Killian Phillips secures victory for St Mirren
Killian Phillips kept his nerve and St Mirren kept their place at the top.
On a tense Paisley night, the midfielder’s second-half penalty was enough to edge past St Johnstone and make it two wins from two in the William Hill Premiership. Different opponent, same outcome: Phillips on the scoresheet, St Mirren out in front.
Phillips delivers, Chapman stands tall
Phillips, fresh from an opening-day double at Falkirk, settled this one from 12 yards with the coolest of finishes. A tiny run-up, a firm strike, and Toby Steward sent the wrong way. One clean swing, one decisive moment.
If Phillips supplied the winner, Jacob Chapman did just as much to protect it.
Three minutes after the interval, VAR intervened and referee Ross Hardie pointed to the spot, ruling Alex Gogic had handled while challenging for a throw-in into the box. Jamie Gullan stepped up with the game still goalless and St Johnstone sensing a shift.
Chapman guessed left and got there. A strong save, a roar from the home support, and a clear message: St Mirren were not giving up top spot easily.
Tight first half, thin margins
Both sides came into the night on the back of opening-day victories and the first 45 minutes reflected that shared confidence. The margins were fine, the tempo high, the chances scarce.
The best opening fell to Samuel Ramos. Meeting a Chris Mochrie cross, he headed straight at Steward when either corner might have punished the visitors. Steward failed to hold it cleanly, palming the ball up into the air, and a frantic scramble followed before St Johnstone finally hacked clear.
St Mirren then suffered an early blow when Marcus Fraser limped off, forcing Craig McLeish into a reshuffle with Liam Donnelly dropping into centre-back. The disruption never turned into disarray, but it did add a layer of unease to a game that already felt delicately poised.
At the other end, Simo Valakari’s team worked hard for territory without carving out much of note. Gullan’s main contribution before the break was to drag a later shot wide after setting up Matty Foulds, the left-back flashing an effort past the far post on the run.
Penalties at both ends, one decides it
The contest cracked open after the interval.
First came St Johnstone’s big chance from the spot, squandered by Gullan and smothered by Chapman. Then came the moment that flipped the night entirely.
With 17 minutes left, Declan John slid a forward pass into the left channel. Steward moved out to gather, seemingly in control of the situation, unaware of Ramos darting across his path. The collision was clumsy and obvious. Ramos got there, Steward clattered into him, and Hardie had another straightforward decision to make.
Phillips took responsibility. No fuss, no theatrics. A short approach, a calm strike, and St Mirren finally had the breakthrough their pressure down the left had been hinting at.
The goal jolted St Johnstone into life. From a corner, Cheick Diabate rose highest and powered a header off the post, the ball ricocheting away with Chapman beaten. For a few seconds, the home support held its breath.
Late chaos, but Buddies hold firm
McLeish’s changes almost paid off even before the penalty. Luke Thomas came on and immediately slipped Jake Young in down the left. The striker drove into the box, appeared to be held by Diabate as he shot, and dragged his effort wide of the far post. St Mirren appeals went unanswered, but the warning signs for St Johnstone were clear.
After going in front, the hosts pushed to kill it. Shots rained in, bodies flew in front of everything, and St Johnstone clung on. Every blocked effort kept the visitors alive, and they nearly made St Mirren pay for not finishing the job.
A swift break released Ruari Paton, who picked out Gullan with a measured pass. This was the forward’s chance at redemption. Instead, his finish lacked conviction and a combination of Steward and Ryan Carr smothered the danger.
St Johnstone threw what they had left at the game in stoppage time, loading the box and forcing St Mirren back. But space opened up the other way and Young again broke clear, drawing a save from Steward that at least kept the scoreline respectable.
The final whistle brought a surge of relief around the stadium. Two games, two wins, top of the table for another Saturday night. Phillips is scoring, Chapman is saving, and McLeish’s St Mirren already look like a side that believes this start can be more than just an early-season surge.
