BEN RAMAGE
Jim Goodwin is adamant St Mirren have pushed on to another level this season – despite suffering another heartbreaking trip to Hampden.
The Buddies boss was determined to steer his side to the Scottish Cup final having narrowly missed out on a shot at the Betfred Cup earlier this season.
Unfortunately for the Paisley club they couldn’t find a way past St Johnstone, who now have the chance to complete an incredible domestic cup double later this month against Jack Ross’ Hibs side.
Despite also coming up short with the club’s biggest aim of finishing in the top six for the first time in more than 30 years, Goodwin is pleased the Paisley side’s targets have been set much higher during the current campaign.
And he believes the experience his squad has picked up along the way bodes well for future shots at glory.
Goodwin told Express Sport: “Missing out on the top six by a couple of goals and getting to two cup semi-finals is a decent achievement.
“It’s not something we’ll get overly excited about, but it’s good considering three or four years ago we were celebrating winning the Championship.
“We don’t want to talk about the Championship anymore. We don’t want to ever consider going back down there.
“We want to be up here competing for top- half finishes and going far in cup competitions.
“I think we have taken the club to another level this season.
“We set the bar high from the beginning, talking about wanting to be top six and going far in the cups.
“We created a lot more opportunities against St Johnstone than we have for a long time. As disappointed as I am, I’m really proud of what my players gave me and what my staff have given me all season.”
St Mirren put in a much stronger performance on Sunday than in their last trip to Hampden, when they limped out of the Betfred Cup against Livingston without laying a glove on the West Lothian side.
Ultimately, poor finishing cost the Buddies a place in the Scottish Cup final and a spot in the top six in the Premiership, but Goodwin believes his players gave a much better account of themselves overall one their return to the national stadium.
He said: “I thought we had the best chances at 0-0. In a game of this magnitude, with how tight and nervy the occasion is, you really need that first goal. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalise. If you don’t score goals, you don’t win games it’s as simple as that.
“We missed out on the top six by a couple of goals. On Sunday again it has cost us.
“I actually thought every department for us was excellent though. Jak Alnwick’s distribution was brilliant, and he makes a brilliant save at 2-0.
“We defended really well and looked solid against two good strikers.
“In midfield we could have done better.
Craig Bryson’s experience in picking up the pieces in midfield was important, he read the game very well.
“There wasn’t much between the sets of full-backs all game.
“Lee Erwin deserves a special mention. People have been very critical of
Lee this season, and I have as well. I’ve questioned his professionalism at times, how he’s going to get fitter and stronger. He was outstanding and led the line really well.
“I was really critical of my own performance after the Livingston semifinal, I thought I could have done more and set the team up a bit differently.
“I think this time around I feel a lot better about the overall performance. St Johnstone are a good side at the end of the day and they possibly just shaded the game.
“I said to the players afterwards they could all be proud of their efforts. I don’t think there was a single player, even the subs who went on, that didn’t give everything.”