Johansson asks for “fearless” Motherwell as European Glamour Tie Looms

Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson has urged his side to “excite” the Fir Park faithful as they prepare for their crucial second-leg clash against HJK Helsinki. Victory would secure a mouthwatering UEFA Conference League play-off tie with Bundesliga side Freiburg, who reached the Europa League final last season. With the tie finely poised at 1-1, Johansson is expecting another stern test from the Finnish outfit. Motherwell and HJK head into Thursday’s Conference League third qualifying round second leg level after last week’s 1-1 draw in Finland. Tawanda Maswanhise handed the Steelmen a priceless lead from the penalty spot before veteran striker Teemu Pukki produced a superb equaliser for the hosts. Reflecting on the first-leg performance, Johansson was pleased with his side’s response after the break. “In the second half we were more fearless and more aggressive,” he said. “Sometimes you have to manage the momentum of the game, and that’s what we did. Now we must be strong. “But we are at Fir Park, with all of our people there, and we want to excite them and play our way. We think that’s the best way to get the result we need. “It’s different and special when you play European games. They’re played later at night, and there’s just another feeling around the place.” Ahead of the tie, Motherwell confirmed the signing of Republic of Ireland midfielder Joe Hodge from Portuguese side Tondela for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old made his senior international debut for Ireland in June 2026, and Johansson expressed his delight after securing the midfielder’s signature, although Hodge will not be available in time to face Helsinki. “Absolutely buzzing to have him here,” Johansson added. “Joe is a very exciting young midfielder. He is mainly a number six in our system, but he can also play in a box-to-box role. We primarily see him operating as a six. “Joe represents what the number six position has evolved into over the last five years. He has quality on the ball, but he also has the mobility required for the modern game. We believe it’s a perfect match. “It’s super important to strengthen this area after losing some players. We are a club that needs to identify potential where it may have been overlooked.” Motherwell v HJK Helsinki (1-1) 7:30pm 13th Aug – Fir Park

The Six Pointer: Week 2 of the Scottish Premiership

Week 2 of the Scottish Premiership saw drama at the summit and foot of the table. Here is the round-up of the weekend’s action. Goal of the Round Hearts needed a positive response after testing European adventures in Austria and Portugal. Thursday’s 6–1 defeat to Benfica could easily have caused them to buckle, but Wouter Vrancken’s side bounced back brilliantly with a 4–0 win against Dundee United. Tom Renaud set the tone with a sensational opening goal. Cutting into space on the right side of the box, he unleashed a 25-yard strike that arrowed past Jack Walton and into the top corner. Signed from the third tier of French football, recruitment staff identified the FC Versailles 78 deep-lying midfielder as a key transfer target over the summer. His confident showing against Rayo Vallecano translated seamlessly to Tynecastle on Sunday. Game of the Round – Rangers 1-2 Hibernian David Gray’s side delivered their first victory of the season with a dramatic late win at Ibrox. Josh Campbell’s penalty and a late Callum Wright strike secured a consecutive 2–1 result against Rangers, easing pressure on the manager, who has split the fanbase after an inconsistent start. Rangers’ poor league start continued on a difficult afternoon for Derek McInnes as big moments went against the hosts. Vanja Dragojevic conceded a penalty for holding Jason Kerr in the box following a Hibs corner. Later, Youssef Chermiti was stretchered off, coming just hours after a reported £22 million bid was turned down by Galatasaray. McInnes believes he is the man to turn the Ibrox side’s fortunes around, and as the games stack up, finding that first victory has become even more paramount. Team of the Round – Dundee Steven Pressley’s first game in charge of Dundee ended in a narrow 1–0 defeat to Airdrie in July 2025, and a subsequent loss to Alloa contributed to an early exit from the Premier Sports Cup. Alarm bells may have rung for Dees fans, as hiring a manager who had been out of a managerial position for six years felt like a major risk. Fast forward 13 months, and following an encouraging 1–0 defeat at Celtic Park, in which they showed plenty of positive signs, they delivered a dominant 2–0 victory over Aberdeen. Joe Bevan starred with a goal and an assist. With an average squad age of 25 and just two players over 30 in the starting lineup, this youthful squad will hopefully continue to grow. Player of the Round – Kasper Høgh After missing several chances last week against Dundee, a jovial Kasper Høgh insisted that extra shooting practice would be on the cards for the week. Following a 35-minute hat-trick, it appears the Dane was true to his word. In the 2nd minute, he peeled away to the far post to nod home Arne Engels’ looping cross. He then doubled his tally with a clinical, low drill from the edge of the box past Max Stryjek, before capping it off moments later. It was a ruthlessly efficient performance, and his opening goal set the tone for Celtic’s dominance. It was a true statement of intent from the Dane, who is starting to live up to his £11 million club-record fee. Stat of the Round Stephen Robinson didn’t recognise his Aberdeen side in their 2-0 defeat, insisting they “didn’t do the basics right.” The stats would back up his claims compared to Dundee. Ground Duels won: 30/62 (48%) (Dundee – 52%) Interceptions: 8 (Dundee – 12) Recoveries: 53 (Dundee – 63) Clearances: 31 (Dundee – 37) Errors Leading to Shots: 2 (Dundee – 0) (statistics provided by SofaScore.com) On This Day Rangers 6-1 Hibernian – 11th Aug 2019 Jermain Defoe – 9′, 15′, 74′ Alfredo Morelos – 77′, 89′ Sheyi Ojo – 90’+2′ Daryl Horgan – 40′ Rangers make it two wins from two to start the 2019/2020 League Season under Steven Gerrard

