St Mirren

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Seventeen per cent of St Mirren's points total so far this season has been kindly donated by Rangers Football Club, and there is justified disappointment that this proportion isn't slightly higher after the weekend.

The Saints flew out the traps once again, pressing the visitors into dropping possession repeatedly. Mikael Mandron will have woken up in a cold sweat on Sunday morning, wondering what could have been with his spurned near-open-goal.

Earlier still, Mark O'Hara found the ball at his feet with time to burn in the Rangers box, but fell to indecision.

This intensity remained until the very end, substitute Owen Oseni almost announcing himself on a grand stage with a late, late winner from Zach Hemming's excellent set-piece.

Enough of the might-have-beens, though. The Buddies did have plenty to celebrate in their first post-split fixture.

Rangers clinically dispatched each of their goals, snapping up two chances through the middle which the home defence ought not to have provided. However, that is where most of their say on the fixture ended.

Stephen Robinson's men out-thought and out-fought their opponents. Captain O'Hara scored a repeat of his regular box-crashing best against Glasgow opposition, seizing on a loose ball with a decisive finish.

Conor McMenamin, introduced from the bench as he continues his return from season-disrupting injury, waltzed through the Rangers box to meet Declan John's cross and equalise for a second time.

The Buddies' 3-5-2 shape until the hour mark caused Rangers no end of issues, pulling their back three and two-man midfield all over the blue half.

Not satisfied with this, the introduction of Idowu and McMenamin morphed the home team into a box midfield four and Barry Ferguson's side visibly toiled with the overload in numbers.

I'll accept that a 2-2 draw isn't a victory, and that this current Rangers team have their problems to work through.

However, the Saints can now point to an undeserved defeat at Ibrox in October, two subsequent victories, and this dominant performance as evidence that they have stepped up in their performance level in this kind of fixture.

Mark can be found at Misery Hunters, external

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Mikael Mandron has signed a one-year contract extension to stay at St Mirren until next summer.

The 30-year-old French forward has netted 17 goals - including five in his past 10 appearances - in two seasons with the Paisley club.

"I've spoken about change, but it's crucial to keep the players that have been important to us and Mika has been very important," said manager Stephen Robinson.

"Mika gives us that platform up front and he is someone we wanted to keep around the club. He is a great character around the changing room."

Mandron joins fellow forward Jonah Ayunga in signing a new deal, while Robinson is seeking a pacy striker to replace Toyosi Olusanya following the 27-year-old's move to Houston Dynamo.

"We've got a good base and we're now looking for real pace up front to replace Olusanya. It's a really good bit of business and the squad is starting to take shape again," he added.

Watch the Sportscene team discuss the "incredible" impact of manager Stephen Robinson at St Mirren.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

St Mirren took points off Rangers for the third league match running with a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Mark O'Hara came up with a big goal for Stephen Robinson's side and earns a spot in my team of the week. He seems to like a goal against Rangers.

Goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu, who won a Nigeria cap in November 2022 but currently plays for Tayport in the Midlands League, is to join Aberdeen on trial this week having spent last week with St Johnstone and with Stoke City, St Mirren, Dunfermline Athletic and Dumbarton all monitoring the 19-year-old. (The Herald), external

Stephen Robinson would seem like an obvious and logical choice as the new Hearts head coach given his success with Scottish Premiership rivals St Mirren, but there are a number of other possible contenders. (The Scotsman), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch highlights as Rangers' winless run continues at St Mirren.

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We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-2 draw against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Pauline: St Mirren definitely played the better football and it feels like two points dropped.

Eddie: That was almost the perfect game except we were extremely wasteful in front of goal, however I can't fault any player as they fought for every ball. It's been an up-and-down season, however we have shown on our day we are a very good team. I'm looking forward already to next season.

Hugh: A great result for the Buddies who are unbeaten in all three games with Rangers this season!

John: Two points dropped. Simple as that. When your main striker is gifted a free shot at goal and puts the ball yards over the bar, you want to scream. Officials were of the usual standard against one of the Old Firm. Simply gave them everything at every opportunity. On the plus side, couldn't fault the work rate, and the two goals were excellent. The result means that European football is probably beyond us, but onwards and upwards!

Thomas: Brilliant result again. Stephen Robinson would be well advised to stick with the Buddies if Hearts come looking for him. We're in a much better position as a club than they are.

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• Rangers have failed to win in their last three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 7 April 2024 to 17 April 2024.

• Conor McMenamin has scored his third goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 9 November 2024 against Hibernian.

• Declan John assisted his first goal in the Premiership this season.

St Mirren came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with second-top Rangers in their first game in the top-six after the Scottish Premiership split.

Were you at the game or watch elsewhere?

