Season 2009-10

Season 2009-10 was a rollercoaster of a campaign for Saints with many ups and downs, twists and turns.

First up was the league cup and a 1st round tie with part timers East Stirling. Saints raced into an early 3-0 lead but were stunned when the third division side fired themselves level before the break!

Saints eventually ran out 6-3 winners with Billy Mehmet scoring five times, but they knew they would have to sharpen up for the tougher times ahead.

Ayr United, Kilmarnock and Motherwell were eliminated, setting up a semi final with Hearts at Fir Park. Mehmet emerged the hero again with a stunning strike to send Saints to their first major Hampden final in 23 years.

In the final they faced champions elect Rangers. Saints dominated the match for long periods, but when Rangers had two players dismissed in the closing stages of the match, the Saints players appeared to freeze and were hit by a sucker punch when Rangers scored and held out for a 1-0 victory.

The Scottish Cup also saw Rangers end Saints hopes with a 1-0 defeat in a fifth round replay after Billy Mehmet had scored a hat-trick to knock out East Fife in the fourth round.

The league campaign was full of ups and downs with the inability to turn possession into goals and the loss of several late goals being the main feature of the season. Many games ended in defeat or draws which could so easily have been victories.

Highlight of the season was a magnificent 4-0 demolition of Celtic just days after the heart break of the cup final. The first league victory over the Parkhead club since 1989. For the fourth straight season Saints went into the split still fighting relegation. However they avoided a last day nerve jangler with a late equaliser at Falkirk in the third last game to set up a fifth season in the top flight.