It’s fitness first as Saints get back on the pitch
St Mirren Women head coach Kate Cooper insists the scorelines were the least important thing after finally getting game time in her players’ legs.
The Saints lost two consecutive friendlies to Renfrew Ladies, going down 3-4 at their new Mossedge home last weekend before losing out 6-2 at New Western Park on Sunday.
With several new signings making their first appearance in the stripes, Cooper believes that the games will prove invaluable as she builds her squad ahead of the new campaign.
Cooper said:“The girls are trying to get back to full match fitness and sharpness, which doesn’t happen overnight.
“The scores were never going to be important for us. These games have all been about making the switch from training to matches in a safe way that limits the chance of injuries.
“It’s been brilliant to have game days again and I’ve been really pleased at how our players have acquited themselves so far
“As always, everyone wants to go 200mph once they’re back on the pitch, so we’ve had to temper that a wee bit.
“There’s been a big turnaround in the squad as well. Lots of players have moved clubs to stay closer to home, so it’s been great for us to get our new players bedded in a bit more as well.”
Sunday’s match was live-streamed on Facebook.
And Cooper believes that will likely be the only way supporters will be able to watch their games until next year due to the developments with coronavirus in Scotland this week.
She said: “It’s clear after the conversations and decisions this week that fans won’t be back at games before the end of the year.
“We’re looking at getting streaming organised for all our home games, especially because we want to keep our supporters as involved as possible.
“We’ve . had to move to Mossedge in Linwood because council facilities aren’t fully opened yet. Many women’s clubs have had to do the same, like Glasgow City.
“It’s been great at Mossedge so far as it’s a brilliant training facility.”
Up next for St Mirren Women is a friendly derby clash with Greenock Morton.
Cooper played down the significance of the rivarly, again targeting fitness as the main goal this Sunday.
She added: “It’s a wee bit of a derby, but we play each other quite a lot normally, so we’re not that fussed about it.
“Everything is geared towards getting ourselves fit and match sharp for our league opener against Airdrie on October 18.
“For me, every game should feel like a derby anyway.”