St Mirren avoid unwanted Scottish first as 12th Premiership team for next season confirmed

In avoiding becoming the first Scottish club to win a major trophy and then be relegated in the same season, the Paisley side rounded off a tumultuous campaign that saw them clinch the League Cup in December but also struggle for form in the league.

Forced into the play-offs to try to secure their top-flight status, a helter-skelter two-legged tie was eventually settled by a Marcus Fraser volley midway through the second half that denied Thistle side a return to the top flight for the first time since 2018.

Fraser had scored in that League Cup final triumph but, if anything, this strike was even more important given it spared Saints from the ignominy of a spell in the Championship. A summer of change, though, will still be needed in Paisley – starting with the appointment of a permanent manager – or Saints risk finding themselves back in this same position in 12 months’ time.

Their fortunes were always likely to suffer a downturn once Stephen Robinson moved on but few had expected it to happen so suddenly or dramatically. Three successive top-six finishes, a return to European competition and then that League Cup triumph were all remarkable achievements but also the feats of a club punching repeatedly above its weight.

December’s Hampden triumph merely papered over some of the cracks but at least now they can rebuild from a stronger position than if they had been relegated into one of the toughest divisions around.

Don’t Thistle know that. This was a fifth successive unsuccessful attempt to seal promotion via the playoffs as they failed to build on their promising 1-1 draw in the first leg at Firhill. Their players looked understandably forlorn come full time as they went to salute their 1600-strong travelling support who had made the short journey full of hope only to be crushed once again.

Not even the Bank Holiday sunshine could ease the tension felt all around the ground throughout this one. The prize – or punishment– on offer was far too great for anyone to feel in any way relaxed. This was a night for nails being bitten down to the bone.

That air of anxiety seemed to affect St Mirren more than their visitors and a number of slack mistakes at the back – including one from defensive rock Alex Gogic – gave Thistle encouragement if not the lead. That should have gone the way of the home side but, picked out perfectly by Scott Tanser, Fraser could only head it down the goalkeeper’s throat. His time would come.

It was the Championship side, though, who looked far more composed. They were almost given a fortunate lead when Ross Sinclair in the St Mirren goal spilled a straightforward Robbie Crawford shot but no Thistle player was following up for the tap-in.

St Mirren’s jitters were matched by the pangs of anguish in the three home stands as passes went astray and defenders failed to clear their lines. Mika Mandron offered some hope with a shot that raced across the face of the goal but Thistle were the team that continued to look more likely.

The tension went up a notch after the interval and the chances with it. Jake Young smashed in a left-foot effort that Josh Clarke shoved over the top before Sinclair made up for his earlier howler by pushing away an Alex Samuel stinger.

It looked like a goal might never arrive but St Mirren had other thoughts as they forged into a 65th minute lead. Fraser was the unlikely scorer, volleying in Mark O’Hara’s free kick via the crossbar. A long VAR check kept the home side waiting before the goal was awarded.

That was never likely to be the end of the drama and so it proved. Fraser conceded a free kick and only a stunning save from Sinclair denied Logan Chalmers an equaliser. The visitors had one final chance from a similar position when Kyle Turner struck his free kick into the defensive wall Thistle’s race was run.