After breaking new ground by finishing in the top six for the first time in the Premiership’s current format, the Buddies are now preparing to launch their first assault on European football in decades.
Stephen Robinson’s men are currently sitting joint-fifth in the Premiership table with Hibs, with a fifth-place finish likely to be enough to earn a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds next season.
That depends on Celtic winning the Scottish Cup, an outcome that looks likely given they will be heavy favourites when they take on Championship side Inverness Caley Thistle in the final of the competition.
Third spot, and particularly fourth spot, also remain realistic targets for St Mirren this season and now the Paisley side know the five games they have left to try and make that European dream a reality.
Here Ben Ramage takes a look at how the Buddies have fared in the respective games earlier in this campaign as they look to make even more history this month.
HIBS - AWAY
(Saturday, May 6)
First up for the Buddies is a hugely significant trip along the M8 to Edinburgh to take on Hibs.
With the pair currently locked on 44 points, a positive result at Easter Road for St Mirren could be pivotal to ensure they remain in the mix for a European spot.
Earlier this season, Lee Johnson’s side picked up a 3-0 win when the Buddies travelled to the capital, a scoreline that arguably flattered the hosts. Curtis Main and Jonah Ayunga both drew good saves from David Marshall with the game looking to be heading for 0-0 at half-time.
Then Richard Tait was pulled up for a handball in first half stoppage time, allowing Martin Boyle to slot home the opener from the penalty spot.
Coming at such a crucial point, Hibs went on to seal the win with impressive second half efforts from Mykola Kukharevych and Ewan Henderson.
Easter Road has been a fairly happy hunting ground for the Saints in recent seasons, with Connor Ronan’s wonderful strike earning them a 1-0 win in February last year.
The Buddies also secured a 2-2 draw in Leith in September 2021, when Joe Shaughnessy’s dramatic late header pinched a point.
HEARTS - HOME
(Saturday, May 13)
Following on from their crucial clash against Hibs, the Buddies head straight into another significant meeting with an Edinburgh club.
Hearts currently sit on 48 points in the table in fourth spot, four points clear of Robinson’s men.
If St Mirren are going to climb up the rankings and eventually overtake the Jambos, a win at the SMiSA in this game will likely be needed.
When the two teams met in Paisley in January, the Buddies went ahead through Ryan Strain’s deflected early free-kick.
Hearts eventually levelled in the second half, with Robert Snodgrass’ cross beating everyone in the box before nestling into the bottom corner.
The Saints have had some joy against Hearts at the SMiSA in recent years, not least when Jon Obika’s crucial winner in March, 2020 went a huge way to ensuring the Paisley club stayed in the top flight before the coronavirus shutdown.
CELTIC - AWAY
(Saturday, May 20)
St Mirren’s third post-split game is undeniably their toughest, with trips to Celtic Park always a testing affair.
This season has been no exception, with Ange Postecoglou’s men enjoying a comfortable 4-0 win at Parkhead back in January.
The two sides also faced off in Glasgow in the Scottish Cup, with St Mirren more than holding their own in a tight match.
The Hoops led through Daizen Maeda’s early goal but the Buddies held on until the 75th minute, when Richard Taylor was deemed to have handballed in the box.
A red card and penalty ensued, with Celtic going on to secure a 5-1 scoreline that flattered the home team.
St Mirren did pick up a rare win at Celtic Park back in January 2021, when Jim Goodwin’s men sealed a 2-1 victory thanks to brilliant first-half goals from Kristian Dennis and Ilkay Durmus. That was the club’s first three-point haul at Parkhead in 31 years.
ABERDEEN - AWAY
(Wednesday, May 24)
This is definitely the most controversial match of the five, with the Buddies forced to travel to Pittodrie for the third time this season.
Not only do they face the longest possible trip they could have faced again, as the SPFL ensure each team plays the same number of home and away games, they also have to make the journey on a midweek night.
The Buddies have enjoyed mixed fortunes in the north east so far this season. In their first away game of the season back in August, Declan Gallagher’s early red card against his former club paved the way for a heavy 4-1 win for the Dons.
In February this year Gallagher and fellow ex-Don Curtis Main had the last laugh though, sealing a brilliant 3-1 win on the road.
Main bagged an excellent brace, with hot-shot Gallagher adding to the scoreline with a late header on what was another evening kick-off.
RANGERS - HOME
(Saturday, May 27)
Being handed a home game for the potentially decisive final game is a positive for the Saints – particularly given how well they’ve performed in Paisley this season.
Of course, Rangers will always pose a serious threat, but the fact they’re likely to only be playing for pride by then may also play in Buddies’ favour.
Having beaten Celtic at the SMiSA last September, St Mirren were minutes away from completing a rare Old Firm double when Jonah Ayunga put the Saints in front against Rangers in November.
Robinson’s men looked to have secured three points before a late Marcus Fraser foul gifted the Ibrox men a chance to equalise from the spot, which James Tavernier duly took.
With average attendances higher than ever before this season, Robinson will be hoping the bumper crowd on the last day of the season can see
St Mirren go one better against Rangers in what could be a pivotal final afternoon.
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