We dare to dream
KILMARNOCK v ST MIRREN
BY GORDON PARKS complacent because we know there’s always another game and it can change like that.”
The Ayrshire side’s growing status as one of the Premiership’s most daunting opponents isn’t lost on the 23-year-old midfielder.
And Thsibola believes it’s a measure of how far they’ve travelled in the last two seasons.
He said: “We’ve shown that we are among the better teams in Scotland now. Teams will have to change their approach and be careful when they play against us as we have dangerous players who can change the game at any moment.
“Teams are now recognising this and taking us seriously.”
Thsibola is thriving in his second loan stint under Clarke and he admits he has been taken aback by his side’s ever improving fortunes.
He said: “I didn’t know we were going to do as well as we have done.
“It has been great, a really good ride up until now. We work hard every day in training, the gaffer has kept our feet on the ground and we’ve just taken it game by game.
“I’m enjoying it a lot. We’ve been doing well and my game has been getting better.
“It has been as good as before I came to Killie. It had been difficult with trying to find a bit of stability and consistency in my game. Now I feel like I’ve come here and as a team we’ve done tremendously well.
“It was always about finding consistency in my game and enjoying it first and foremost.
“I always thought the rest would come together.”
Closing the curtain on 2018 with three points against the Buddies is now the priority for Tshibola and he’s adamant this afternoon’s clash is as big as they come.
He said: “We don’t want to let the good work go. This is the next game so it’s massive.
“It’s important to get the job done. This is as important as any other game we’ve played.”