have to make the decision with their heads and not their hearts.

Iain: Thought we were really poor first half, disjointed with no pace or structure to our play. We were better in the second and somehow managed to find a way. Craig has done well but we need a manager and not a coach. An early appointment please and the squad needs to be sorted out (those that want to stay and those that are leaving). It wasn't an easy watch and I've had a sleepless night! We move on.

Stewart: Not much class from either team, but happy Saints prevailed in the end. Glad to see the past few months closed, and look forward to something better next term.

Marc: It most certainly could not be described as classic, however it was never going to be considering what was at stake. Thankfully we really started to take control of the game in the second half after a pretty abysmal performance in the first half and it was a beautifully worked free-kick with both our captain O'Hara and vice-captain Fraser contributing with the decisive moment. This result not only preserves our Premiership status but also ensures that our league cup winning squad will be remembered forever as heroes for that wonderful day back in December.

Tam: Partick were the better team. I can't remember a game as bad as this one. The Saints just punted the ball up the park, clattered into Partick all night, I feared the worst. Abysmal. We need a clearout and new a manager. Even at the final whistle I was deflated.

Gus: We scraped through. Now let's get a real manger. Hopefully Neil Lennon. McLeish is too inexperienced and it has clearly shown.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Goal-hero Marcus Fraser says "it's absolutely massive" for St Mirren to have retained their Premiership status.

"What we've built in the last three or four seasons, we didn't want to just throw away," said the wing-back, who scored the only goal in the second leg of the play-off final against Partick Thistle.

"I thought we were going to win 2-0, but it was only 1-0 and I got the goal. So, as players, you always write these wee stories in your head. Thankfully, I got the winning goal and it came up trumps."

Fraser's second-half goal, which he describes as "being up there" as one of the biggest in his career, came after nerves settled for the Paisley club in a tense affair.

"Probably both games, there wasn't much quality," he added. "Obviously, there were a few nervy bits, but we got there in the end.

"I wanted to win so much, obviously to stay in the league, but just not for that. We didn't want the League Cup win to get forgotten about because it quite easily could have.

"We can look back on the season now as probably a positive one with a League Cup in the bag and staying in the league as well."

Interim boss Craig McLeish has made it clear he wants the position on a permanent basis and Fraser thinks the 36-year-old coach merits being given a chance.

"His ideas and what he's brought to the table has been really, really good," he said. "I think you can see that in our performances and what he's doing.

"He's been really positive and picked the group up and fair play to him for that."

The final of the Scottish Premiership play-off is finely poised after Partick Thistle came from behind to earn a first-leg draw at home to St Mirren. What did you make of St Mirren's performance?

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MATCH REPORT

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St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish tells BBC Scotland: "I'm delighted for the players and the fans. The remit when I took over the role was to stay in the league.

"We would have liked to avoid this type of situation, but we managed to [stay up].

"We wanted to make sure the players were remembered as legends at this club after winning the League Cup. We didn't want that black mark against our name.

"First half was nervy, cagey and full of mistakes. It wasn't really tactical, just us controlling our emotions. We did that better in the second half.

"Our bench was a strength. When Partick started to tire we brought on fresh legs, who saw us over the line.

"I imagine [chief executive] Keith [Lasley] will start to have conversations about that over the next few days.

"We spoke about taking care of everything and whatever the outcome is, the club will plan their future from there.

"I'm privileged that the club put trust in me to take the team on. I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for Stephen Robinson giving me opportunities up to that point, so I have to thank him.

"If I get the opportunity to lead the group, my biggest thing is to make sure we're never in that type of position again.

"I've felt I'm capable of doing the job and handling the full thing. I've felt that from day one. This is what I've always been building towards.

"I can't control when I would get the opportunity. I just had to show I was ready to go and I hope I have shown people that."

We asked for your views after St Mirren drew 1-1 with Partick Thistle at Firhill in the first leg of the Premiership play-off final.

