St Mirren fans see new signings in action as Robinson opens up on shock transfer exit

dailyrecord.co.uk:

St Mirren fans had the opportunity to see Stephen Robinson’s new men in action on Saturday as the Buddies travelled to East End Park.

New players including goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe and Northern Irish midfielder Oisin Smyth took to the pitch in what was the club’s first pre-season run-out.

Other summer signings, including Shaun Rooney and Roland Idowu, also came off the bench as the Paisley outfit beat Championship side Dunfermline Athletic 1-0.

The game, according to Robinson, showed the squad is about 70 per cent ready for the start of the William Hill Premiership and UEFA Conference League campaign.The only goal of the game came shortly before the half-hour mark when Smyth won possession deep in the Pars half and squared the ball to Toyosi Olusanya to tap it home.Robinson said that the game was vital for getting minutes in the legs and the club had chosen four hard games to prepare for the season. “Ultimately, that’s what these games are about,” he told the Paisley Daily Express Sport . “Dunfermline are ahead of us in terms of their preparation, they’re ready for their first game of the season next week. “We’re at about 70 per cent and I think that showed early on in terms of decisions and fitness.“You could see us growing stronger as the game went on and I thought all the new players settled in really well.