St Mirren manager Craig McLeish is thoroughly enjoying his side's impressive start to the Scottish Premiership season, a sentiment he shared in a report by sports.yahoo.com this week. The Paisley side have collected 10 points from their opening five fixtures, a return that places them third in the league standings.
This strong opening represents a dramatic turnaround from the previous campaign. St Mirren finished second bottom in the Premiership last season and were forced to secure their top-flight status via the play-offs, defeating Partick Thistle in the final. McLeish's current squad have already won three and drawn one of their first four league matches, including a recent 1-0 victory away to Kilmarnock on Wednesday.
How does this start compare to last season?
The contrast with last term could not be more pronounced. After narrowly avoiding relegation, the early 2026/27 form has provided a massive boost. "It has to be enjoyable," McLeish stated, emphasizing the mindset he wants around the club. The manager's own enthusiasm is clear. "I've loved every minute of it. I'm enjoying what we're doing. I enjoy the process. The boys are enjoying it."
Their current league position of third, built on three wins, one draw, and one loss, is supported by solid underlying numbers. St Mirren have scored eight goals while conceding just five, giving them a healthy +3 goal difference. You can track their progress in the standings throughout the season.
What are the immediate challenges ahead?
The schedule presents a stern test of this early promise. The team is in the middle of a demanding four-game stretch. After the Kilmarnock win, they hosted Celtic on Saturday evening. Following that, they travel to face Rangers in a rearranged Premiership match this coming Wednesday. Navigating these fixtures against the Old Firm will be a key indicator of their resilience.
Despite the positive points haul, the table shows the gap to the summit remains significant. Leaders Celtic are five points clear of St Mirren at this early stage. The upcoming fixture list is crucial for consolidating their top-half position.
Where does the squad go from here?
Maintaining this momentum is the immediate objective. The squad, whose details are available on our squad page, has shown a newfound defensive solidity compared to last year's struggles. The upcoming match provides a direct benchmark against another high-flying team.
St Mirren's next Premiership assignment is a home match against Heart of Midlothian on December 5th. Hearts currently sit second in the table, making it a top-of-the-table clash at the SMiSA Stadium. Fans can view all future dates on the club's fixtures page.