“We Know we’re in a good place” – Gray after Ibrox Victory

Hibs manager David Gray has called on his squad to “stick together” as they look to build on consecutive victories over Rangers at Ibrox. Josh Campbell’s coolly struck penalty and a decisive breakaway winner from Callum Wright secured the Hibees’ first league win of the campaign. The visitors had to weather a storm after Miguel Chaiwa’s unfortunate own goal temporarily brought Rangers level. Despite an inconsistent start to the season that has prompted some sections of the Hibernian support to question Gray’s long-term future, the manager was full of praise for his players’ resilience. Speaking to Premier Sports after the final whistle, Gray particularly highlighted the “brilliant” execution of Wright’s match-winning counterattack. “Rangers put us under severe pressure for the second half; the character was really tested but we made an attacking substitution to try and have that mentality of not just sitting in even with the Rangers pressure. “[The winning goal] was a brilliant moment. I’m delighted for the players because we made a lot of changes and the players that came in did really well, it builds that character. “The type of game suits Josh Mulligan. To a man I think it would be difficult to single anyone out because they were all so good. “I’ve been through adversity at the start. The demands and expectations are always going to be there. The biggest thing is sticking together as a group. Internally we know we’re in a good place, there’s more to come.” Hibs travel to Macedonia for Thursday’s Conference League qualifier, leading Shkendija 2-1 from the first leg at Easter Road.

