Please start to believe. Then you’ll stop the rot

It was less night of the living dead – more night of the walking defeated. Halloween was supposed to be a treat for St Mirren, a chance to kickstart their season. But again we were all tricked into believing that as Saints simply surrendered after going a goal behind. It’s been an altogether too regular occurrence for a team that right now looks out of its de depth in the top flight. In some respects it isn’t the players’ fault, but a nu number either aren’t fir firing on all cylinders or ju just aren’t good enough. Bu t the most worrying aspect right now is the self-belief. The lack of c confidence is so painfully obvious that it almost hurts to w watch. This was no more evident in Ryan Edwards’ dive in the second half of Tuesday’s game. A lung- bursting run that saw the Aussie getting the better of two markers was just the shot in the arm that Saints needed. But bearing down on goal, instead of the option to shoot, he takes a tumble.

Did he not think he could score? Was it an easy way out? You would have to ask him that question, but a confident player would have stayed on his feet and tried to get the shot away.

How many times did we bemoan Lewis Morgan for staying on his feet when he could have gone down last season? The same applied to both Cammy Smith and Gavin Reilly on more than one occasion.

That was a confident team, who believed if they never scored that time, they would have another chance five minutes later.

Saying it is the easy way out is perhaps a harsh brush to tar him with, but after what was admittedly a brief bright spark of a run, Edwards has to show the courage of his convictions and rifle a shot for goal.

It isn’t like there have been many chances to come by.

In the past two games you would be lucky to think of three shots on target.

The best opportunity against St Johnstone at the weekend was a mishit Lee Hodson cross, such is the lack of cutting edge in and around the box. There is no creative driving force, with Adam Hammill looking like he still needs to get up to speed.

Right now, things aren’t getting any better and even when there is some hint of something, it is quickly negated by the opposition.

Wednesday night was the pits of a season that has so far rivalled the infamous year of Tommy Craig. as St Mirren simply fell to another straightforward defeat, this time at the hands of Motherwell. For the first time this year, the discontent was starting to show from some supporters.

It begs the question of where do you go from here?

Tomorrow’s game with Rangers is nothing more than a write-off, although we all know how that could turn out.

Realistically, all eyes should be on Dens Park for the clash the following Saturday.

The game on Tayside is already taking on the mantle of the cliched relegation six-pointer. It is crazy to think that St Mirren aren’t even bottom of the league despite their horror show start to the campaign.

It has been a case of anything you can do, we can worse, with regards to Dundee, who themselves only have three points.

Both teams have sacked their managers, while neither has really been able to capitalise on the bounce that should come with it.

That points to a mentality issue that no doubt needs sorted out in both camps.

Saints manager Oran Kearney admits he can’t wait to put his own stamp on the side come January, but concedes it might be too little too late by the time that comes around.

It is little more than an arms race between the two sides now – who can recruit the best, who can push the button first and find that elusive victory that they both so desperately require. But first things first – Saturday. It may be Rangers, but right now it doesn’t matter, Saints will be rank outsiders.

Three points is three points, regardless of who they come from and how they do so.