St. Mirren 3-1 St. Johnstone, Wednesday 30th October 2024

St. Mirren 3-1 St. Johnstone, Scottish Premier Division, SMISA Stadium (St. Mirren Park), att. 6,042(c.500 away)

The second instalment of my midweek Scottish double-bill (after Greenock Morton last nite), I was off to their local rivals St. Mirren for an evening of VAR. Not being unlucky enough for my own team to have reached the heady heights of needing VAR, tonite was an education. FIVE times VAR was needed, for four goals (3 ruled out) and a possible red card (not given). What an abomination. I don’t know if this is how games get officiated in Scotland, but the ref appeared to let a foul go, then when the goal was scored, or the shot taken, he’d whistle up for the foul. And when a St. Mirren goal was disallowed for a foul in the build up (an obvious foul, winning the ball in his own half) I worried that the foul was that far back it wouldn’t be given. Meantime, a St. Johnstone header from a corner was initially disallowed. For what? VAR intervened and the right decision was made (goal), but still.

It’s fair to say I wasn’t excited about the prospect of St. Mirren Park (or the SMISA Stadium, the St. Mirren Independent Supporters Association Stadium. If ever a stadium name showed how small-time a club was…) I’d seen photos. 4 tiny stands all of which looked the same, albeit decked out in neat black and white seating. It was worse, outside, as each of the four stands looked like the kind of boxes you see on industrial estates, with nary a decoration to show otherwise. Opened in 2009, a capacity of less than 8,000 shows a distinct lack of ambition. Indeed, previous ground Love Street once held 47,000, though it’s not noted how many were supporting visitors Celtic. Glasgow is approximately 15 minutes away by train.

At least the selling of Love Street allowed the club to clear its debts and build the new stadium. And St. Mirren are enjoying a bit of a golden period right now. This season marked their first foray into European competition in 37 years. Tonite, over 6,000 turn up for the Saints’ Derby, Mirren v Johnstone, despite it being live on telly. I head for the ticket office and choose my stand, the one opposite the Main Stand. (Perhaps subconsciously, I just thought it’d be cheaper, or less busy.) Would I like a seat near the drummer? Absolutely not, but his boom echoed through the stand anyway. And fair play to the ‘Ultras Firm’, their racket never stopped. However, putting them at the end of the stand, towards the away fans, did nothing for spreading the atmosphere among the home fans. Only winning did that.

The ultras had their capos, their cheerleaders, as well as a banner which was lifted to the roof on pulleys. ‘It’s showtime’ announced a figure with an uncanny resemblance to Robert Smith of The Cure. Indeed it was. 3-1 to St. Mirren, a cracking end to end game only slightly ruined by VAR and by game’s end, the West Stand was almost bouncing. 4 defeats on the spin had been arrested and the Buddies (a nickname to strike fear into no-one) had risen 3 places from 10th to 7th. What a league. But one thing about a new stadium...you can have a railway station next door. So it was that 15 minutes after the full-time whistle, I was on a train direct to Glasgow from Paisley St. James.

The Damage:
£27 ent
£3 prog
£3.50 Scotch pie
£4.90 rtn from Glasgow
= £38.40