Goodwin: Our Covid kickings have made us Buddie strong
Saints unbeaten run is built on togetherness and team spirit
Jim Goodwin insists St Mirren are rolling with the punches after they hauled themselves off the Premiership canvas with a gritty win.
Jamie McGrath’s first-half strike was enough to take the Buddies off bottom spot as the Irishman bagged his third goal in three games.
Boss Goodwin is convinced hi s side’s nine- match unbeaten run is testament to defiance and a united spirit within the Saints dressing room, after suffering a sense of injustice by SPFL point forfeits in a Covid-19-ravaged campaign.
He said: “When decisions go against you and things are happening to your club I do think it does bring everyone together even more.
“You could say that has galvanised us. Plus we have very good players.
“The result lifts us off the bottom of the table which is important. It gives the players and the fans a lift.
“I’ve great faith in this group, even when we were going through that poor period.
“I always knew when we got the full group back things would turn.
“It’s no coincidence we’re on this run now because we’ve kept everyone fit and healthy.
“We’ve had a lot of plaudits lately for the way in which we’ve been playing and the run that we’ve been on.
“We’ve been playing some good football. But the second half wasn’t about that.
“It was about a real togetherness and team spirit and showing a grit and d e t e rmi n a t i o n that sometimes people question. That was there in abundance in the second half.
“My keeper made a couple of saves when he needed to, my two centre-halves were excellent and collectively it was a real team effort.”
The Buddies were inches away from the perfect start as Jon Obika and Ilkay Durmus combined early on.
Cal lum Lang put Chris Long’s cross over at the other end then Richard Tait had to deny Lang an opener.
Eleven minutes in Saints were ahead and it was all so simple. Obika’s effort from an angle was kept out by Jordan Archer only for McGrath to react first and slam home the rebound from 18 yards.
It was a reward for the sense of adventure displayed by the Paisley side from the start as they f looded forward in numbers at every opportunity.
Well’s failure to match runners was proving costly.
Dylan Connolly’s header flashed wide from a Tait cross in the 22nd minute as Saints looked to double their lead, as they continued to catch the eye as an attacking force.
Well’s struggle to get any control of the contest saw Declan Gallagher booked for hauling back Durmus with Saints too hot to handle.
Well ended the half with a thundering effort from Long kept out by Jak Alnwick but a huge improvement was required if they were to have any hope of taking something from a clash Saints were bossing in all departments.
Well went in search of a leveller from the restart and started to apply pressure. But a lack of invention in the final third saw Stephen Robinson haul off both Long and Lang for Jake Hastie and Devante Cole in a bid to add some edge to the attack.
Cole’s low shot from the edge of the area forced Alnwick into a 68th-minute stop but the frustration continued for the Fir Park side as a Liam Polworth header then floated over.
Polwor th and Ba r r y Maguire saw late strikes saved by Alnwick as Saints held on to bag yet another three priceless points.