Can St. Mirren Secure European Football Against All Odds?

The 2023/24 season has been an incredible one for fans of St. Mirren. The Saints faithful are used to flirting with relegation when they are in the top tier of Scottish football, narrowly avoiding the drop down into the second tier following a disastrous campaign under Alan Stubbs in 2018/19. Then, they ultimately finished 11th, before further lowly finishes between 2020 and 2022 in which the Paisley club were simply happy to avoid the trap door.

 

This term, however, they currently find themselves in fifth place in the table and hunting down Kilmarnock in fourth. At present, online sports betting sites currently make the Saints a heavy 1.04 favourite to finish in the top six at the end of the current campaign. That is something they managed last season as well, ultimately finishing in exactly sixth place. However, it isn’t the top six that they have their eyes on. No, the Paisley side firmly has its eyes on the top four and the European qualifying spot it brings with it.

Hunting Kilmarnock

St. Mirren have had plenty of impressive results this season. They picked up a stunning 3-2 away win at Hibernian on the opening day of the campaign, setting the tone for what was to come. Now, with the end of the season rapidly approaching, the newly fan-owned Saints are currently just five points off the top four. And that gap was three points smaller just a week ago.

 

Unfortunately for the Saints, their form has deserted them at the wrong time. They lost a must-win clash with Killie a fortnight ago despite being two goals up in the first half, ultimately losing 5-2 thanks to a brace from captain and former Rotherham United hitman Kyle Vassell. They followed that up with a goalless draw against Motherwell and perhaps the result that stings the most of all, a 2-1 defeat at home to Hearts. Now, their top four hopes hang by a thread.

The Remaining Fixtures

Next up for the Saints is as tough as it gets, a home fixture against a highly motivated Celtic. The Bhoys recently threw away a two-goal lead in the Old Firm Derby and once again conceded a third goal in the final seconds to draw 3-3 and almost hand the title to their cross-city rivals Rangers. Kilmarnock meanwhile will head to St. Johnstone. Then, the top six split will be in effect, and it remains to be seen who both teams will face in their final four games of the season.