Stubbs says St Mirren needing to strengthen as fans vent frustration
Hamilton 14, Lithgow 36
St Mirren face an important week before Friday’s transfer deadline after manager Alan Stubbs insisted they needed to strengthen in the wake of a 2-0 home defeat by Livingston.
Saints did not manage one shot on target or a clear-cut chance and lost two goals from first-half corners as Jack Hamilton and Alan Lithgow earned Gary Holt a win in his first game as Livingston manager. The home side were booed off at the break and fulltime.
“Between now and Friday hopefully we can do something to strengthen the squad,” Stubbs said. “It is something I have been saying for the last few weeks.”
The only sign of a cheer from the Buddies’ fans came when Jack Baird and Cammy Smith, key players in Jack Ross’s Championshipwinning side, came off the bench. Summer signings Cole Kpekawa, a former QPR, Barnsley and Colchester defender, and Nicolai Brock-madsen – an on-loan Birmingham striker – both struggled and were taken off.
Stubbs, who fielded five of his new signings, is looking to move players on as well as bring others in. He said: “I said some players were available to leave because they weren’t going to get playing time. But we just have to do the best we can in terms of making the squad strong.”
Stubbs, pictured, was inconclusive when asked whether Smith was free to leave. He said: “I don’t know, no. At the moment, no. You know what football is like, anything can change. But as far as I am standing here now, what I have got is what I have got.”
Stubbs was more certain about his desire to bring in Kenny Miller, whose departure as Livingston playermanager did not disrupt the visitors. “We’ve registered our interest so now we are just waiting to see,” he said.