St Mirren

Toyosi Olusanya's close-range goal secured St Mirren a dramatic late draw in the first leg of their Conference League third qualifying round tie against Brann.

The Norwegian visitors dominated possession throughout and had several clear-cut chances, but an inspired display from Ellery Balcombe in the St Mirren goal kept them at bay during the first half.

Balcombe continued to repel the visitors after the break, but a well-taken volley from Felix Myhre on 75 minutes gave Brann a deserved lead.

It looked certain to be the winning goal, but with time running out, Olusanya got on the end of fellow substitute James Scott's cross to bring Stephen Robinson's side level.

St Mirren travel to Norway for the second leg next Thursday (18:00 BST), with a play-off spot on the line.

The winner will play Corvinul Hunedoara or Astana in the play-off round, with Kazakhs Astana winning Thursday's first-leg 2-1 in Romania.

We want your thoughts on the game, St Mirren fans. Have your say here, external.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Robinson made three changes to the side that impressively beat HIbernian 3-0 on Sunday, looking to keep his squad fresh for an uncharacteristically busy start to the season.

However, his side struggled to reach the levels they did in their Scottish Premiership opener against a slick, organised Brann side who dominated possession from minute one.

The opener came at a time where St Mirren were having their best spell of the game, with fresh legs off the bench delivering fresh impetus, and could have proved to be a body blow.

Instead, they fought right to the end and gave their chances of progression a huge boost with just seconds of normal time remaining.

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St Mirren are still in the contest thanks to their goalkeeper, who pulled off a string of excellent saves and looks to be a real find.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I didn't think we played particularly well to be honest, we didn't do ourselves justice on the ball, but what a story for these young boys to come back against a club of that standard.

"I'm delighted for the fans and everyone involved. The storyline is a real positive one for me. We'll have to play better when we go abroad. We'll look forward to that."

St Mirren: Balcombe, Rooney, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Brown, Smyth, Boyd-Munce, Idowu, Mandron, Ayunga.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Kelly, Tanser, Iacovitti, Scott, Olusanya, Adeniran, Kenny, Taylor, Mooney, Sutherland, Bwomono.

Brann: Dyngeland, Pedersen, Knudsen, Kristiansen, Soltvedt, Kartum, Kornvig, Myhre, Blomberg, Castro, Finne.

Substitutes: Borsheim, Johansen, Opsahl, Warming, Mathisen, Heggebo, Helland, Sande, Holten.

Image source, SNS

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Who better to give the lowdown on Brann than David Weatherston?

The Scottish striker played out the final years of his career in Norway and is still based there, where he is clued up on all things Norwegian football.

Brann, who are in Paisley for tonight's Conference League qualifier first leg with St Mirren, are second after 18 games in the Eliteserien.

Speaking to the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Weatherston said: "Brann have shown in the last two years that they're pretty much the second best team in Norway behind Bodo/Glimt.

"They play really exciting football, super offensive, high press, quick transitions.

"They've got a lot of talented players. Bard Finne, a Norway international, plays up front. Felix Horn Myhre is a super-talented midfielder and definitely one that's got a big future.

"Brann are much more suited to European football, the style they play. They beat Go Ahead Eagles from the Netherlands last week, which was quite an even game, but they definitely deserved to win the home leg, which was enough for them.

"That was off the back of a pretty unlucky penalty defeat to AZ Alkmaar in the play-offs last year.

"Brann are coming in with a little bit of experience in the last two years in Europe. They won the cup last year as well, so definitely a tougher opposition for St Mirren."

Despite the step up in quality from the Valur side St Mirren dispatched in the previous round, Weatherston says St Mirren can get at Brann with a canny counter-attacking approach.

"I think St Mirren are definitely going to have to take a lead from Paisley tonight if they want to win in Bergen next week," he added.

"I'd imagine St Mirren will probably defend in numbers and look to hit them on the counter-attack, it's something St Mirren have done pretty well under Stephen Robinson. Brann will dominate possession.

"It's not out of the question that St Mirren can beat Brann, they're absolutely not unbeatable, they've not been in great form in the league recently.

"St Mirren played really well at the weekend against Hibs and quick counter-attacking football is probably the way for them to get at Brann tonight."

