Thursday, July 17

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Sports Mole previews Saturday's Scottish League Cup clash between St Mirren and Annan Athletic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Aiming to further cement their spot at the summit of the Group D standings, St Mirren welcome Annan Athletic to St Mirren Park on Saturday afternoon for a Scottish League Cup clash.

The Saints picked up their first victory of the 2025-26 campaign last time out, whereas the Black and Golds suffered a sobering defeat at Galabank.

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Match preview

Securing a top-half finish in each of the last three Scottish Premiership campaigns, St Mirren are the clear favourites to advance as section winners in Group C, with Saturday afternoon's hosts making a commendable start to their League Cup journey this month.

A goalless draw at the base of second-tier Arbroath was a respectable result to commence the Saints' schedule last weekend, and three days later the top-tier outfit picked up their maiden win, beating League Two side Forfar Athletic on Tuesday night.

Striking either side of the half-time whistle, St Mirren cantered into a two-goal lead courtesy of efforts from Jayden Richardson and Mikael Mandron, before a late consolation from Kieran Inglis gave Forfar brief hope of an unlikely comeback.

Collecting a tally of four points from their opening pair of Group D fixtures, the Saints are currently occupying first spot in the five-team section, one point ahead of Ayr United in second and two points ahead of third-placed Arbroath.

Unlike the majority of the teams competing in the group stage of this year's competition, St Mirren possess serious League Cup pedigree having lifted the trophy in 2013, beating Scottish giants Celtic in the final four at Hampden Park before conquering Hearts in the final.

Still reeling from their League One relegation campaign of 2024-25, Annan Athletic have made an understandably slow start to their League Cup schedule this month, enduring a pair of worrying matchdays against Forfar and Ayr United to date.

The Black and Golds suffered the second-heaviest defeat of the competition on Tuesday night at a despondent Galabank, with a sensational hat-trick from George Oakley representing the highlight of a 6-1 success for Championship club Ayr.

Scoring both of his side's goals in the League Cup so far, striker Aidan Smith is setting a positive example at the top end of the pitch and should be targeting a 20-goal season in League Two this term, with the 28-year-old last featuring in the fourth tier with Annan in 2022-23.

After a humbling defeat at the hands of Ayr earlier this week, Wullie Gibson's men are rooted to the bottom of the Group D rankings ahead of Saturday's daunting trip to Premiership side St Mirren, three points behind the Saints at the summit of the standings.

Despite suffering relegation last season, Annan managed to retain the services of arguably their best player over the course of the summer, with talisman and captain Tommy Muir putting pen to paper on a fresh two-year deal at Galabank.

St Mirren Scottish League Cup form: D W

Annan Athletic Scottish League Cup form: D L

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Team News

Following the departure of last season's leading goalscorer Toyosi Olusanya to Houston Dynamo of MLS, St Mirren have become reliant on the attacking antics of former Sunderland youngster Mandron.

The Saints are yet to dip into the transfer market for a new striker, but a number of fresh faces have joined in midfield, including Liam Donnelly and Roland Idowu.

Scoring off the bench at Forfar, Madron should enter the XI this weekend, meaning that Jonah Ayunga is likely to drop out of the side.

As is the case with the Saints, Annan have a pair of new midfielders in the form of Kyle Fleming and 21-year-old Mackenzie Strachan.

Smith should start in attack for the Black and Golds after his impressive start to the League Cup term, aiming for a goal in a third straight match.

St Mirren possible starting lineup:

Urminsky; Fraser, Gogic, Iacovitti; Richardson, Phillips, Smyth, John; McMenamin, Idowu; Mandron

Annan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Balfour; R Muir, T Muir, Todd, Gilmour; Carmichael, McGowan, Deveney, P Smith, A Smith; Craik

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We say: St Mirren 3-0 Annan Athletic

 

After a pair of away matches in this competition, St Mirren will be desperate to put on a goal-laden display on home soil versus struggling Annan this weekend.

The Black and Golds were helpless against Ayr earlier this week and a similar narrative could unfold at the base of Premiership opposition on Saturday afternoon. 

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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