Killian Phillips once again proved his worth in front of goal, ensuring St Mirmir continued to sit atop the Scottish Premiership after a second consecutive Saturday night victory. After opening the season with a brace against Falkirk, Phillips added a second‑half penalty to secure a 1‑0 win over St Johnstone at the Paisley club's ground. The match began with both teams eager to establish themselves after winning their opening fixtures, and the early exchanges were tightly contested. St Mirren’s goalkeeper Jacob Chapman quickly emerged as a key figure when he denied Jamie Gullan from the spot in the 48th minute.
Gullan had been awarded a penalty after a VAR review confirmed a handball by Alex Gogic during a scramble for a throw‑in inside the box. Chapman dived to his left and made the save, preserving the deadlock. St Johnstone’s keeper, Toby Steward, experienced a far less fortunate moment later on.
In the 73rd minute, Samuel Ramos advanced into the attacking third and, after a brief tussle with Steward, managed to get a clean strike on a forward pass from Declan John. The collision left Steward out of position, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Phillips stepped up, took a short, controlled run‑up and placed the ball low to the left corner, sending Steward the wrong way and sealing the win for Craig McLeish’s side. The first half saw few clear chances. The only genuine opportunity fell to Ramos, who rose to meet a cross from Chris Mochrie and headed the ball directly at Steward.
The goalkeeper punched the ball back into the air, and the ensuing scramble was eventually cleared by the visitors, leaving the score unchanged. St Johnstone’s manager, Simo Valakari, saw his side miss a golden chance when a potential goal was ruled out after a VAR check. Referee Ross Hardie determined that Gogic had handled the ball while contesting a throw‑in, nullifying what could have been a crucial equaliser. Chapman’s subsequent penalty save kept St Mirren in the lead.
Midway through the second half, St Mirren suffered an injury blow when centre‑back Marcus Fraser was forced off. Liam Donnelly replaced him, shoring up the defence. Shortly after, Gullan tried to make amends for his missed spot‑kick by setting up Matty Foulds, but the left‑back’s effort drifted wide of the post.
McLeish’s tactical changes began to pay off when Luke Thomas, introduced as a substitute, linked up with Jake Young on the left wing. Young cut inside and unleashed a shot that appeared to be blocked by Cheick Diabate, who was adjudged to have impeded the striker.
The ball ultimately went wide of the far post, but the movement signalled St Mirren’s growing dominance. The breakthrough finally arrived after a sustained period of attacking play down the left flank.
Young’s persistence forced a corner, and the subsequent scramble saw St Mirren break the deadlock when Phillips calmly converted the resulting penalty. The goal not only gave the home side the lead but also marked Phillips’ second penalty of the season, underlining his composure under pressure.
St Johnstone responded quickly, with a corner that saw Diabate rise powerfully and head the ball onto the post, narrowly missing an equaliser. The visitors continued to press, but the home side’s defence, bolstered by the earlier substitution, held firm. In the closing stages, St Mirren attempted to extend their lead, launching a series of shots that were either blocked or saved. A late counter‑attack saw Ruari Paton release a through ball to Gullan, who found himself one‑on‑one with Steward.
However, the striker lacked conviction, and the combined effort of Steward and defender Ryan Carr thwarted the chance, preserving the 1‑0 scoreline. St Johnstone kept the pressure alive during stoppage time, but Young, now back on the defensive line, made a crucial interception and forced a save as the visitors tried to snatch a goal. The home team saw out the remaining minutes in the opposition half, securing a valuable three points.
With the win, St Mirren remain unbeaten in the Premiership, boasting two wins from two matches under Craig McLeish. The victory also highlights the importance of set‑piece execution and goalkeeping heroics in tightly contested games.
Looking ahead, both sides will aim to build on their early season form, with St Mirren hoping to maintain their top‑of‑the‑table position and St Johnstone seeking to bounce back after a narrow defeat. The match was also broadcast live, with fans encouraged to watch the Scottish Premiership on their mobile devices via the Sky platform, and highlights were made available for free online.
Additionally, a promotional Super 6 lottery offering a £250,000 prize was featured during the broadcast, inviting viewers to enter at no cost.