Premiership Safety Secured Against the Staggies (2014)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v Aberdeen, 3^rd May 2025)

St. Mirren hosted Ross County at Paisley on Saturday 3^rd May 2014 in a bottom six Premier League encounter. With three games remaining, only two points separated the five teams who were battling to avoid 11^th position and a place in the first-ever SPFL Premiership relegation play-off. Hearts' relegation had already been confirmed, largely due to a 15-point penalty following administration at the start of the season.

Saints were on a four-match unbeaten run during April which had taken them from the play-off spot up to seventh, one point ahead of their opponents and with both sides having identical goal differences. The home fans were hoping for a repeat of St. Mirren's 2-1 win over the Staggies at Paisley earlier in the season.

Issue number 21 of "The Saint" matchday magazine was produced for the game. It was a 44-page full colour issue, priced at £3 and published by Garthland Design & Print. The front cover featured the full match details and sponsors' logos alongside an action photo of Saints' midfielder John McGinn (whatever happened to him?).

Danny Lennon's "View from the Dugout" highlighted the tightness of the division and praised the fans for their enthusiastic vocal support which had fed the players with positive energy and had improved the Club's position over recent matches. He reviewed the last two matches; a 2-0 win against Hibs (in which Kenny McLean's 12-second opener set a Premiership record for the fastest goal) and a 1-1 draw against Partick Thistle. Lennon ended his piece with a welcome to the visitors and called again for the backing of the fans.

Wullie Bell's news items from the St. Mirren Supporters Trust were followed by "Football : Not Played On Paper Apparently", in which Brian Corry discussed Saints' previous stints in the bottom six, with a particular focus on season 2000/01. Alan Gallacher's "Football. Bloody Hell" then reviewed events at Manchester United following the recent sacking of David Moyes.

"Matchday Gallery" and "Fans Corner" preceded a two-page analysis of the visiting team from Dingwall, whilst "Commercial Corner" and "Buddies Stop Press" led up to the centre page photo spread which featured a typically animated captain Jim Goodwin expressing his opinion to a match official.

The second half of the programme opened with "Caption Competition", which invited suitable text entries to accompany the image of a sprawling John McGinn in the recent match against Hibs. Unfortunately, the closing date for entries was after the last issue of the season so we never did find out which caption won the St. Mirren squad-signed ball!

"The Academy" featured reports of the Under-20 side's 1-1 League draw against Partick Thistle and their 0-1 defeat to Rangers after extra time in the Youth Cup semi-final. Photo action from the previous week's away draw at Firhill was followed by Ryan Goodwin's look at the nominees for the upcoming SPFL awards in "Awards Time". Sadly, there were none from St. Mirren.

The usual Squad Lists, Player Sponsorship, match statistics and advertising brought the issue to a close. Despite this being a recent programme, it doesn't appear very often for sale on dealers' lists or the internet.

A crowd of 4,414 saw the home side build upon their recent good form and take the game to Ross County, with two early long-range attempts from Kenny McLean and a cute flick from Paul McGowan forcing saves from Mark Brown in the visitors' goal.

The Staggies gradually clawed their way back into the game and a Richard Brittain free kick struck the junction of post and bar. Half-time substitute Alex Cooper then brought out a couple of saves from Saints' goalkeeper Christophe Dilo and the play began to rage from end to end.

The breakthrough finally came with thirteen minutes remaining when St. Mirren substitute Gregg Wylde's stunning strike triggered jubilation in the home stands. McLean almost trumped that with an audacious strike of his own that came back off the inside of the post and Rocco Quinn then came within inches of a late equaliser with a first-time volley that hit the top of the crossbar.

The 1-0 victory left St. Mirren on the brink of safety and their continuing Premiership status was confirmed the following day when Hearts defeated Kilmarnock 5-0. Despite taking only one point from their final two matches and being pipped for seventh place by Ross County on the final day, Saints still managed to equal their highest league position since 1988/89.