Give us your thoughts.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson thought his side were unfortunate not to secure a third straight win over Rangers.

"We are disappointed we didn't win the game, with the number of chances we had and we score two very good goals as well," he tells BBC Scotland.

"That perhaps shows how far we've come.

"We played some terrific football as well. If you look at the disparity of the resources of the two football clubs, there weren't many people who could have told the difference today."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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That St Mirren went into this game looking to defeat second-top Rangers three times in a single Scottish Premiership campaign for the first time since 1979-80 was an indication of how well Stephen Robinson's side have done this season to punch above their weight in terms of budget.

They had won both of their last two home league games, scoring eight goals in the process, with a 3-2 win over Ross County overtaking Hearts to secure a top-six finish.

However, top scorer Toyosi Olusanya has since been sold to Houston Dynamo and, handed the chance to prove himself a worthy replacement, Mandron failed to make his mark.

This St Mirren are a team built on team-work, however, and others stood up when it counted to secure another impressive point, showing their character to come from behind twice to draw a game they could easily have won.

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St Mirren sold Toyosi Olusanya to Houston Dynamo this week and remain without Evan Mooney (ankle).

Ridvan Yilmaz is out for the rest of the season with an injury picked up in the Europa League defeat by Athletic Bilbao.

Leon Balogun has had an operation on his fractured cheekbone, Tom Lawrence is still out along with Dujon Sterling (Achilles) and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee), while one or two others are doubts.

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Beating Rangers three times in the same season for the first time in 45 years is a "great incentive" for St Mirren, says manager Stephen Robinson.

After a 2-1 loss at Ibrox in October, Robinson's side defeated Rangers 2-1 at home on Boxing Day then 2-0 in Govan in February.

Only once previously - the 1979-80 season - have St Mirren beaten the Ibrox side three times in a single league campaign.

Having secured a top-six spot, Robinson says the pressure is off his side in the five post-split games but he is determined to take Rangers' scalp again and finish "on a real high".

"It's 45 years since we last did that at this football club and that's a level of consistency that the players have produced," said Robinson.

"It's certainly an incentive. Our fans will want it as well, and we won't be turning up and thinking it's a holiday. That's not the way I work.

"We enjoyed our week and it was back to work on Monday again. Everyone was very clear that this is no holiday and everybody that will be involved is fully focused on winning again for St Mirren.

"The fact that we've got the opportunity to make it three wins in a row is a great incentive.

"We shouldn't beat Rangers at all - on paper, you shouldn't get anywhere near them. We'll have to be at our very best again.

"We'll have to do the simple things really well, but also, can we go and take the game to them? Can we go and press them really aggressively and high up the pitch and get the crowd right behind us?

"We really fancy ourselves at home. I believe we haven't always had the results at home we want.

"We're probably even better away from home this season. Whatever Rangers team you face home or away, you do face a very good side who have got very, very good individuals.

"It doesn't matter where you face them, you have to be on top of your game. We have the crowd behind us. It's not on TV, so we're expecting a big crowd. It's something that the fans can enjoy."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before St Mirren face Rangers in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Buddies boss:

• Robinson says the pressure is off St Mirren having made the top six and he wants to end the season "on a real high".

• There is relief relegation is no longer a possibility for the Buddies: "If you look down at the bottom six, nobody's safe. That's real pressure. When you're down there, and I've been there, there's jobs on the line. The club loses millions of pounds."

• St Mirren are nine points adrift of fifth place but Robinson won't give up on European qualification until it's not "mathematically possible".

• The possibility of beating Rangers three times in one season for the first time in more than 40 years is a "tremendous incentive" and "says a lot about the consistency of the group".

• On Toyosi Olusanya's six-figure transfer to Houston Dynamo: "An incredible deal. I thought [vice-chairman] Jim [Gillespie] was winding me up when he told me, to be honest. And that's not based on Toyosi's ability. It's based on the fact that there's probably only three working weeks left of the season. So, a brilliant deal for everybody."

• Some of the money from the sale will go into improving the training ground, including building a recovery room and getting ice baths.

• A top-six finish doesn't "overly change" Robinson's budget for next season but allows him to bring in one or maybe two extra players.

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• St Mirren have won their past two league meetings with Rangers, as many as their previous 47 beforehand (W2 D4 L41). Only in 1979-80 have the Buddies ever defeated the Gers three times in a single league campaign.

• After their 2-1 defeat on Boxing Day 2024, Rangers could lose back-to-back league visits to St Mirren for the first time since April 1986.

• St Mirren have won their past two home league games, scoring eight goals in the process – one more than they had netted in their previous nine beforehand (seven).