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Toyosi Olusanya has urged his team-mates to make the most of their European adventure as it could be a rare occurrence.

The Paisley club, in their first continental campaign in 37 years, face Norwegians Brann in the Conference League third qualifying round after thumping Valur of Iceland 4-1.

"As a player sometimes these opportunities only come around once in your career, so it's important to take it," said striker Olusanya before Thursday night's first leg.

"It's good for the fans to have a good buzz. As a group of boys I feel like we always over-achieve. As long as we take each game as it comes there's no telling where we can go.

"As a kid growing up I always thought I'd play in a European game. Coming to St Mirren I didn't think about Europe, I just thought I'd come to Scotland to play football, but the squad has grown so much over the past couple of years.

"We've started the season well but it's important to carry the momentum on. Every player has about 15-20% more to give and that comes with games as the season goes on."

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Brann boss Eirik Horneland expects Thursday's Conference League qualifying meeting with "direct" and "physical" St Mirren will be a clash of styles.

The Norwegian outfit eliminated Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round and are second in the Eliteserien after 18 games.

Horneland, who lost skipper Sivert Nilsen to Aberdeen last month, said: "This game will be a tough one.

"St Mirren have had two home matches so far this season and they have scored seven goals, that is a lot.

"Tomorrow will be two different styles of play so it will be interesting to see which style can get the game.

"St Mirren are a physical team, a very direct team and well organised.

"We try to dominate the games with a passing game, we try to be a hard-pressing team, give away as little as we can for the opponent.

"On the ball we want to create, we want to make chances and be the best team. We certainly hope we can get our game going and St Mirren will be the same, but it is two different styles of play and it will be interesting to see who can take the advantage."

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Stephen Robinson is confident his St Mirren squad has the strength in depth to avoid a Conference League exit against Brann.

The Buddies followed up their 4-1 aggregate win over Valur in the second qualifying ground with a 3-0 skelping of Hibs in their Premiership opener on Sunday.

And with fierce competition for places, manager Robinson is delighted to be spoiled for choice when picking his XI for Thursday's first leg in Paisley.

"We're well organised but we've got a little bit of flair in the team as well," he said.

"I believe that's through a lot of competition for places and we've got two in each position now, so it's up to me to try and get that correct for each game and it is important.

"You know, I've listened to other managers, I have experience from being in Europe with Motherwell as well. You do need to shuffle the team more, so it's important we get that right and people know they can't just turn up and expect to play now.

"There is real threats through the positions and I think it's driving everybody forward."

Robinson is braced for a difficult test against the in-form visitors, who sit second in Norway's Eliteserien and are European regulars.

"Brann are flying in their league, but if we're at the top of our game - and we need to be - there's no question in my mind we can get a result," he added.

"There's opportunities certainly for people to make their name."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League third-round qualifier first leg against Brann.

Here are the key lines:

• Captain Mark O'Hara misses the game and is out for "a few weeks" with a thigh injury.

• Robinson adds: "Maybe last season it would have been a huge act to follow, but we have five or six midfielders in the building so there is a real scramble for places. I am confident that the people we put in will be equally as good."

• Robinson says he has two players for each position and there is a need to "shuffle the team more" for European games.

• Brann - currently second in the Norwegian top flight - are in "flying" form but Robinson has no doubts St Mirren can get a positive result.

• He has "created that mentality" where they go into every game expecting to win, even at Celtic Park, and don't fear any team.

• Brann are a step up in quality from Valur and Robinson says his men will have to raise their "standards and levels" from the previous round and Sunday's Premiership win over Hibs.

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Finding "gems" is the speciality of St Mirren head of recruitment Martin Foyle, whose latest batch has already made a sparkling impact this season.

New defensive signings Shaun Rooney and Alex Iacovitti both netted in the 4-1 rout of Valur that took the Buddies into the Europa Conference League third qualifying round.

Then on Saturday, Roland Idowu, the 22-year-old midfielder on loan from Shrewsbury, struck first in the Premiership opener against Hibs before fellow new boy Oisin Smyth came off the bench to net a double in the impressive 3-0 win, both goals set up by James Scott, signed from Exeter after a previous loan spell.

