67 days and 8 defeats ... it’s time for Robinson to prove his tenure adds up
Stephen Robinson will only be 67 days into his St Mirren tenure tomorrow.
But when the Buddies travel to Perth to take on St Johnstone this weekend, it has the potential to be almost season defining.
A victory would move the Paisley Saints eight points clear of the relegation play-off spot, with only nine points left to fight for.
A win, however, for the hosts would put only two points between the sides, with three games remaining.
The former Motherwell gaffer could have been forgiven for thinking he was heading for just his second clean sheet and fourth point in charge against Hibs last time out.
A game short of quality, and most certainly short of goal mouth action, was really symptomatic of two teams that had each won just one of their last eight fixtures.
But Ewan Henderson’s 73rd minute consigned the Buddies to a fifth straight defeat in the Scottish Premiership.
Robinson made a change to a back five in the hope of tightening up his defence on the back of conceding 19 goals in the previous eight games.
Something which was actually predicted in this column last week, looked to have done the job defensively at least, right up until the late strike.
But, in attacking sense, it didn’t really have the desired effect, with Curtis Main and Eamonn Brophy partnering each other up top.
Left back Scott Tanser actually came closest for Saints when his shot came back off the crossbar in the quest for an equaliser which was, in the end, not found as David Gray won his first match in interim charge of the Easter Road club following the sacking of Shaun Maloney after just four months in the job.
That defeat really intensifies this crunch battle of the Saints.
And that fact is not lost on St Mirren captain Joe Shaughnessy.
He told Express Sport: “When you’re on a bad run, little things go against you.
“Even Tanser’s shot at the end just comes off the bar. If it’s three or four inches lower, it’s probably going to go bouncing in.
“It’s just little things like that, where it’s just not falling into place for us at the minute, but it’s important to keep going and it’s a big game tomorrow.
“The good thing is there’s plenty of experience in the squad.
“A lot of us have been in situations like this before, so it’s just a case of trying not to get too down and stick together and just make sure we work hard for next week.
“A six-pointer, must-win, must-not-lose, call it what you will.
“I don’t care much for any of the above clichés, but I will end with this. A win for St Mirren will make much better viewing of the league table tomorrow night compared with a loss.”