St Mirren have the opportunity to go top of the Scottish Premiership when they welcome Celtic to Paisley on Saturday evening. Sitting in second place with ten points from four games, the Buddies are just a single point behind the league leaders.
Manager Craig McLeish has overseen an impressive start to his first full season in charge. The team's form of three wins and a draw from their opening fixtures includes a dramatic 3-3 draw with Motherwell and a hard-fought 1-0 win at Kilmarnock. This has propelled them to second in the table, a position confirmed by the latest standings which show a record of 3W-1D-0L.
What is behind St Mirren's strong start?
Craig McLeish took over from Stephen Robinson initially on a temporary basis in March before being appointed permanently. His tenure has been defined by a clear emphasis on the players' daily experience. "I think it's massive that the boys come in here every day and look forward to it," McLeish said in an interview with STV News. "It has to be enjoyable, it has to be fun. I think it has been."
The results support his philosophy. St Mirren have scored seven goals while conceding only three, giving them a healthy +4 goal difference. McLeish is openly enjoying the current run of games. "Really looking forward to it," he stated. "We're in the middle of a kind of four-game stretch right now so it's been good fun." This period is about to get even more intense with the visit of the champions.
Who is unavailable for the important fixtures?
The squad will have to tackle these high-pressure matches without several important players. Keanu Baccus, Liam Donnelly, and Malik Dijksteel are all currently out of action. Their recovery timelines are a key concern for the management team, with updates available on the club's injuries page. Maintaining their league position despite these absences would be a significant achievement.
What challenges does the immediate schedule present?
Saturday's showdown with Celtic is the first of two huge tests in quick succession. Immediately after that, St Mirren make the short trip to face Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday night. This daunting double-header will test the squad's resilience and quality to the limit. Beyond that, the fixtures list shows a home game against Falkirk on December 19th, offering a different kind of tactical puzzle.
A win against Celtic would see St Mirren move above them into first place, a scenario that seemed unlikely at the season's outset. The team is currently two points behind the leaders in what is shaping up to be a compelling title race. Achieving top spot would provide a massive psychological boost and solidify their status as genuine contenders.
The next home league fixture after the Glasgow double-header is against 11th-placed Falkirk on the 19th of December.
