Could cup success be next step for over-achieving St Mirren?

Setting out with the ambition to bring home some silverware is a tall order for most teams these days in Scottish football.

Only three teams other than Celtic - Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone - have won a major domestic trophy in the past nine seasons.

Yet hope still springs eternal. And at St Mirren, it's easy to see why.

Sixth, fifth and sixth over the past three seasons, the Paisley outfit have become unlikely top-six regulars and continued to outperform their budget.

On Saturday, Stephen Robinson's side start their competitive campaign away to Arbroath in the Scottish League Cup group stage (15:00).

With Forfar Athletic, Annan Athletic and Ayr United to come thereafter, St Mirren have a decent enough draw and can realistically expect to be in the last 16.

But could it get even better than that?

It wasn't all that long ago that an unfancied St Mirren side overcame Celtic in a semi-final, then Hearts at Hampden, to win the 2013 League Cup.

For the current generation, Mark O'Hara is the man dreaming of getting his hands on the cup in the year of its 80th birthday.

"Obviously there was success before in the cup and the boys that played that day are legends here and that's what we want to achieve," said O'Hara.

"We've had success with the top six and getting into Europe, but this group want to be successful in the cup.

"When you look in the stadium and see all the photos from last time, and the town coming together, it's something we would like to give to the fans.

Podcast: St Mirren season preview

04/07/25

"We've spoken and that's something that as a group we want to achieve - we want to get to Hampden and want that day out and we're more than capable of doing it.

"So we just need to make sure that we approach these games right, firstly, and give ourselves the best chance we can."

Jim Goodwin wore the armband that famous March day in 2013.

"It brought the whole community of Paisley together," the Dundee United and former St Mirren manager Goodwin told BBC Scotland recently.

"The fans turned out in great numbers on the day at Hampden, but I don't think any of us would have anticipated the scenes back in Paisley town centre.

"At one stage you thought 'there's nobody here', then you turned the corner and you saw thousands and thousands lining the streets and hanging out of windows."

How optimistic are St Mirren fans going into the new season? Is a cup win achievable?

Have your say