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Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'This season is the best yet' says St Mirren player of the year Killian Phillips
The Irish midfielder picked up three prizes at the club's annual awards dinner and admits that playing for the Paisley club is something he is "proud" of. Killian Phillips has described this season as one of his 'favourites' as he reflects on the campaign after scooping three awards at the annual St Mirren player of the year awards dinner. The on-loan midfielder from English Premier League side and FA Cup winners Crystal Palace has been a hit at the SMiSA Stadium. Phillips — who will join the Saints permanently in the summer after an obligation to buy was inserted into the loan deal — feels that this season has been one of the highlights of his career. 'It has been a special year and a great one for the club,' he said to the Saints media after picking up his awards. '[This season] has been my favourite season in professional football, I mean it has been unbelievable. 'The move worked out perfectly for us and I am delighted and proud to play for this football club.' Having collected the men's player of the year, as well as picking up the social media player of the year and SMiSA player of the year awards, Phillips wasn't a stranger to being on the stage. The 23-year-old joked that he didn't like being in the spotlight after collecting the three accolades but quipped his mum would need to make more shelf space for the trophies. He said: 'I don't know about the being on stage part but I was delighted to win the awards. It means a lot [to me]. But no, I am going to have to keep it to myself so I don't need to pay [my mum] for the extra shelf space.' Phillips' recent performances have not only led to awards but also a call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg in June. 'It was probably the proudest moment of my life,' he said. 'I couldn't take it in as much as I should have, due to the game against Hibs on Wednesday, but on Thursday when I went back to my gaff it was very emotional. 'I might have cried a little tear. But it means the world to me and hopefully I get my first cap in June.' And on being back at St Mirren next season and possibly being an international player, he said: 'I will be back next season and I am looking forward to it. 'We obviously missed out on Europe on the last day of the season but that is the goal again to go and get as high up in the table as we can, and I believe we can do that here.'
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Unseen Killian Phillips moment epitomises beauty of St Mirren team
It was simply one of those moments that evokes a visceral reaction. It's passionate, it's euphoric, in some ways it's an out-of-body experience where you don't even realise what is happening before it does. Some might even call it cathartic. Pause for a moment, regain full control over your voice and body, breathe and blink. It's just a throw-in. To an end, that's all it was. It wasn't a match-winning strike, it wasn't a penalty save, it wasn't the full-time whistle. But, boy, did it mean something - and not just the meaning which can be derived from the fury it created amongst the unhappy visiting supporters. It was the perfect representation of what it means. It was St Mirren all over, in recent seasons at least. Desire to win, commitment to the last and connection from the stands to the field. It's not the first time Phillips has celebrated a foul to relieve pressure or throw in to gain control, and those packing the SMiSA are desperate for it not to be the last. Under Stephen Robinson, there is a fat chance of it being the latter. Phillips was recently named Player and Young Player of the Year through a fan vote for the annual Black and White Army awards. It was recognition well deserved for a player who has demonstrated his undeniable quality this season. A physical presence, commanding in the midfield engine room but with quality to boot, Phillips is the microcosm of this St Mirren team. Just last week, after the 2-2 draw with Rangers, Robinson smirked: "Some fantastic play in our build-up, but you guys will never mention will just be that we were direct. "We played some super football as always." Read more: He's right. Heck, scroll back a few paragraphs, and the first quality of Phillips mentioned is his physicality. For too long, that has been the basis of any credit handed out to St Mirren. You could mark a bingo card with the cliches dished out about being resolute in defence, disciplined in the press or a quip about the back three really being a back five. This St Mirren team is far beyond stuffy and organised. Of course, the foundation is a solid defensive record, certainly, there are times when a longer pass is preferred to risky build-up play from the back, but simply offering a pat on the head to a so-called direct team? Give me a break. Watch Mandron's goal on Saturday, which demonstrated sublime technique, opportunism and killer instinct. It's fair to suggest Mark O'Hara's lofted ball into the box wasn't taken from the Total Football playbook, but the finish was expertly executed and that of an intelligent striker, not some big number nine type, as Mandron is often misrepresented. Take Phillips winning that throw, it comes from pressing, harrying, some physicality, but also some shrewd play, quick feet and unrelenting desire. Robinson is right that St Mirren don't get the credit they deserve for their qualities on the ball, but it's the work off it that resonates so strongly and makes this team a pleasure to watch for those inside the stadium and following them around the country. "That's credit to the players, to have that desire, and so they should," said Robinson after the 1-0 win over Aberdeen. "People pay good money to watch them every week, and we will never give anything less than that." Even if St Mirren go out and play like Barcelona this weekend, Robinson will still have the right to call out the lack of praise over the course of the season or, worse still, any condescending plaudits when they come. Given the choice between free-flowing, silky football and this St Mirren team? I'll stick with celebrating throw ins.
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stephen Robinson questions if clubs are getting 'value for money' with VAR
Robinson highlighted a number of issues with VAR , including the failure to award a penalty against Celtic at the SMiSA, Olusanya's red at Fir Park and Bwomono being denied a penalty against St Johnstone Stephen Robinson has called for improvements to VAR as he questions if clubs are getting 'value for money'. The St Mirren gaffer spoke out this week as his club looks set to top a table of clubs most impacted by incorrect calls on the digital refereeing system for a second time; last season the Buddies had three VAR decisions adjudged to be incorrect. Robinson is now adding his voice to growing calls for improvements to the system — with Motherwell having this week released a statement in light of Kofi Balmer's red card against Kilmarnock being overturned. 'I don't believe anything has gone our way this season in terms of decisions,' he said. 'We're top of the VAR list for decisions against us. 'Motherwell are nowhere near where we are in terms of decisions against. They have had three in their favour against us for second yellow cards. 'They have obviously had their own issues with it. The red card against Kofi Balmer was rightly overturned.' He added: 'Are we getting value for money? There have to be improvements.' Since the turn of the year, one of the high-profile errors among many for the Buddies came in the club's 1-0 loss at home to St Johnstone in February when no spot-kick was given for a foul on Elvis Bwomono in the penalty box, with VAR agreeing with the on-field decision. This led to the club releasing a statement in which they expressed concerns after an 'accumulation of errors' by VAR against the club. A month later the Saints were judged to have been the victim of another mistake, with Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum agreeing that the club should have been awarded a penalty in their home league loss to Celtic. The incident saw Alistair Johnston's challenge against Roland Idowu judged fair as the visitors led 3-2, with the Premiership leaders going on to win 5-2. Speaking about the penalty claim, Collum said: 'For us, this is a penalty kick. This is a reckless challenge. 'The outcome here should've been penalty kick and yellow card.' While Robbo has repeatedly conceded human error is part of the game, he believes improvements must be made to VAR if it is to continue being used. Rules such as not being able to challenge two yellows when the SFA deem the decision to be wrong — an incident Toyosi Olusanya was a victim of at Fir Park against Motherwell — was one aspect the Saints boss mentioned. He said: 'It probably hasn't set out to do what it said — that's correcting human error. 'It is correcting some errors but ultimately it's still human beings making decisions and we have to be better — Willie Collum acknowledges that and the whole referee department acknowledges that. Everyone is doing their best. No one sets out to make mistakes. 'But it has to be better and we all know there has to be improvement with how VAR is used and what it's being used for. 'Second yellows that lead to reds affects you one week and the following week.'
