St.Mirren Vs St. Johnstone

Two teams with very different objectives in the Scottish Premiership will face off on Saturday afternoon when St Mirren, who are pushing for a top-six finish, host St Johnstone, who are struggling to avoid relegation. 

St Mirren currently occupy seventh place in the league table, having amassed 30 points from 24 matches. Meanwhile, St Johnstone find themselves in the unfortunate position of being at the bottom of the standings, with a mere 18 points to show from 24 league appearances. 

As the 2024-25 season unfolded, St Mirren’s ambitions were clear: the team was determined to secure a third consecutive top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership. After finishing sixth in the 2022-23 season and fifth in 2023-24, St Mirren had set their sights on building on those successes. The club’s performances in recent years had instilled a sense of optimism and had led many to believe that they could continue to improve. 

This season, they have shown themselves to be competitive, currently sitting just outside the top six. As of now, they are in seventh position, but crucially, they are only behind sixth-placed Hibernian on goal difference. However, manager Stephen Robinson may feel that his team could be in a better position had it not been for a number of inconsistent spells throughout the campaign. St Mirren’s season has been characterized by a series of erratic runs, which has made it difficult for them to maintain sustained momentum.

Their journey began with a difficult start, as they earned only two wins, two draws, and suffered six defeats from their first ten matches. This poor run of form left them struggling to make up ground in the early stages of the season. However, things improved somewhat as they entered a more productive spell, winning three of their next four games and drawing one. This period was a brief respite from the inconsistency that has otherwise plagued their season. 

Yet, as has been the pattern throughout the season, just as St Mirren appeared to be finding some rhythm, they endured another slump, losing two consecutive matches. They bounced back, however, with another strong run, this time winning three matches on the trot. Unfortunately, this was followed by a rough patch in which they suffered four defeats. Now, as they prepare for this clash against St Johnstone, St Mirren will head into the match on the back of a two-game winning streak, which they will hope to extend further.

As they look to maintain their recent good form, St Mirren will likely be feeling confident going into the encounter with St Johnstone, given their opponent’s lowly standing in the league. St Mirren will surely fancy their chances of securing all three points, especially considering St Johnstone’s struggles this season.

St Johnstone, on the other hand, are in a far more precarious situation. The team currently sits at the very bottom of the table, occupying the 12th and final spot with just 18 points. With only five wins, three draws, and 16 defeats from their 24 matches, St Johnstone are a full seven points adrift of 11th-placed Kilmarnock, making it clear that they are in serious danger of relegation. The team has been unable to find any real consistency, and their poor form has left them with a mountain to climb if they are to avoid the drop.

Despite their struggles in the league, there have been some glimmers of hope for St Johnstone in recent weeks. The team managed to put an end to a dismal nine-match winless run with a crucial 1-0 victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Cup. The win against Motherwell was a significant moment for St Johnstone, and it helped lift the spirits of the players and the supporters alike. Buoyed by this positive result, St Johnstone followed it up with another win against Motherwell, this time securing a 2-1 victory in the league.

Those two consecutive wins have given St Johnstone a renewed sense of hope as they battle to avoid relegation. The team will certainly be hoping that these results can act as a springboard for a late-season surge that will propel them up the table and away from the relegation zone. However, in order to escape the bottom of the table, St Johnstone will need to find a way to perform consistently and pick up points on a regular basis.

One of their key challenges will be trying to break their poor record on the road. St Johnstone’s away form has been dismal throughout the season, and they have struggled to get positive results away from home. The upcoming match against St Mirren will be particularly challenging, as St Johnstone have not defeated their hosts at the SMISA Stadium since May 2021. This statistic highlights the difficulty St Johnstone face in trying to secure a vital win away from home in their bid for survival.

Manager Simo Valakari will be well aware of the magnitude of the task ahead. He knows that in order to survive relegation, his team will need to start winning matches regularly, and that includes picking up points in difficult away fixtures like this one. While St Johnstone’s recent victories have provided some hope, their overall position in the league means that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Every match is now crucial in their fight to stay in the Premiership, and the trip to face St Mirren represents another important opportunity to pick up points.

The key to St Johnstone’s survival will likely lie in their ability to produce more performances like their recent wins over Motherwell. If they can continue to build on those successes, they may just be able to claw their way out of the relegation zone. However, with so many teams above them in the table, every match becomes more and more significant as the season progresses.

For St Mirren, their focus will be on continuing their push for a top-six finish. While their position outside the top six is not disastrous, they will be determined to finish the season strongly and secure their place in the upper half of the table. A win against St Johnstone would be a step in the right direction, as it would help maintain their momentum and keep them in contention for a European spot. 

Manager Stephen Robinson will know that consistency is key for St Mirren if they are to achieve their goal of a top-six finish. While the team has shown flashes of quality, their inconsistency has often let them down. To make the top six, St Mirren will need to find a way to produce more consistent performances, and that starts with securing all three points against the league’s bottom side.

Both teams have something to play for in this match, albeit for very different reasons. St Mirren are focused on achieving a top-six finish and securing European football for next season, while St Johnstone are fighting for survival in the league. For St Mirren, this is a must-win game if they are to stay in the hunt for a European place, while St Johnstone will see this as a crucial opportunity to pick up points and climb out of the relegation zone.

As the match approaches, it is clear that St Mirren will enter the game as the favorites, given their superior form and position in the table. However, St Johnstone will be determined to fight for their survival and will no doubt make life difficult for their hosts. If St Johnstone can continue the momentum they have built in recent matches, they could cause St Mirren problems. But, in all likelihood, St Mirren’s quality and home advantage will see them emerge victorious, taking another step toward achieving their top-six goal for the season.

In the end, this encounter represents more than just three points for both sides. It is a game with significant ramifications for the future of both clubs. For St Mirren, it’s about maintaining their bid for a top-six finish and a European spot. For St Johnstone, it’s about fighting for survival and avoiding the drop. How the match unfolds will have important consequences for both teams as they head into the final stretch of the season.