McLeish hopes to create “relentless” St Mirren

Craig McLeish wants St Mirren to become “really good at the basics” after making it two wins out of two to start their league campaign. Killian Phillips converted a 73rd-minute penalty to secure a 1-0 victory over newly promoted St Johnstone, sending the Saints to the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Following the hard-fought win, McLeish emphasised his desire to “keep building” on their impressive early momentum. “Delighted for the group, a really good, hard-fought win. A lot of our performance was good; we just had to add a bit more intensity to our performance in the first half. The victory came down to two penalty kicks, and after Jacob Chapman foiled Jamie Gullan from 12 yards, Phillips showed composure to convert past Toby Steward to the delight of the home faithful. “We were quite comfortable without troubling them too much. We stepped it up a bit in the second half. We got away with one when Jacob made a fantastic save for the penalty. “Then we converted our own penalty, so it was fine margins. Games are going to be like that for us, and we have to show that fight and resilience. Our energy and how we pressed at the end, we could have scored a couple on the counter; that was really pleasing. “We have to be horrible to play against. Two clean sheets set us up well for that. The attacking bit, a few bits didn’t quite click in the final third to create real, clear-cut opportunities. When we counterattack, we do it at speed, and we look dangerous. Replacing the experienced Stephen Robinson with a youthful coach carrying limited top-flight experience was widely viewed as a bold gamble by St Mirren. Yet, after successfully navigating the relegation playoffs last season, McLeish is now stamping his identity on the Saints. While they are playing a more attractive brand of football, the team’s core identity remains unchanged – to outwork your opponent. “Those are standards that we set from day one of pre-season. How quickly do we get back into shape, everyone doing it and joining in. We want to be really good at the basics and not get bored of that. “The running, energy and desire. We want to be fit and strong and relentless this season against whoever we play. We have to keep those standards really high. We did it last week and lived up to it again today. “It helps with the belief in each other. I’ve said to the boys I have confidence in them. Last season, we had two horrendous play-off games – even the emotion about it, there were so many nerves when we stepped on the pitch. “I’m still using that as fuel; I don’t want to be involved in that. We’ve got a massive journey ahead of us, and we have to keep building. Six points out of six is a great start.” That prolific start will instil massive belief across the entire club, from players and staff to the boardroom and supporters, as they head to Ibrox next Sunday for their toughest test yet in the League Cup last 16.

Johansson prepares for “Nemesis” Falkirk

Alfred Johansson is relishing Sunday’s clash with “last year’s nemesis” as his Motherwell side prepare to host Falkirk at Fir Park. The Bairns proved to be an Achilles heel for the Steelmen last season, recording three victories and a draw to remain unbeaten in head-to-head fixtures. “I don’t think anyone cannot be so excited by the opportunity to play them on Saturday. “The staff have a lot of knowledge about them, I know they’re a good team from what I’ve seen already – including from some of the games last year I watched prior to signing the contract here. “They’re a good team with a lot of energy, a lot of stability within the club and the manager’s position. “They’re improving all the time, exceeding expectations and it’s going to be a difficult game but we’re looking forward to it with confidence. “They’ve lost a few players, but we have too so it’s going to be a tight game – that’s what the Premiership is, isn’t it?” However, buoyed by a positive 1-1 draw against Helsinki, Johansson is eager to welcome John McGlynn’s side for their first home Premiership match of the campaign. Motherwell head into the fixture following a demanding seven-day spell that featured successful trips to the Faroe Islands, Finland, and Easter Road. Ahead of Sunday’s match, attacking pair Regan Charles-Cook and Alex Lowry will both face late fitness tests after picking up injuries against HJK Helsinki. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Said is back in contention after resolving the visa issues that kept him out of the European trip. However, Dylan Williams, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (calf), Jordan McGhee (hamstring), Paul McGinn, Callum Hendry, and Stephen O’Donnell (all knee) remain sidelined.

