IT was an observation from St Mirren captain Stephen McGinn that when given closer examination proves quite startling.

“I think the problem this window is that we have signed a lot of players who have not played a lot of football,” said McGinn after a defeat at home to Livingston on Saturday in which St Mirren were so flocculent even opposite number Craig Halkett confessed surprise at how comfortable their victory was.

Only five players, including McGinn, in St Mirren’s starting line-up were part of the squad that former manager Jack Ross, now guiding Sunderland’s revival, led to Ladbrokes Championship glory last season.

Of the other six, Cole Kpekawa, 22, once deemed worthy by Barnsley of handing Queen’s Park Rangers a reported £450,000 for, has never reached double digits in league appearances in a season since his debut in 2014, in a meandering career also taking in spells at Portsmouth, Leyton Orient and Colchester United. Kpekawa was responsible for Livingston’s second goal in the 36th minute, carelessly slicing a clearance behind for a corner that Alan Lithgow headed in from Steven Lawless’ kick. The English defender was substituted just five minutes into the second half by the man who brought him in, St Mirren manager Alan Stubbs, as he “wasn’t winning enough balls”.

Hayden Coulson, on loan from Middlesbrough, had never played a first-team match prior to his arrival at St Mirren, same as Alfie Jones from Southampton. Debutant Lee Hodson, on loan from Rangers, made fewer than 25 appearances in the past two seasons at Ibrox, and, granted while Nicolai Brock-Madsen – also substituted in the second-half – featured during loan spells at PEC Zwolle and Cracovia, he’s only managed six games for parent club Birmingham City since 2015.

Perhaps the most surprising of Stubbs’ substitutions was the removal of midfielder Matty Willock after 64 minutes, on loan from Manchester United and who played for St Johnstone last season, who has at least shown glimpses of promise in a black and white shirt.

Livingston’s opener, the first of Gary Holt’s tenure, came in the 14th minute and also as a result of a corner; St Mirren failing to clear the initial delivery and Lithgow eventually crossing low for Jack Hamilton to score via the underside of the bar.

McGinn, who admitted St Mirren were “soft”, dubbed the loss of two goals from set pieces as “so frustrating”. The midfielder insisted: “Maybe even losing goals like we lost can affect us too. I always say to the boys who have played in England, this is a really tough league. It doesn’t get a lot of respect from down the road, but you have to realise quickly how tough it is up here.”

He added: “It’s a totally different team. Livingston are pretty much the same, we have a new manager and new players. We have to learn next time we play them to stand up and match their power and aggression.

“It’s not nice, everyone is hurting, there were words said. When you lose as softly as we did – there wasn’t a shot on target from us – it’s not great.”

McGinn then went on to label the result “disastrous”, and while St Mirren won their opening game of the season against Dundee, they were incredibly fortunate to do so, only as a result of the most profligate finishing from Neil McCann’s team. A league defeat to Rangers and a heavy Betfred Cup loss at Aberdeen have followed.

“It’s not at that crisis stage yet hopefully,” said McGinn – though his addition of the word ‘hopefully’ is certain to be noted by St Mirren fans.

And next up for the Saints is a trip to table-toppers Hearts, followed by a visit from champions Celtic.

“What we need to do is stick together and hopefully add some players this week,” said McGinn.

One of which may be Kenny Miller, said Stubbs. Miller of course was Livingston’s player/manager up until the beginning of last week, and while Halkett admitted the squad were “a wee bit surprised” by his departure, you wouldn’t have known it.

Livingston were everything St Mirren were not; strong, resolute and ruthless. Even the phrases Halkett used to describe the Livingston squad were telling – “close-knit” and that they are “friends off the pitch”.

“On days off we like to do things together and on Saturday it helps bigtime,” said Halkett. Quite. The current crop at St Mirren seem not only strangers on the pitch, but are strangers to a starting line-up.