The club's impressive recruitment has put the spotlight on Foyle, with manager Stephen Robinson hailing the 61-year-old Englishman as "irreplaceable".

Robinson, who also worked with the former York, Northwich and Hereford boss Foyle at Motherwell and Morecambe, said: "A lot of people don't notice the work that he does.

"I've been working with Martin for a long, long time. He is irreplaceable. He finds me gems from his network of contacts all around the world.

"We shouldn't get first refusal on a lot of players but because of his relationships we do.

"He's been invaluable for me so he certainly deserves a lot of credit for the boys we have brought in. He throws me some rubbish ones as well by the way!

"Ultimately I have got the final decision on who comes. Martin knows me inside out and knows what I like and he knows I like players who can get around the pitch and can run.

"Then, after that, we mould them and try and create them as a coaching staff into better players."

Mark Jardine
Fan writer

Everywhere you look around this football club currently, there are stories being written.

Hundreds of Buddies, hailing from Paisley, Australia, the United States and elsewhere, assembled in Reykjavik with a single week's notice. Welcomed into the city's pubs, streets and terraces with unanimously open arms, the same hospitality was shown this past week to the Valur faithful who were able to make the Renfrewshire pilgrimage.

A packed SMISA Stadium on Thursday night played host to a home performance for the ages. Shaun Rooney, already a hero in Perth for stamping his own name on the scoresheet at the biggest moments, opened the scoring on his competitive Saints debut. Toyosi Olusanya, the unlikely star of last season, added continental goalscorer to his growing list of accomplishments.

Mark O'Hara. The boy from Barrhead. Club captain at the league club closest to his hometown. The all-action midfielder is no stranger to stepping up when it matters, nor scoring in a spectacular fashion. He combined both with a ludicrous volley that opened up a three goal cushion and had hundreds of Buddies pulling their phones from their pockets and hammering the word BERGEN into their flight comparison site of choice.

Alex Iacovitti, Ellery Balcombe, Jacob Brown, Roland Idowu. I could go on. It was a night where thousands of a Paisley persuasion prayed for progress by any means necessary, and Stephen Robinson's side rewarded that commitment with a near-perfect display that exceeded all expectations.

With European qualification comes added strain and pressure on modest squads. Sandwiched between Thursday's Icelandic test and next week's Norwegian rewards, David Gray's Hibs arrived in Paisley with a point to prove.

A combative first half ended goalless. However, far from conserving energy, the home team flew out the traps in the second half and left their capital opponents punch-drunk in their corner and looking for a towel to throw.

Roland Idowu, given license to roam in enemy territory, opened his competitive account with a stunning right foot finish across the face of Josef Bursik's goalmouth.

Introduced with half an hour to go, James Scott announced himself as a permanent Saint with a ruthless performance and two hard-fought assists into the path of Oisin Smyth. Scott, a reasonably recent seven-figure player, has needed the right stage for some time to recapture his electrifying best. As he crashed the Hibs box repeatedly on Sunday afternoon and bullied David Gray's new backline, the adoring home crowd got their first glimpse of what that best may look like.

Thursday night will be upon us again before we know it. More stories will be written. Win, lose or draw, who can say? One thing can be guaranteed - the team will be roared on to the park with justified adoration and optimism.

Mark Jardine can be found on the Misery Hunters Podcast, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Alex Gogic never put a foot wrong for St Mirren and set the foundations for an impressive 3-0 win against Hibernian on Sunday.

Oisin Smyth’s 20-minute cameo off the bench for the Buddies saw him bag two goals, but I'm opting for the impressive Roland Idowu who was outstanding throughout and was unlucky not to notch two goals himself, finding the net once and hitting the woodwork.

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Roland Idowu had quite the conundrum during the off season.

Having not played for six months, he had two options. Either hit the town or hit the ground running.

He opted for the latter.

Three minutes into the second half against Hibernian on Sunday, it showed he'd made the right choice, getting the breakthrough and sending the Buddies on their way to a win in their first Premiership game of the season.

“I don’t want to say I’m not humble, but I feel I’ve put in the work over the summer for this," the 22-year-old said. "I’m just glad it’s all coming together.

