St Mirren sit top of the Scottish Premiership after two matches, having beaten both Falkirk and St Johnstone without conceding a goal. Killian Phillips converted a second-half penalty to seal the win over St Johnstone, extending the Paisley club's perfect start to the new campaign.
The results mark a dramatic turnaround from last season, when St Mirren spent much of the campaign fighting to avoid the drop and only secured their Premiership status via the play-offs. That anxious finish had left many fans and pundits doubtful that the club could recapture the form that made them punch above their weight during Stephen Robinson's time in charge.
Details of just how precarious that survival was have since emerged. St Mirren were forced into the relegation play-off despite beating Aberdeen 2-0, because results elsewhere - specifically Kilmarnock's outcome - meant they could not climb out of the bottom two on their own results alone, according to Sky Sports. The club then edged past Partick Thistle in the play-off itself, winning the second leg 1-0 to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory and stay in the top flight, with captain Marcus Fraser's volley proving decisive, as reported by Sky Sports. That narrow escape extended St Mirren's run in the Premiership into a ninth consecutive season, per the Scottish Football information source.
Earlier in that troubled campaign, St Mirren had already sat close to the play-off zone, having gone 13 league games with only two wins - a run that prompted Robinson himself to publicly acknowledge the club was in what he called a "relegation fight." Prior to that stretch, St Mirren had actually appeared to be clear of trouble after a defeat to St Johnstone, with commentary at the time suggesting it was St Johnstone, not St Mirren, who needed to "roll their sleeves up."
What is driving St Mirren's turnaround this season?
Manager Craig McLeish, now in his first full season at the helm, says a return to fundamentals is behind the improved form, alongside using last term's near-miss as motivation. St Mirren also enter this campaign as holders of the League Cup.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, McLeish explained how last season's ordeal continues to drive him:
"I'm still using that as fuel. I don't want to be involved in that.
We've got a massive journey ahead of us and we have to keep building. Six points out of six is a great start.
It helps with the belief in each other. I've said to the boys I have confidence in them.
Last season, we had two horrendous play off games - even the emotion about it, there were so much nerves when we stepped on the pitch.
We have to be horrible to play against. Two clean sheets sets us up well for that.
We want to be really good at the basics and not get bored of that.
The running, energy and desire. We want to be fit and strong and relentless this season against whoever we play. We have to keep those standards really high. We did it last week and lived up to it again."
How have the players responded to the new approach?
Newly signed goalkeeper Jacob Chapman, whose penalty save shortly after half-time helped set up Phillips' spot-kick conversion, echoed his manager's sentiment about the value of returning to basics. He pointed to the collective effort across the squad as a key marker of progress.
"Defenders throwing their bodies on the line; [Alex] Gogic throwing his head here and everywhere. Even the attackers coming back and helping defend.
It sets the tempo for the season. It doesn't mean you're going to win every game or even have a great season, but it definitely helps.
And it's what a great season looks like at the start. We've started well.
A bit scrappy in some areas and we need to clean that out, but there was still some really nice football getting played in certain areas."
Why is Killian Phillips attracting attention?
Phillips, a 24-year-old midfielder, has scored all three of St Mirren's Premiership goals so far this season and has become a central figure in the side's early success. McLeish has been open about the club's model of developing players before eventually selling them on, and he suggests Phillips may now be approaching that stage of his St Mirren career.
"He's at the stage right now where he's round about the 100-game mark for the club. He'll be looking for the next step in his career.
If he attracts interest, then great. We're doing our job. I'm doing my job.
I believe that the longer he stays and plays with me and with us, I'll get him the best move he possibly can.
And if that's this window then fine. If it's in January, if we get him to the end of the season, it's part of it and we have to be prepared for any outcome.
But we're just delighted to have him as part of our group. He's a massive part of it. And, if he keeps playing like that, his future takes care of itself."
This early-season momentum follows on from the club's decision to retain Craig McLeish as head coach on a three-year deal after the play-off survival, and builds on a domestic cup campaign in which St Mirren began their League Cup title defense with a 4-0 win over Dumbarton.
Key Facts
- St Mirren have won their opening two Scottish Premiership fixtures of the season, beating Falkirk and St Johnstone without conceding.
- Killian Phillips scored the winning penalty against St Johnstone and has netted all three of the club's league goals this season.
- Last season St Mirren survived relegation only via the play-offs, beating Partick Thistle 2-1 on aggregate after a Marcus Fraser volley sealed the second leg.
- St Mirren were forced into that play-off despite a 2-0 win over Aberdeen, due to Kilmarnock's result elsewhere in the league.
- The survival extended St Mirren's run in the Scottish Premiership to a ninth straight season.
