​Craig McLeish could hardly hide his delight after summer signings Samuel Ramos and Chris Mochrie announced themselves in the St Mirren ranks with goals on their debuts during a commanding 4-0 win over Dumbarton in the Premier Sports Cup. The Spanish midfielder Ramos grabbed a brace, sandwiching a strike from Mochrie, a former Dundee United and Airdrie forward, as the Buddies produced a stylish performance at Cliftonhill.
“I’m thrilled for both players,” McLeish said. “That’s exactly why we brought them in— to inject creativity, to add assists and to contribute goals. Ultimately, those are the metrics the players at the sharp end of the pitch will be judged on, and this is a strong, encouraging start for both of them.” He also praised Ramos’s all-round display and noted Mochrie offered something a touch different to the team’s attacking dynamic.
“Samuel’s performance was outstanding. Mochs brought something a little unusual to our approach,” McLeish explained. “We’ve asked him to play as a number nine, but not to stay there rigidly. We want him to drift, to float and create space for Jalmaro (Calvin) and Roland (Idowu) to run through. I think it clicked well at times, and there were moments of real quality in his movement.”
The structure of the victory was completed by teenager Thomas Falconer, who sealed the result as St Mirren began their title defence in confident fashion. McLeish described the performance as “really professional,” stressing the importance of starting the campaign with three points and maintaining momentum.
“It was a really professional display,” he added. “Delighted to get off to a winning start. We spoke about this not being merely an extension of pre-season—this is our season start, and as the holders in this competition, we must set the tone. I told the players that we have to get off to a strong start, progress through the group stage, and keep building from here.”
The 4-0 victory over Dumbarton not only delivered an emphatic result but also reinforced St Mirren’s attacking depth and tactical flexibility under McLeish. Ramos’s double demonstrated his ability to influence the game from midfield, while Mochrie’s adaptability in the front line offered fresh avenues for the Saints going forward. The combined impact of these new signings, alongside Falconer’s late clincher, underscored a bright early signal for St Mirren’s campaign in the Premier Sports Cup as they aim to translate preseason optimism into sustained success.