Here's what some of you said:

Jim: Probably one of the worst performances of the season. Some of the players looked like they had only to turn up for a result. Once again three forwards on the bench and a midfielder improvising. This does not look like a Premiership side, the football was non-existent and the defence was a bombscare. I fear the worst!

Kev: Glad we are not chasing the game going into Monday night. Thought we were decent enough in the first half, though never carried that through to the second, when Thistle changed their shape. Hoping with the home advantage we can get the goals needed to win the tie. Need every player on top of their game.

Gary: Never easy with St Mirren. I like Craig McLeish but he seems to have one way of playing. He didn't change things when Partick changed it in the second half. We played some nice football but most of Partick's chances came from our mistakes. It must be terrible being a St Mirren striker, the final ball is terrible or too slow.

Dougie: Saints gave a passable performance in the first half but, like previous games, we allowed Thistle to dominate us. Fed up with McLeish coming up with the same old excuses - we need to finish better. Mikael Mandron right through when leading 1-0 and ends up like a passback to their keeper. Too static. Nobody running off the ball. Will be up against it on Monday.

Stuart: Once again in control but can't score. Thistle make tactical change and we're floundering, midfield goes missing.

Alan: First half we did okay without creating enough. Second half we were pretty poor apart from maybe the last five/10 minutes. All to play for on Monday.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Midfielder Killian Phillips is confident St Mirren can capitalise on home advantage to secure Premiership survival after a 1-1 draw away to Partick Thistle in the play-off final first leg.

Phillips' first-half strike at Firhill on Thursday night was cancelled out by Aiden Fitzpatrick to leave the tie finely poised.

"We all know how big the game is on Monday," Phillips told BBC Scotland.

"We've got ourselves into this, so we need to get ourselves out of it. We're confident given what's in our dressing room so we can get it done. It's up to us now.

"There is pressure. Like everyone says, pressure is a privilege. We know the magnitude of the games. It's an even bigger one now on Monday. We go into the game level and it's a game where we need to win ultimately.

"I think home advantage will be big.

"We know that when we take it to the SMiSA it'll be packed out and it'll be a big game. They've [the fans] pushed us through a lot of big games this year as well. I think it'll help, the home advantage, and we need all the help that we can get."

The 24-year-old, who was deployed as a striker by manager Craig McLeish at Firhill, was substituted on 77 minutes because of cramp but insists "he'll be out there on Monday".

The final of the Scottish Premiership play-off is finely poised after Partick Thistle came from behind to earn a first-leg draw at home to St Mirren. What did you make of St Mirren's performance?

HAVE YOUR SAY

MATCH REPORT

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St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish: "A bit of a game of two halves. I felt in the first half we carried out our gameplan pretty well, sustained pressure, a lot of corners, we created some chances.

"Maybe nothing too clear cut other than the goal. We were under a bit of pressure second half, then once they tire it opens back up again.

"We know what's at stake, we're not behind in the tie. Especially the second half, we have to be better than that and we can be better than that.

"That is the focus now for Monday."

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Former St Mirren midfielder Ryan Flynn thinks Partick Thistle have a "massive opportunity" of returning to the Premiership as they host St Mirren in the first leg of the play-off final.

Despite finishing the season with a victory at Aberdeen and a draw at home to Dundee United, St Mirren were already consigned to a relegation play-off after finishing 11th in the top flight, six points behind Kilmarnock and the Dons above them.

And while the Buddies are the Premiership team to beat when they face Partick Thistle, who beat Dunfermline in last week's semi-final, Flynn is worried about the side's lack of goals.

"I wouldn't say they have an advantage over St Mirren [having played in the semi-final but it definitely helps," Flynn said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Thistle have a massive opportunity.

"In previous years you look at it and the Premiership side looks so far ahead of the Championship side and everyone believes it's the Premiership side [who will win].

"St Mirren haven't had a great season and the reason I say it's a massive opportunity for Thistle is St Mirren, no matter the football that they're playing or their defensive record, they are just lacking goals.

