So close yet so far for the Buddies
Lack of goals ultimately cost the club lucrative top-six finish
With last season now consigned to the history books, we’ve decided to take an in- depth look at the year that was for St Mirren.
In terms of action on and off the pitch, you’ll struggle to find a more eventful and exciting campaign for the Buddies.
Despite struggling early on as coronavirus threatened to derail the season on several occasions, ga f f e r Jim Goodwin’s resilient side bounced back and went on to achieve their best top flight finish in more than 30 years.
The Saints also made it to the semifinals of both the League Cu p and Scottish Cup.
Paisley Express’ spo r t reporter Ben Ramage has teamed up with regular paper contributer and Saints fan Kyle Gunn to discuss the memorable campaign.
This is the second half of the review, with the first part published in last Saturday’s Paisley Daily Express.
St Mi r r e n s u f f e r ed a disappointing League Cup semifinal loss to Livingston. Was the game an opportunity missed?
Kyle Gunn ( KG) - Oh yeah, absolutely. Very big missed opportunity. The team selection was very surprising but more importantly was how defensiveminded the players seemed to be that day.
Particularly, against Livingston. No disrespect to them whatsoever but it’s not Celtic or Rangers and it’s a last-four tie at the national stadium.
Ben Ramage ( BR) - I think the main issue leading up to the match was that Livingston were on such a superb run of form that all the narrative in the build-up gave them a mental edge.
In reality the clubs were a lot closer, with the Buddies beating the West Lothian side on their own turf just two months before.
It’s rare to face a club the size of Livingston for a spot in a major cup final, so ultimately yes it was an opportunity missed.
It’s easy with hindsight, but what changes would you have made to the Buddies line-up and strategy that day?
BR - I think the starting XI was far too defensive and showed Livingston too much respect. Young wing-back Brandon Mason was ineffective as a left winger and Dylan Connolly also had a underwhelming game on the opposite flank. Two strikers up front would have occupied the Livi defence much better and given the forward line much more impact.
I was also very concerned before kick-off about the age of the Saints midfield, with Cammy MacPherson and Ethan Erhahon both facing an uphill battle against seasoned-campaigners Marvin Bartley and Jason Holt. Experience is vital in big cup games and either Sam Foley or Ryan Flynn could have brought that to the table for the Saints.
KG - Ilkay Durmus would have started in place of left-back Brandon Mason. It worked against James Tavernier and Rangers but wasn’t required against Livi. Eamonn Brophy was nowhere fit enough to start and should have been used off the bench. It should have been Jon Obika from the off.
St Mirren went on to bounce back and record a superb 5-1 win over Dundee United and followed that up with an historic 2-1 win over Celtic at Parkhead. Was that the best domestic week of the season for the Buddies?
KG - 5- 1, when do Saints ever score five? Especially away from home. It was a superb performance at Tannadice, which is usually a hard place for Saints to go.
Talking about hard places to go, Parkhead. A great win at a ground where Saints hadn’t won at in over 30 years. Great few days regardless of how poor the other teams had been.
BR - The Buddies were on absolute fire at Tannadice, putting in one of their most complete performances in recent years. Ryan Flynn was incredible in midfield alongside Ethan Erhahon and Jamie McGrath and the goals simply kept on coming.
The victory away at Celtic was also hugely impressive. Yes the Hoops were seriously struggling for form at the time, but they still put out a strong side and the Saints formation worked perfectly to stifle Neil Lennon’s side and strike with devastating effect on the break.
February was a month of draws for the Saints. Was poor finishing the main problem that cost the club the chance of making the top six?
BR - Goals have long been this side’s main issue. Goodwin has created a very solid base for his side but they are yet to set the heather alight going forward.
Jamie McGrath’s impressive goal- return papered over the
goalscoring cracks somewhat, but the four back-to-back draws in the middle of February – when St Mirren only scored twice – did undermine their top-six push considerably.
KG - Ah, February. Not a great month to look back on certainly. Particularly the Hamilton Accies draw at home. That’s when I feel top six was ultimately lost. If they had held on for the win that night then I think top six would have been achieved.
The club’s Scottish Cup quarterfinal penalty shootout win over Killie was yet another exciting game this season. Has this been one of the most rollercoaster Saints campaigns in recent years or is this par for the course with St Mirren?
KG - The Killie quarter is par for the course with this club, I’ve been around the course with the Buddies a lot longer than you, Ben. It was certainly a great game, it reminded me of the quarterfinal of the League Cup in 2013 against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
BR - When you look back at the last ten years there have been plenty of exciting campaigns, from winning the Championship in 2018 to the great escape in 2019.
This season will be hard to top in terms of drama though, with coronavirus ensuring there was never a dull moment and some truly incredible games on the pitch.
The eventful win at Kilmarnock simply summed up the entire campaign. Saints didn’t know when they were beaten and they showed great resilience to come back and snatch the win on penalties.
A Scottish Cup semi-final loss to St Johnstone followed. The club produced a much better performance, was it one to be proud of despite the outcome?
BR - Having failed to give a proper account of themselves in their League Cup exit to Livi, the Buddies showed up tremendously well on their very next trip to Hampden.
They created a host of excellent chances, with only some less than clinical finishing costing them a chance to take on Hibs in the final.
The club’s youngsters were more confident on the ball and had clearly learned from their experience through the whole campaign, which bodes very well for the future of the club.
KG - It was a better performance, absolutely, but let’s be honest that wouldn’t be hard.
It was still a very hard pill to swallow with a few very big missed opportunities. Lee Erwin and Collin Quaner’s chances in particular, if one of those goes in the game changes completely. Particularly if Lee scores early in the first half.
A final day draw with Dundee United saw St Mirren finish seventh. Was that a good showing despite missing out on their top-six target?
KG - A highest points tally in 32 years and seventh position in the league. Two semi- finals at Hampden Park in the same season.
Take away the feeling of what might have been and it was a cracking campaign.
Just two goals away from the top six though, which would have silenced so many!
BR - Absolutely.
To go through everything the club had over the course of the season and still pick themselves up to achieve a best top- flight finish in more than 30 years was absolutely superb.
It was a fitting tribute to the hard work put in by the staff and players over the entire campaign.
Fingers crossed they can go that one step further next time around and bag that elusive tophalf finish.