“Before I came here, I hadn’t played for six months and it was a decision for myself – to either go partying throughout the summer or work. And I decided to work.

“It’s hard when all your mates and team-mates are back home after a long season, but I just needed to get my career back on track and I’m happy I’m doing that at the moment."

The Dubliner thanked manager Stephen Robinson for the confidence he placed in him and his style of play.

As seen at the weekend and in Europe, Idowu excels in the attacking-midfield mould where he can "express himself" and the on-loan Shrewsbury Town youngster is aiming to do just that against Brann on Thursday.

"We’re going into that game full of confidence of going into the next round," he added.

“We’ve got a really good squad and I just feel in the Brann game, we’re going to use our squad to the best of our ability and hopefully get a result.”

Should the Buddies get a result, Idowu probably won't need to wait until next summer for a party...

We asked you for your views following St Mirren's stunning win against Hibernian on Sunday to kick off their Scottish Premiership season.

Here's what you had to say:

Alistair: We entered unknown territory playing after a European game and absolutely bossed it. Some of the football was superb, the full team deserve credit for bringing the feel good factor to Paisley.

Craig: Saints came to life in the second half and completely bossed Hibs from then on. First half we were a bit sluggish and not much football was played by either team.

Great momentum and hopefully this continues against the Norwegians on Thursday night.

Alan: Thought it was a pretty even first half but getting the early second half goal gave us quite the lift. From there on I thought we were first class. It's early days but I do think we have the squad to do really well again.

Alistair: Idowu is a find and we'll give a fair few teams a scare this season. Top five again I reckon this season.

Ewan: After a first half performance which could of seen us easily three goals down if it wasn't for Hibs poor decision making in the final third and an incredible save from Balcombe to prevent a Gogic own goal.

The second half brought a real increase in energy from the Saints which ultimately allowed us to control the game and create the scoring chances

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St Mirren will meet Corvinul Hunedoara or Astana in the Conference League play-off if they defeat Brann.

Corvinul Hunedoara were runners-up in the Romanian top flight last season and won the Cupa Romaniei, while Astana were runners-up in Kazakhstan's top division.

The sides meet over the next two Thursdays and St Mirren would be at home first if they progress.

Stephen Robinson's side play the home leg of their third qualifying round tie against Brann on Thursday, with the return leg the following Thursday in Norway.

The Buddies beat Iceland's Valur 4-1 on aggregate to reach the last round before the group stage.

All Conference League play-off ties would be played over the final two Thursdays in August.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Oisin Smyth says St Mirren can compete "at the top end of the table" this season after the Paisley side started their Premiership campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Hibs on Sunday.

The Northern Irish midfielder signed over the summer from Oxford United and scored twice on his Premiership debut having come off the bench.

Smyth, 24, struggled for minutes at his previous club and is determined to get up to speed as quickly as possible with big matches coming for the Buddies both in Europe and domestically.

"I've loved it, to tell you the truth," Smyth told BBC Sport Scotland. "It's been tough. Getting minutes into the legs in pre-season was good and then with the two European games it was just about finding my feet again so now I hope I can kick on.

"There's no reason why we can't go and compete at the top end of the table this year. I know we're probably not expected to because we're obviously limited in terms of what we've got but at the same time, Hibs are a top team and we've beaten them 3-0 today.

"It was intense. I was only on for 30-35 minutes and it was tough. It's going to take a bit of getting used to but I can't wait for the challenge.

"I'll maybe not expect two goals every week but I'm happy to play wherever I'm wanted and if I can keep getting into the box, hopefully I can keep scoring."

Smyth is also delighted the club have further European football to look forward to, and he doesn't want the journey to end with Norwegian side Brann, who come to Paisley this week in the .

"It's brilliant. We saw the atmosphere the fans brought here on Thursday (against Valur); it was incredible," Smyth added.

"If we can bring that again, there's no reason why we can't go and challenge again and push on into the next round.

"We're just going to give it our best. We've got a decent squad of players so we're able to rotate so there's no reason why we can't go and compete again."

Watch the best of the opening-day action from Paisley as St Mirren beat Hibernian. (Available to UK users only)