• Rangers have lost 13 matches in all competitions this season, last losing more in a single campaign in 1985-86 (17).

• After only scoring once in his first 59 Scottish Premiership appearances for St Mirren, Caolan Boyd-Munce has netted four in his past four league games, including three in his last two at the SMISA Stadium.

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Manager Stephen Robinson has paid tribute to "terrific" Toyosi Olusanya after the striker left St Mirren to join MLS side Houston Dynamo for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

The 27-year-old, who was due to be out of contract in Paisley this summer, scored 19 goals in 85 appearances for the Buddies following his arrival from Middlesbrough in summer 2022.

After a spell on loan at Arbroath, Olusanya became a key player and helped St Mirren to successive top-six finishes.

"Toyosi has deserved his move," said Robinson.

"It's something that has come out of the blue, but it's a fantastic opportunity for him.

"He's conducted himself so well since he's come to the club and proved what a good player and signing he's been. He deserves every success going forward.

"For the club to secure a six-figure fee with such a short time remaining on his contract is terrific business. It's credit to the football club and he leaves with our best wishes."

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Conor McMenamin is relaxed about his St Mirren future amid "ongoing" talks about a contract extension.

The 29-year-old Northern Ireland midfielder's deal expires this summer but includes the option for the club to extend his stay by a year.

McMenamin, who returned from a four-month injury lay-off in the win over Ross County last time out, said: "Now that I'm back on the pitch, hopefully something can be done. The manager has spoken to me and talks are ongoing at the minute.

"The club and my representatives are speaking at the minute about the clause and about activating and seeing what's best going forward, so I'm hopeful as we speak that I'll be here next year.

"I like it here. I'm settled here. Obviously, it's not in my hands. I've been out injured a long time, but I think obviously this year when I've come back and played a couple of games [earlier in the season], I felt like I'd benefited from it and done well for the team.

"I'm just hoping I can get another run here in the next five games and obviously if I stay here next year, just be injury-free and really help the boys kick on and try and get top six again next year if that's the case.

"But listen, it's out of my hands and I'm not really worried about it, to be honest. If it's meant to be, it'll be and if not, then we can move on."

McMenamin is also keen to get back into the Northern Ireland squad this summer after winning nine caps since his debut in 2022.

"I love going away with Northern Ireland," he said. "Obviously, I've missed nearly a year since I last played for Northern Ireland.

"It's obviously been a drive of mine to get back playing for St Mirren, and I know if I do well here that I can get back playing for Northern Ireland."

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

The definition of Toyosi Time: In a St Mirren shirt, the undeniable impact - be that in stoppage time or simply when most needed - of Toyosi Olusanya.

Examples of Toyosi Time in use:

• When St Mirren have held Brann to a single-goal deficit at home, in the club's largest European tie for more than three decades, and the ball is rolled into the six-yard box in search of a late, late equaliser - this is Toyosi Time.

• When St Mirren have been losing to Aberdeen in Paisley for a full afternoon, equalise late from the penalty spot and then break once again in search of a near-impossible 97th-minute winner - this is Toyosi Time.

• When St Mirren begin a campaign with their customary League Cup toil, held by Cowdenbeath deep into injury time and with reputation on the line - this is Toyosi Time.

• When you're winning at Ibrox against all the odds, where one goal feels like it might not be enough, and a ball is played long behind the Rangers backline - this is Toyosi Time.

Three years after arriving in Paisley, it seems like Toyosi Olusanya's watch has ended in Scotland. Shortly, it is expected that the likeable Londoner will be announced as an MLS import and join Houston Dynamo.

Clubs like St Mirren have many redemption tales to pull on, unlikely heroes to celebrate and remember with fondness and drastic improvements to credit to players and their managers alike.

I don't know that any of these tales will ever come close to that of Olusanya in black and white stripes.

A late bloomer in professional football terms, Olusanya skipped academy football and was spotted by AFC Wimbledon at 18.

Prior to Stephen Robinson taking a chance on developing a gem, the pacy forward had never reached double figures in season appearances for a single club. Indeed, he had only played four senior games at Football League level.

Initial cameos for the Buddies did not look likely to unsettle first teamers, and a loan to Arbroath offered limited evidence to dispute that.

Then, it happened. A penny dropped, a chance was offered and taken, and Olusanya delivered two years of high endeavour, loving connection with an adoring fanbase, and a collection of important, late goals most of us can only dream about.

Often, at St Mirren's level, the role of a manager and scouting set-up is to identify the raw potential that others have overlooked - and then to coax that out of the player concerned.

The role of the player in this equation is to work hard, give their best and contribute when it matters most.

In so, so many ways and by all concerned - mission accomplished.

You can find Mark at Misery Hunters, external