Super Saints crown remarkable revival

Supporting St Mirren can be like an encapsulation of life itself in as much as you have to take the ups with the downs and the rough with the smooth; or, as Rocky Balboa said, it ain’t all sunshine and roses and it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

Wise words, although I would question whether even Sylvester Stallone could have dreamt up as farfetched a sporting resurrection tale as Saints have treated us to over the last 18 months in which they have gone from losing to cruising in a remarkable transformation culminating in Saturday’s title success, courtesy of a goalless draw with Livingston.

In order to get your head around the full extent of the metamorphosis, you must first understand where Saints were in October 2016 under the horror show that was the reign of Alex Rae, who had us rock bottom of the Championship, losing as routine and absolute certainties for the drop to a level we have never played at in our history. The facts don’t lie, so for all Rae can claim he was treated harshly, or deserves as much as a crumb of credit, the table,

0 St Mirren No 2 James Fowler jumps on the back of manager Jack Ross as Saints clinch the title. results and common sense fail to back him up.

Jack Ross and James Fowler stepped into a club with its soul ripped out, a playing squad consisting of way too many players who were plainly never good enough, and a fan base as dispirited as I can ever recall.

They deserve the plaudits they will receive for the job they have performed. They jump-started this club from the roots up and handed back some pride to the supporters with whom they reconnected – the importance of which can’t be overlooked.

Last January, they took an axe to the dressing-room deadwood, with most of Rae’s captures shown the door whilst freeing up space for key new faces such as Stephen Mcginn, Cammy Smith and Adam Eckersley. The new guys hit the ground running and, allied with now thriving youngsters Steven Mallan, Lewis Morgan, pictured, and Kyle Magennis, we somehow dragged ourselves to safety.

This great escape galvanised the club with a snowballing momentum building up at the same time and meant we went into this season ready to deliver one of the most comprehensive, and if I am pushing it, easy wins at this level.

You cannot be the first team in England or Scotland to win their league – before Celtic and Manchester City remember – without being a country mile better than all your rivals.

It has been a glorious campaign, up there with the 1999-2000 season, and although it is one thing being wise after the event, I can remember sitting in Barcelona last May, not long after we confirmed our survival, telling my daughter St Mirren would win the Championship with something to spare, such was my belief.

Wisely she believed me, but everyone else scoffed and mocked such a crazy notion. Well, I guess we’re all crazy now, as Saints have sauntered to victory. Dunfermline took another step towards the Premiership promotion playoffs with a 4-0 win over bottom side Brechin City at East End Park.

Lee Ashcroft turned in a corner after two minutes to open the scoring and Fraser Aird chipped in the second on 25 minutes.

Substitute Andy Ryan headed home the third with 18 minutes left before Kallum Higginbotham netted a late penalty.

Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston is asking for professionalism to ensure his third-placed side, who have won their last four matches, have a second chance at promotion to the top flight.

“We need to keep our momentum going and avoid complacency to be in the top four,” Johnston said. “We are at Inverness next and that is shaping up as a really tough one.”

The panic over Dundee United missing out on a play-off berth is lessening after a 1-0 success over visitors Falkirk moved the Tannadice men five points clear of Morton.

The winner came when Thomas Mikkelsen turned in a Willo Flood cross after seven minutes with Bairns striker Alex Jakubiak missing the chance to secure Falkirk’s safety when he failed to find the target ten minutes into the second half.

Morton’s hopes of extending their season took a hit

0 Fraser Aird was on target. when they went down 1-0 to Queen of the South at Cappielow.

Stephen Dobbie and the home side’s Bob Mchugh fired just wide in the first half with Dobbie hitting the woodwork six minutes into the second half.

The Doonhamers grabbed the winner on 69 minutes when Lyndon Dykes turned in a Dom Thomas cross having pounced on a loose ball.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle retain an interest in reaching the top four after trouncing Dumbarton 5-1.

The Sons remain eight points behind Falkirk and look set to finish second bottom.

The visitors had taken the lead in the Highlands when Grant Gallagher cracked home on 13 minutes but Aaron Doran quickly levelled with a fierce effort .

Caley led at the break through Nathan Austin’s goal from a tight angle and the striker tapped in a third five minutes after the restart.

Iain Vigurs slotted in on 63 minutes with Austin completing his hat-trick when he swept the ball home from 12 yards three minutes later.