ROBBO GIVES A THUMBS UP
Buddies net gains delight boss
Stephen Robinson hailed St Mirren’s super show after they rediscovered their scoring touch to see off Ross County.
The Paisley boss believes the three points were long overdue as a Ryan Leak own goal and Jonah Ayunga strike edged the Buddies back into third spot in the Premiership table.
It’s a result Robinson hopes will haul his side out of a slump as he praised a performance that had the mark of class from start to finish.
The Saints boss said: “I’m never happy to be honest as it should have been more.
“But to put on that level of performance when we haven’t won for a couple of weeks shows how tough mentally the squad are.
“We demanded we play our way and not get drawn into a long-ball game. That’s credit to the mentality of players.
“We could have won by more as we had plenty of chances but we got what we deserved.
“If we took every chance we made our strikers wouldn’t be playing for St Mirren. It’s as simple as that. If Jonah scores every chance – and he’s 6ft 5in, right foot, left foot and really quick – he wouldn’t be playing here.
“That’s the consistency aspect of it. Now it’s about if we can take more of our chances. We work in patterns as a coaching staff and if we’re getting into those areas then the more chance we’ll have of scoring.”
There was a first start of the season for Southampton loanee Thierry Small and the Buddies midfielder was first to threaten with a curling shot that was deflected off target by James Brown in the fourth minute.
Brown then dragged a shot just off target moments later as both sides looked to make an early impact.
Ayunga was next to have a go. His thundering strike from the edge of the area was brilliantly clawed to safety by County keeper Ross Laidlaw.
Saints were forced into a change in 18 minutes as Caolan Boyd-Munce limped off to be replaced by Keanu Baccus as the Paisley side’s lengthy injury list had yet another addition.
Greg Kiltie cracked a shot against the bar f rom 16 yards after being picked out by Stav Nahmani’s low cross as that clinical touch that had eluded them against St Johnstone in midweek continued to be a source of frustration for Robinson.
Chances continued to arrive at both ends, Simon Murray slipping a shot past a post.
The home side came close again in 35 minutes after Nahmani’s twisting run ended with a strike beaten away by
Laidlaw. And the wastefulness of the Buddies’ finishing was illustrated in the 40th minute as the striker raced clear only to rattle his shot straight at the County keeper.
The Staggies are no strangers to a first-half goal drought having failed to find the net during the opening 45 in 14 of their last 16 games.
The deadlock was broken six minutes after the restart and it required a VAR check to confirm County’s Leak had diverted a cross into his own net from close-range before it was cleared.
Referee Cal lum Scot t was informed the ball had crossed the line after initially waving play on.
It was no less than the home side deserved and it would get better moments later, Ayunga drilling a shot home from the edge of the box that went through the hands of Laidlaw.
County failed to make a fist of a fightback but Buddies keeper Zack Hemming was cal led upon to turn Alex Samuel’s header over the bar.