"If Thistle can put it together, they can get over the line, they have attacking threats, they have players that can change games by themselves, they have players that can come off the bench and change the game.

"It's a massive opportunity for Mark Wilson and Partick Thistle.

"On St Mirren's side, they have turned it around, a fantastic result up at Pittodrie, they did rotate, everyone will be fighting fresh for these two massive games.

"McLeish actually spoke really well about the pressure off the game for big game players, they do have those within the dressing room.

"If it's a cagey affair and it goes back to St Mirren at home they'll get the job done."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Killian Phillips says there's more at stake than top flight status for St Mirren in the Premiership play-off final against Partick Thistle.

The Irish midfielder is aware that jobs could be lost at the club if the Buddies are relegated to the Championship.

"There's a lot of repercussions around the people that you don't see behind the scenes," he said.

"Jobs at stake, people's livelihoods are at stake. If we manage to stay up, then I think a cup win and a semi-final and staying in the league is an excellent achievement."

Although he's already assured of "club legend" status and a league cup winners medal, Phillips feels the home and away legs are far more important than the Hampden win over Celtic last December but he believes the big game experience will be a big help.

"These two games are bigger than a semi-final and bigger than the final," he added.

"But we've played in big games and we've performed in big games. You think about the Motherwell semi-final in the League Cup [a 4-1 win], then the final [beating Celtic 3-1] and even the Scottish Cup semi-final, I thought we were very good in that for ninety minutes.

"So we've seen that can perform in big games. So it'll definitely help us that we've played in those big games. We're confident."

Those cup runs have taken their toll on the Buddies though as far as the Irishman is concerned, stretching a small squad to its limits and contributing to a disappointing league season in which only 30 goals were scored and eight games won.

"A lot of our key players have been injured at key times," he said.

"We've had a lot of games and as mad as it sounds the the cup runs probably didn't help us as well because we're such a small squad.

"But ultimately, we didn't win enough games of football or pick up enough points. So as players, we had to be a lot better. So it's up to us to take care of this situation."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish has been speaking to the media before the first leg of the Premiership play-off final against Partick Thistle on Thursday.

Here are the main points:

• McLeish wants the manager's job permanently "regardless of the outcome" of the play-offs.

• He adds: "Obviously, we want the outcome to be positive and I want to take the job on at that point. If it's the other outcome, I still feel like I'm the best person to take the club forward."

• McLeish wants the players - who won the League Cup in December - to be remembered as "legends" and says: "That's my responsibility, our responsibility as a group to be able to look back on the season with that positive outlook on it. It's not a situation we want to be in right now as a club but we have to handle it, we have to navigate it and then hopefully we get to look back on it and look at it for all the positives."

• The boss insists his side are "confident" but not "complacent" heading into the first leg: "We have to be at the top of our game to come out top over the two ties."

• After ending the season with a win away at Aberdeen and a draw against Dundee United, McLeish says "the group is in a really good place and we have to just keep that going into these games".

• He feels St Mirren are "at the end of a cycle" as a club and while the "short-term bit of it is staying in the league", it is time to "transition into a new period as well".

• The 36-year-old is urging his players to draw on their "big-game experience" from this season: "The experiences at Hampden, the big games that we've played in, the big moments that we've turned up. I know even the Scottish Cup semi-final ultimately ended in disappointment, but even the bits there have shown resilience are coming back for two goals down against Celtic. We have to draw on as many positive experiences as we can."

• He stresses "boys are playing for their futures, whether it's here or elsewhere" in the remaining two matches.

• McLeish has been impressed with what he's seen of Partick Thistle this season: "I have to draw on all of my experience as well to come up with a tactical plan to combat what they're doing."

• Dan Nlundulu and Conor McMenamin have returned to training and will be in the squad.

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Sunday's team selection found Craig McLeish between a rock (please, just win something before the play-off and create some momentum, score at least once) and a hard place (please, don't get injured, don't get suspended).

