WE’RE BACK TO BEST BUDDIES
Robbo: No hard feelings after spat with supporter
Stephen Robinson yesterday revealed there are no hard feelings over the post-match row with a punter after Saints’ defeat to Livingston.
The Buddies boss and a member of the travelling support had words following the 1-0 Premiership loss at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Robinson had to be pulled away by defender Alex Gogic with assistant manager Diarmuid O’Carroll taking on media duties afterwards.
However, speaking for the first time since the incident, the SMiSA gaffer confirmed the fan had not been abusive, that they’d spoken and apologised to each other this week.
“I’ve got brilliant relationship with the fans,” Robbo said.
“It was two emotional people who were frustrated that a brilliant performance didn’t end with a result. It’s that simple.
“The fan expressed an opinion – and I want to make clear it wasn’t an abusive one – but I disagreed completely and made that clear to him.
“I’ve spoken to him since. He’s apologised, I’ve apologised.
“But I won’t apologise for being passionate or for protecting my players – because that’s all I was trying to do.
“But the thing at Livi was just two passionate people who want the best for St Mirren disagreeing over why we lost the game. I’m not going to apologise for being passionate. I’ve spoken to the fan and he’s a good guy.
“He’ll be there Saturday supporting us as he always does.”
Robinson is recognised as a manager who defends his squad in public and insists he won’t be changing that approach.
“I see all the work that goes on in the background here,” he added. “I see what these players give and I’m very, very protective of them.
“They give so much to the community – they are in care homes, they are in hospitals, they are in schools. I will protect them to the hilt.”
Robinson celebrated his two-year anniversary as Saints manager on Thursday and would love to celebrate with a win this afternoon at home to Craig Levein’s St Johnstone.
The Buddies are fifth in the table – eight points clear of Aberdeen and Hibernian in joint-seventh – and closing in on historic back-to-back top-six finishes.
Robbo reflected: “We were a team that couldn’t get in the top six for a long, long time.
“We’ve managed to break into that. At this moment we’re in there again but I know there’s a lot of work to do to make sure we stay there.”
Defender James Bolton and striker Jonah Ayunga are available again with Mark O’Hara and Conor McMenamin due to return to full training for the first time yesterday. Ryan Strain is also making progress.