Partick Thistle 2-0 Livingston: Jags Make Statement Victory under Firhill Lights

Partick Thistle 2-0 Livingston Crawford (4′) MacPherson (43′ og) A first-half double sealed a crucial home win for Partick Thistle, sending them straight to the top of the Scottish Championship after a flawless start to the season. The hosts exploded into life after four minutes, keen to add to their opening-day victory over Morton. New signing Seb Drozd combined with the overlapping Ben MacPherson, whose low cross was expertly flicked home on the penalty spot by Robbie Crawford. The goal rewarded the Jags’ fast start, and sent a packed-out home section into a frenzy. Drozd and MacPherson were in the mood early on; the pair combined again moments later, before Drozd dragged wide with a left-footed effort. Glen Whelan cut a frustrated figure on the Livingston touchline; after conceding early, his side struggled to hold possession of the ball, and were wasteful in the final third. But the Lions would gradually embed themselves into proceedings; positive play down the right saw the ball drop to Scott Pittman on the edge of the midfield. With only one thought on his mind, the midfielder laced a right-footed effort off the crossbar, to the encouragement of the travelling faithful. Thistle burst into life in the 38th minute. A swift break saw Aiden Fitzpatrick drive at Livingston’s back line. The winger picked out the onrushing Oisin Smyth, whose curling shot was diverted wide by Jerome Prior. Fitzpatrick would double their advantage on the stroke of half-time. After a penalty box stramash, the winger’s low cross was diverted off Cammy MacPherson and snuck into Prior’s net. A stroke of luck perhaps, but the hosts deserved their half-time lead. As for Livingston, a huge second half awaited for Whelan. Whelan turned to his bench to introduce summer signing Bradly Van Hoeven. The tricky winger immediately looked lively, delivering a dangerous ball from the right-hand side that narrowly evaded Brooklyn Kabongolo. As Livingston searched for a route back into the match, the visitors pinched the ball from Smyth, allowing Babacar Fati to scuff a shot toward Liam McFarlane. The home faithful rose to their feet on the hour mark to welcome Ben Stanway. The 21-year-old midfielder has committed to another year at Firhill and should prove to be a key player for Mark Wilson this season. Liam Polworth and Droz both tested the opposition goalkeepers with speculative efforts before McFarlane collided with the post while backpedalling to deal with a cross for the hosts. Thistle pressed for a third goal around the 70-minute mark. Substitute Euan Henderson fired in a low cross that bounced off the post, and Letosa diverted the rebound over the bar as The Jags looked to kill off the game. Despite being second best, a 2-0 scoreline still offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors. Late in the game, Muirhead released Tyrese Sinclair into space in a dangerous area on the 80-minute mark, but Cale Loughrey stood his ground well to block the winger’s powerful effort. In the end, it was a statement victory for The Jags, who move top of the Championship with a deserved victory. Partick Thistle: McFarlane 8 McPherson 8 O’Reilly 8 Reading 8 Letsosa 9 Smyth 7 Drozd 9 Crawford 8 Fitzpatrick 8 Samuel 9 Substitutes: Henderson 7 Watt 7 Stanway 7Logan 7   Livingston: Prior 5 Doherty 5 Kabongolo 56 Robertson 4 Fati 4 Pittman 5 MacPherson 5 Palmer 4 Sinclair 5 Muirhead 5 Carey 5 Substitutes: Van Hoeven 4 Polworth 4 McGowan 4 Anderson 4

