St Mirren

Jack Herrall

BBC Sport Scotland

Despite Ross County's impressive performances so far this season, they were not near those levels.

St Mirren managed to frustrate them and limit the effectiveness of their wide players throughout the half. On the opening day against Hearts Edwards was sensational, but the winger failed to follow that up on his second Scottish Premiership start.

The home side appear to have more of an identity under Robinson now with a clearer tactical identity on the pitch, particularly when turning the ball over and attacking.

Even though the goal was a stunner, Robinson will be hoping his strikers start chipping in with them too, as will Malky Mackay.

Speaking post-match after his side's 1-0 win over Ross County, Stephen Robinson told BBC Scotland: “I’m pleased for the players. For the level of performances in recent weeks, outwith 22 minutes against Aberdeen, that was their just rewards.

"They stuck in, they were really well organised and Ross County didn’t create a lot against us which we set out to do.

"It’s a tremendous finish from Tait that wins the game for us.

"To a man they gave everything today and that’s all you can ask. Fans want to see that they pay their money and it’s expensive nowadays and they want to see teams dying and running for the shirt and they’ve done that in all three games."

Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw is desperate to put points on the board against St Mirren on Saturday.

County ran Hearts and Celtic close and are away to a St Mirren side who have also started the Scottish Premiership with back-to-back defeats.

Laidlaw said: "Performances have been good but we haven't picked up any points.

"We have had two tough games, obviously Hearts finished third last year and Celtic won the league.

"So we knew it was going to be a tough start for us, and it will be a tough game again on Saturday.

"If we get a performance, great, but the most important thing is getting three points."

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson believes Saturday's opponents Ross County have performed well so far this season, despite not having a point yet in the Scottish Premiership.

County have opened with defeats by Heart of Midlothian and Celtic, while St Mirren also have no points from their first two games against Motherwell and Aberdeen.

"If you are not playing well it is a concern Sometimes performances come before results and I believe that has been the case," said Robinson. "I also think it has been the case for Ross County.

"I watched both their games and they were really strong in both games. Ross County started poor last season and ended up in the top six.

"There are lots of things to be positive about for us, but of course you want a result, you want to get off the mark. The confidence and belief is still here but obviously results help that."

What should Stephen Robinson's starting line-up be at home to Ross County on Saturday? Here's your chance to pick your XI.

Pick your team here.

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It was a worrying display from St Mirren as they lost 4-1 away to Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Manager Stephen Robinson has publicly stated he wants to play a counter-attacking brand of football. At Pittodrie, they did not get out the starting blocks.

Two games in to the league campaign and the Buddies have no points, with Ross County at home up next.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson spoke to BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound following his side's 4-1 Scottish Premiership loss to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

"There's very little in the game for twenty-two minutes," he said. "To come here and play with 10 men for 70-odd minutes, it's hard enough with 11. It makes it an uphill task. It's a double punishment. After that, we showed character in the second half and got into a little.

"Two of the goals for me were very preventable. The second goal was a cross into the box that we don't defend properly. The fourth goal, we let the centre-forward turn. We can look for reasons, but there's things we can control better as well.

"I can't ask any more from them in terms of attitude and application in the last two games. They've given absolutely everything. They're a brilliant bunch of boys. We haven't had that rub of the green, that lady luck that you need sometimes."

Aberdeen: Roos, McCrorie, Scales, Stewart, Miovski, Besuijen, Ramadani, Hayes, Coulson, Richardson, Kennedy

Substitutes: Lewis, Duk, Watkins, Clarkson, Polvara, Duncan, Milne, Roberts, Ramirez

St Mirren: Carson, Gallagher, Shaughnessy, Dunne, Strain, Baccus, Kiltie, Erhahon, Tait, Ayunga, Main

Substitutes: Urminksy, Flynn, Reid, Taylor, Henderson, Olsuanya, Offord, Greive, Brophy

Loan defender Liam Scales returns to Aberdeen's squad for the visit of St Mirren after being ineligible against parent club Celtic. Connor Barron and Jack MacKenzie remain out.

St Mirren's Mark O'Hara misses out because of concussion protocols but attacker Greg Kiltie returns from suspension. Defenders Marcus Fraser and Scott Tanser will be assessed.

Did you know? St Mirren have not won on 13 visits to Pittodrie Stadium since a penalty shoot-out success in the League Cup after a 2-2 draw in October 2012.

Ryan Strain hopes his performances will make him "a good shout for the World Cup".

The full-back, 25, joined St Mirren from Maccabi Haifa this summer and is hoping to break into the Australia squad.

"I am focusing on St Mirren, playing as many games as possible," said Strain.

"Just after pre-season last year I got called up to one of the camps but unfortunately injured my hamstring before the China match, which was gutting for me.

"It gave me that sniff and I really want to go there and prove myself again. When you have grown up watching the World Cup and Champions League, that's why you play football.

"It is a massive year for me and hopefully I can do well for St Mirren. And doing well for St Mirren hopefully puts me in good shoes for the World Cup."

Stephen Robinson believes he can "most definitely" make his St Mirren squad stronger.

The Buddies have recruited seven players so far in the summer transfer window and Robinson says having Eamonn Brophy and Curtis Main back to full fitness would be "like two new signings".

"We are all trying to manipulate the budget and trying to do things," said Robinson.

"Can I make this squad stronger in certain areas? Most definitely. Let's see what we can do.

"Since I have been in I have only been able to use both of them sporadically and it would be great to have both of them fighting fit.

"They got 60 minutes of another practise game under their belt on Tuesday so hopefully both will be available and a little bit closer to full fitness for Saturday."

Put yourself in the shoes of St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson and select your starting line-up for this weekend's trip to Aberdeen.

Pick your team here.

There are "no more excuses" for Jim Goodwin and his St Mirren counterpart Stephen Robinson, according to the Aberdeen boss.

Both managers took charge of their respective clubs in February, and after bottom-six Premiership finishes, have overseen major summer surgery to their squads.

Goodwin left Paisley for Aberdeen earlier this year, and welcomes his old side to the Granite City in their first home league game of the campaign.

"Both myself and Stephen came into both clubs at difficult periods of the season," Goodwin said. "February is never an easy time to take over any team when you’ve not got a window to look forward to.

"We inherited two teams in different situations but both of us wanted to put our own stamp on things. Stephen will no doubt feel after the recruitment he's done that he’s getting his own team together, similar to myself. There’s a fresh feeling to the whole squad here, as I’m sure Stephen will feel at St Mirren.

"There are no more excuses for either of us; these are our teams, they have to play the football we want them to, and we have to get the results both sets of fans will be expecting and demanding."

Ex-Scotland international Leanne Crichton speaking to BBC Scotland

It's only one game into the league season, but St Johnstone are a worry.

Granted, they had a tough game against Hibernian on Saturday and going down to 10 men for over half an hour was far from ideal, but there are still the same concerns about where goals are going to come from.

Another team lacking in cutting edge is St Mirren. In the League Cup group stage, they really struggled - but against Motherwell they showed some positive signs.

They created far more chances than they had of late, but yet again failed to hit the back of the net and ultimately finished the game with nothing.

Read Leanne's column in full here.