Mixu’s stay was short but sweet
Players come and go.
And, as supporters, there are some we remember and many we don’t.
Mixu Paatelainen’s tenure in Paisley may have been one of those blink-andyou’ll-miss-it stints but, to be fair, he was still a tremendous talent.
Signed from St Johnstone in 2004, the big Finn was brought in to aid the striking ranks, as well as assisting manager Gus MacPherson from the dug out.
He had already cut his coaching teeth in Perth, while his season-long spell in Paisley only furthered his managerial ambitions.
Indeed, when he left Saints he would go on to manage Cowdenbeath, leading the Central Park side to their first league title in 67 years in his first year in charge.
In Paatelainen’s sole season, the Buddies would wind up in second place in the league table, behind runaway title winners Falkirk.
An impressive, yet unremarkable, season provided Saints with the solid base required as they would lift the league title during the following campaign.
The striker would register four goals in his 16 league outings for St Mirren, including one on his debut in a 2-0 win over Falkirk.
Further strikes would be fired against Forfar Athletic in the Challenge Cup, Hamilton Accies, Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers.
A breaktaking start saw the hitman notch all his goals by the end of September, but injury woes would catch up on him before the end of the season.
His goal against Partick was probably the standout moment of his short spell in Paisley.
St Mirren had found themselves behind in the opening exchanges, as Spaniard Juan Escalas fired the visitors, who would eventually be relegated under the stewardship of Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte, into the lead.
But Saints battled back and would find themselves level courtesy of John O’Neill’s strike.
The Thistle defence protested, appealing for offside after O’Neill fired home from Paatelainen’s knockdown.
Thistle’s defensive frailities were showing and, they were made to pay in the second half, when they left the Finnish international unmarked inside the box.
A cross was sent in his direction and Mixu was at his deadly best to stoop and power home a diving header beyond the despairing Kenny Arthur, with just 20 minutes remaining.
The visitors continued to battle and would have a late Armand One strike ruled out for offside.
But, as the full-time whistle blew, Saints went top of the league for the first time that season.
It may have looked like a title challenge was on but the Buddies would have to wait another year - without Big Mixu.