The Six Pointer: Scottish Premiership Round 1 REVIEWED

The Scottish Premiership is back with a bang. From seven-goal thrillers to statement wins, the opening weekend delivered plenty of early drama. Here is the round-up of the weekend’s action. Goal of the Round: Ibrahim Said It has been a summer of transition for Motherwell, marked by the arrival of new manager Alfred Johansson and the departures of stalwarts Stephen Welsh and Elijah Just to Swansea, alongside midfield anchor Elliot Watt to Turkey. Yet, one thing remains untouched: the Steelmen’s free-flowing brand of football, embedded by departing manager Jens Berthel Askou. Motherwell’s winning goal at Easter Road was a testament to that style, culminating from a brilliant team move that capitalised on a flurry of missed opportunities by Hibs. Olly Whyte dispossessed Rudi Molotnikov on the halfway line, sparking a clever sequence of link-up play between Said and Alex Lowry. Lowry then released Ewan Wilson down the left flank, who showed great composure to pick out the onrushing Said, whose clinical first-time finish sent the away support into a frenzy. It was a ruthlessly efficient move that contrasted Hibs’ lack of cutting edge, and handed Johansson his first league victory. Carrying Sunday’s momentum forward from their European exploits in the Faroe Islands, the feel-good factor from last season’s fourth-place finish shows no signs of fading at Fir Park. Game of the Round: St Johnstone 4-3 Kilmarnock Unsurprisingly, my pick for game of the weekend comes from Perth, where Premiership newcomers St Johnstone and Neil McCann’s Kilmarnock produced a pulsating seven-goal thriller. Simo Valakari’s side scored goals for fun on their way to last season’s Championship title, finishing as the division’s top scorers, and they carried that attacking threat into this encounter. Josh Fowler and Greg Kiltie exchanged first-half goals as the sides went into the break level at 1-1, but it was the chaotic second period that turned the match into a classic, with the lead changing hands three times. Cheick Diabate headed St Johnstone in front shortly after the restart, only for Kilmarnock to turn the game on its head with two goals in four minutes. Joe Hugill levelled proceedings before an unfortunate Jason Holt own goal handed the Ayrshire side a 3-2 advantage. However, Valakari’s men responded superbly to the setback. Showing the composure and resilience of seasoned Premiership campaigners rather than newly promoted players, Saints finished the stronger side and were rewarded for their attacking intent. An own goal from Schjønning-Larsen brought St Johnstone level before Fowler combined brilliantly with Kai Fotheringham to restore the hosts’ lead. The former Dundee United attacker then applied the finishing touch in the 80th minute, completing a dramatic 4-3 victory and securing a hugely important three points for the Perth club. McCann was left frustrated by his side’s defensive vulnerability, particularly from set-pieces, with Kilmarnock conceding twice from dead-ball situations. Despite briefly leading 3-2, Killie were unable to withstand St Johnstone’s pressure, and the hosts were ultimately deserving winners. Jamie Gullan, who contributed 14 assists during Saints’ Championship-winning campaign, played a key role in two of the opening goals. At the same time, Fowler excelled in the number nine role, recording a goal and an assist. Yet it was Fotheringham’s decisive strike that capped a memorable afternoon at McDiarmid Park and earned St Johnstone one of the standout results of the opening weekend. Team of the Round: St Mirren St Mirren boss Craig McLeish set out to make his side more exciting this season, and while Saturday’s victory over Falkirk wasn’t entirely flawless, it could serve as the ideal foundation to build upon. The Falkirk Stadium remains a notoriously difficult place to visit, bolstered by back-to-back league titles, consistently sold-out crowds, and a stylish brand of football that underpinned last season’s impressive sixth-place finish. However, St Mirren bounced back strongly from their League Cup defeat to Dunfermline, securing a 2-0 victory, their third consecutive win at the Bairns’ home ground. Killian Phillips stole the headlines as the hero, but the performance was littered with standout displays across the pitch. Jacob Chapman bravely played out from the back while securing a clean sheet; Jayden Richardson offered a constant threat from right-back; the midfield pivot of Paul Nsio and Ryan Carr dominated the centre of the park; and Eseoso Sule led the line superbly. Though a disallowed Falkirk goal threatened to change the complexion of the match, and the Buddies squandered several gilt-edged chances, if Saturday is anything to go by, it could be a special campaign for McLeish’s side. Player of the Round: Killian Phillips St Mirren talisman Killian Phillips is determined to add more goals to his game after opening the season with a double against Falkirk. The midfielder poked home at the near post after 11 minutes, then applied the finishing touch to a swift counterattack in the 87th minute, sealing a clinical 2-0 victory at Falkirk Stadium. Despite his match-winning contribution, Phillips was quick to highlight the collective effort behind the result. “It’s something I need to add to my game: numbers. So I’m over the moon to get two goals,” Phillips said. “It was a good team performance. I know I could have had a couple more, and we could have scored a couple more as well.” The Buddies successfully navigated the Premiership play-offs against Partick Thistle last season, but goals proved hard to come by throughout the campaign. St Mirren finished as the league’s lowest scorers with just 30 goals, 10 fewer than relegated Livingston, and Phillips acknowledged that is an area that must improve this season. “On another day, those missed chances could have cost us. Last season, we probably struggled to create a lot of chances, so to have as many opportunities as we did today is more of a positive than a negative. “It’s a perfect opening-day performance.” St Mirren return to league action against St Johnstone at the SMISA Stadium on Saturday and Phillips will be eager to build on his encouraging start following their impressive victory in Falkirk. Stat of the

