WAITING GAME
The party is on hold but Saints are a point away from title glory
ALMOST. Nearly. Not quite. If there is one thing St Mirren supporters have learned during their mission to try to escape the Championship, patience is key.
The promotion party is on hold. Jack Ross’ team did their bit by earning a nervy win against relegated Brechin, but those pesky Renfrewshire neighbours failed to do them a favour.
Morton’s defeat at secondplaced Livingston means St Mirren are a point away from the title. If they secure it against Dundee United at Tannadice on Tuesday night, they will seal their return to the top tier after a three-year absence.
Kyle Magennis’s early strike at Glebe Park proved enough for the three points in front of over 2,000 travelling fans, who were hoping their side could better Livingston’s result to be crowned champions.
Admitting his players were quiet in the dressing room after being made to wait for the title, Ross said: ‘We knew it was going to be a difficult game. But there’s no frustration from me in terms of how we played because it’s pride that we won in these circumstances.
‘We could only affect our own result. Livingston are a good team and I had no belief that they would not win.
‘Our focus was on this game because if we had dropped points they would have been closer.
‘I have to keep stressing to the players of how well they’ve done because their expectations and standards rise all the time. They came into the dressing room at the end of the game a bit quiet.
‘Yes, we didn’t play as well as we have done but to win that number of games under pressure is brilliant. They should be excited by Tuesday at Dundee United.’
It came as no surprise when Saints struck after just seven minutes. Magnenis picked up the ball from a throw-in on the left and let fly from 20 yards, with his shot finding the far corner.
‘I thought I had scored the title-winning goal,’ he grinned afterwards. ‘We’ll go to United for the win. They were called the best team in the league, so it would be good to prove everyone wrong at their place and prove that we’re the best.’
St Mirren thought they had doubled their lead 12 minutes after the restart when Danny Mullen’s cross from the right was met by Cammy Smith, but his effort hit the side netting.
Lewis Morgan then saw an effort pushed wide by Brechin goalkeeper Graeme Smith.
Brechin still threatened to spoil the party when substitute Dylan Mackin’s shot from the edge of the box was pushed wide by Saints keeper Craig Samson.
City boss Darren Dods said: ‘St Mirren are champions in waiting but we worked them in the second half and made them dig in.’