Goodwin sees his Saints soar thanks to siege mentality
JIM GOODWIN admits St Mirren have fostered a siege mentality to help transform their season. The Buddies are riding a wave of form that has seen them go ten games unbeaten and reach the Betfred Cup semi-finals by becoming the first team this season to beat Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.
It’s in stark contrast to the early- season woes that saw the Paisley side prop up the Premiership table and suffer more than most due to the effects of a coronavirus outbreak.
Goodwin says an order by an SPFL tribunal to award 3- 0 defeats to Motherwell and Hamilton after a breach of Covid protocols has helped to knit dressing-room unity in the face of adversity.
Admitting he has channelled the setbacks this season, the Saints boss says: ‘We definitely do that. I’m big of the psychological side of the game anyway. It’s certainly something I’ve used throughout my playing career.
‘This season as manager I’ve probably used it more than I ever have, because I think you can either allow things to really get you down and have a negative impact on your personality or you can stand up to it.
‘I’m talking about the Covid side of things and some of the decisions that have gone against us in games when we felt we could have had a couple of penalties.
‘ When similar decisions go against you the following week it’s tough. Then the decision about t he Motherwell and Hamilton games as well.
‘You’ve got to use every little thing possible to your advantage and gain a siege mentality almost.
‘It’s worked up until now, we don’t really care what people outside our dressing room are saying about us.
‘We just focus fully on the job that we can do and ultimately that comes down to hard work on the training ground, belief, togetherness and team spirit. All of those buzz words that people use.
‘ We’ve got a good group of players with fantastic characters and there is that sense of belief that we are capable of doing something special this year.’
Saints were forced to cancel t heir October games with Motherwell and Accies after a coronavirus outbreak left Goodwin unable to field a team.
The Buddies believed the two matches should be replayed and have appealed against the decision by a Hampden disciplinary panel to hand their opponents walkover victories and issue a suspended £40,000 fine.
With a Betfred Cup semi-final against Livingston to add to an already crowded fixture schedule, Goodwin says the club have yet to hear the outcome of their appeal to the SFA.
‘Hopefully we get the opportunity to play the games against Motherwell and Hamilton and give us a chance to get six points, because those six points could be massive come the end of the season,’ added Goodwin ahead of today’s visit of St Johnstone.
‘They could be the difference between finishing in the top six or finishing ninth or tenth. We can’t afford to be giving those kind of points away, especially to teams we are competing with.
‘ We need to hope for a fair outcome and hope we can get the opportunity to play for those points on the park.
‘I would like to think the appeal would be decided some time next week.’
Following their own midweek Bet fred Cup success, St Johnstone arrive in Paisley today determined to bring the Buddies crashing back to earth.
Winger Craig Conway, who returned to action in the midweek penalty shootout win over Dunfermline after suffering a broken nose against Motherwell last month, admits he wants to cement his place in the first team ahead of January’s semi-final tie with Hibs. Conway said: A lot of players don’t get the chance to play in a semi-final. We’re all really excited about it.
‘The results the other night have made it wide open for everyone. We’ve got a tough test in Hibs but all f our clubs will f eel they’ve got a good chance of getting to a final.
‘It’s great for everyone to have a semi-final to look forward to. It was never a stick-on that Rangers would go on and win it but they were overriding favourites.
‘I have to admit I didn’t see that result coming. But fair play to St Mirren.
‘They have improved massively and will be buzzing after getting through to the semis.
‘But hopefully we can go there, play some nice football and get a result.’