Phillips Hails “Perfect” St Mirren Performance

St Mirren talisman Killian Phillips is determined to add more goals to his game after opening the season with a double against Falkirk. The midfielder poked home at the near post after 11 minutes before applying the finishing touch to a swift counterattack in the 87th minute, sealing a clinical 2-0 victory at the Falkirk Stadium. Despite his match-winning contribution, Phillips was quick to highlight the collective effort behind the result. “It’s something I need to add to my game: numbers. So I’m over the moon to get two goals,” Phillips said. “It was a good team performance. I know I could have had a couple more, and we could have scored a couple more as well.” The Buddies successfully navigated the Premiership play-offs against Partick Thistle last season, but goals proved hard to come by throughout the campaign. St Mirren finished as the league’s lowest scorers with just 30 goals, 10 fewer than relegated Livingston, and Phillips acknowledged that is an area that must improve this season. “On another day, those missed chances could have cost us. Last season, we probably struggled to create a lot of chances, so to have as many opportunities as we did today is more of a positive than a negative. “It’s a perfect opening-day performance.” St Mirren return to league action against St Johnstone at the SMISA Stadium on Saturday and will be eager to build on an encouraging start following their impressive victory in Falkirk.

Determined McGlynn urges Bairns to “grow” from opening day defeat

John McGlynn says he won’t panic about Falkirk’s opening-day defeat to St Mirren, and hopes to strengthen several areas before the end of the transfer window. A Killian Phillips double secured The Buddies’ third straight victory at The Falkirk Stadium, and despite a strong 10 minutes, McGlynn was displeased with the manner of the opening goal. “Certainly not the start that we were looking for. We had high hopes for the game going into it. In the opening 10 minutes or so, we were good, we were in control, we passed the ball really well. “We got wide, we got crosses in. We make an error in defence, playing a ball out, trying to thread the ball through the eye of a needle. “It’s intercepted, they break on us and we’ve got so many bodies in the box against not an awful lot of bodies, yet they manage to get the ball in, get a cross in. The hosts required a second-half spark, and substitute Ben Parkinson delivered in the 70th minute. The former Newcastle boy bundled in Deniss Melniks’ knockdown from close range to the delight of the Falkirk support. Unfortunately, in the build-up, Melniks’ touch had made contact with his elbow, and after a lengthy VAR check, Duncan Nicholson consulted the monitor and ruled out the equaliser. McGlynn was pleased with the second half reaction, but bemoaned a lack of clear-cut chances. “I thought we dominated the second half, we get a goal. It’s denied on a handball which I’ve not seen. We’re huffing and puffing and then from our corner kick, we lose a goal. It’s crazy. We’ve been punished for not doing an awful lot wrong. “Have we done enough to really say that we deserve to win that game? Probably not. We’ve not created enough; we need a little bit more quality. But early days, there’s always going to be a quick turnaround. But we have to pick up points quickly. One of Falkirk’s biggest strengths last season was their squad cohesion, with several starters playing instrumental roles in The Bairns’ League One and Championship-winning campaigns. But with seven new starters, McGlynn admits that combinations will take time to grow as his incomings embed themselves in the Scottish Premiership. “[Goals are] the hardest thing to get. Big Barney [Stewart] was on fire last season, and Calvin Miller was a big player for us with the number of assists that he got. “[Those players] are hard to find. We’ve been trying, and maybe in time it’ll come, but obviously today, we have to concede that we didn’t have that today. “We’re not going to panic. Certainly, we’re disappointed. We’re naive on the pitch. We need to learn and grow up a little bit quicker, but we’re not pressing any panic buttons, but we know we need to do better than that. “I would imagine we’ll get another couple [of players in], I think we’ll get another couple for sure.” Falkirk face Motherwell at Fir Park next Sunday.