In the end, McLeish listened to his better (play the weans!) angels and took a pragmatic approach to a game against opponents firmly locked into seventh place and their first airport pints.

Where senior players needed minutes, they got them. Where bodies like Mikael Mandron and Killian Phillips needed some respite, they got it. Miguel Freckleton and Mark O'Hara steered the ship for a half before presumably being bundled into the proverbial cotton wool. Marcus Fraser got an hour back in the tank, Liam Donnelly wasn't risked; so far, so sensible.

What, then, did we learn from this most deceased of elastic, waterproof polymers (thank you Wikipedia)?

We learned that Luke Douglas, recognised by Scotland regularly at age group level and touted as the natural successor in Paisley to Evan Mooney's "get him on the pitch, he's better than them surely" crowd moniker, might well be the real deal.

Highly familiar to the Saints interim gaffer from his journey through multiple age rungs of the academy, Douglas had made cameo appearances in recent weeks as squad depth demanded. However, Sunday offered the 16-year-old the opportunity to start a senior fixture for the first time - and, boy, did he make the most of it.

The teen was denied a dream arrival on the top-flight stage by only the offside flag, a half yard of daylight and a half second's delay on Freckleton's through ball.

Despite this, the youngster showed the kind of movement, grit and bullishness in front of goal the frustratingly profligate Saints have missed for most of the league season.

Reconciling the cup side that crashed in nine goals at Hampden this season with the league side that sit bottom of the goals scored standings by a full 10 is a brain-scratching task.

Douglas was not alone in grabbing his opportunity and sparking some intrigue amongst the PA3 crowd. In a squad depleted of left-sided strength in the absence of Declan John (injury, definitely) and Conor McMenamin (injury, probably), Thomas Falconer starred in his second-half runout.

His strike off the base of the post came so close to writing the following day's headlines, not to mention his impressive running to cover his flank at both ends of the pitch.

Caiden McMillan, in making his senior debut, made it four teenage appearance makers on the day when he joined loanee Jacob Devaney on the pitch to see out the final stages. Although his cameo was altogether briefer, he had sufficient time to drive forward as the Saints chased a winner and looked far from out of place in his surroundings.

A point, in the end, did little for the Saints' final points tally or in making a statement of intent before Thursday's away leg in Maryhill.

However, the green shoots of young reinforcements bolstering a squad that has looked tired since lifting the League Cup in December gave rise to a little bit of cautious optimism to a following crowd much in need of it.

The demand, now, is simple. Get it done over the next week and ensure the 150th chapter in Saints' history is written in the top flight.

Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external

We asked for your thoughts after St Mirren warmed up for their play-off against Partick Thistle with a 1-1 draw against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Bill: An encouraging performance with the young players bringing a real freshness to the table. The sight of Gogic nearly scoring with an overhead kick was wonderful. I have no fear going into the play-off as we are a much better team than Patrick Thistle.

Douglas: A far better looking front line with young Douglas and Young on from the start. Better in that there was far more movement off the ball, a lot quicker than we get with Mandron and I would play Idowu from the start on Thursday. He is a talented player with brilliant skills.

Anon: Thought we should have played the same team as against Aberdeen to gain momentum. But our three youngsters played well. They showed that we should have dropped many of our players before now.

St Mirren go into the play-off final with Partick Thistle after a win over Aberdeen and a draw with Dundee United.

Are fans encouraged going into these vital games?

Read the report.

Have your say here.

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St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish: "First half had a bit of an end of season feel to it. Second-half, I thought there was more energy, more intensity, we moved the ball quicker.

"We asked for a positive performance to build confidence for the games we've got and I thought we got that.

"Luke Douglas was excellent. Thomas Falconer came on and did well too.

"I know the quality Luke has got and the tenacity he's got. We're so excited by him but we need to care of him as well.

"The whole point of today was to get through unscathed and to bring some boys into the fold who haven't been involved as much recently.

"Now we need to do everything we can to try and stay in the league. If we turn up and perform the way we can, we're confident. We have to go into it with excitement and belief."