Falkirk 0-2 St Mirren: Phillips double send Buddies top against Wasteful Bairns

Falkirk 0-2 St Mirren Phillips (11′ ,87′) The Buddies secured their third straight victory at The Falkirk Stadium after a Killian Phillips double secured a dream start for Craig McLeish in the Scottish Premiership. Falkirk started brightly, keen to build on their top six finish last season. Ethan Laidlaw’s positive play and cross dropped to ex-Exeter City man Jack McMillan. His right-footed shot narrowly snuck wide of Jacob Chapman’s net, encouraging the home support. But the visitors grew into the half, showing good signs under new boss Craig McLeish. Summer signing Samuel Ramos managed three goals in the League Cup group stages; his 40-yard laser pass fell kindly to the onrushing Killian Phillips, who forced a sharp save from Scott Bain. Phillips opened the scoring moments later. The Irishman met Henry Fieldson’s cross, poking home at the near post, and giving the best possible start to The Buddies’ season. Falkirk have lost stalwarts Barney Stewart, Calvin Millar, and Dylan Tait in the transfer market, and were still attempting to blend their new forward combinations. They clicked after 21 minutes. Former St Mirren man Ryan Strain burst forward in the 22nd minute. His cutback gave Finn Yeats freedom in the penalty box, but the midfielder’s strike was tame and didn’t trouble Jacob Chapman. St Mirren’s midfield pivot of Ryan Carr and Paul Nsio was a strong base to launch visiting attacks, and they continued to look dangerous. Nsio caught McMillan napping on the centre circle, allowing Sule to bear down on goal, but his strike lacked conviction and rolled wide of Bain’s goal. Falkirk’s best opportunities continued to come from wide areas; Laidlaw’s inswinging ball narrowly evaded Ross MacIver on 33 minutes. MacIver hit the sidenetting minutes later as the hosts ended strongly. McLeish spoke pre-match about turning St Mirren into an “exciting” side. They looked comfortable in playing out from the back, though goalkeeper Chapman needed maximum concentration on a few occasions to withstand the oncoming Falkirk press St Mirren had a golden chance to double their advantage on the stroke of halftime after breaking from a Falkirk set piece. Carr advanced with Sule and Ramos on either side in a 3 v 2, but after exchanging passes the move fizzled out. A frustrating opening half for John McGlynn’s side, but plenty of encouragement for McLeish to ponder at the break. St Mirren had a chance to double their advantage on the hour mark after a shaky back pass from Deniss Melniks, who had looked uncomfortable in the second half. But after advancing on Bain’s goal, Sule’s powerful effort was blocked by the Scottish internationalist, as another golden opportunity slipped away. The hosts required a spark, and substitute Ben Parkinson provided such in the 70th minute. The former Newcastle boy bundled in Melniks’ knockdown from close range to the delight of the Falkirk support. Unfortunately, in the build-up, Melniks’ touch had made contact with his elbow, and after a lengthy VAR check, Duncan Nicholson consulted the monitor and ruled out the equaliser. Despite encouragement from the home crowd, Falkirk continued to waste possession, and St Mirren would shortly close off the game in the 87th minute Substitute Ronald Idowu broke to the 18-yard box before sliding Phillips into space. His right-footed strike deflected past Bain, sending the away allocation into frenzy. Victory was nothing short of what the visitors deserved, as they moved top of the Scottish Premiership. Falkirk: Bain 7 McMillan 6 Henderson 6 Strain 5 Tanser 4 Gardner 5 Melniks 3 Sibbald 5 Laidlaw 6 Yeats 5 MacIver 5 Substitutes: Doherty 6 Parkinson 6 Ross 6 McCann 4 McGovern 4 St Mirren: Chapman 7 Richardson 7 Fraser 7 Fieldson 8 Gogic 8 Ramos 7 Carr 8 Mochrie 7 Nsio 7 Sule 7 Phillips 9 Substitutes: Young 6 Donnelly 7 Idowu 7 Thomas 7