Stephen Robinson has told his Buddies this season can still be a huge success.
And he believes St Mirren’s grafters will deserve statues along Greenhill Road if they make it a hat-trick of top-six Premiership finishes this season.
The Saints gaffer is mapping out the plan of attack for the final three months of the campaign after Monday night’s Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Neil Critchley’s Hearts.
And the Northern Irishman is convinced Saints can produce an exciting end to the campaign.
Not since the late 1970s and early 80s have the Buddies been regulars in the upper reaches of the top flight. However, with the game being dictated by finances, Robbo believes three-in-a-row from his troops would be a special achievement.
It’s back to league business on Sunday with Hibernian the visitors to the SMiSA Stadium and the Paisley chief wants his team to seize the moment and finish with a real flourish.
Speaking at the club’s Ralston training ground, Robbo said: “The message to the players was that this can still be a very, very good season. We’re very disappointed not to get through in the cup.
“Hearts are a good side – they are on a great run and they’ve spent fortunes – but I thought we were the better team and I believe Neil said we were the better team as well for 90 minutes.
“What I’ve said to the players is we’ve got the opportunity to get top six again. We’ve got ourselves in that position and it’s still all to play for. There are eight games where you can take the shackles off. There’s no pressure on us.
“If St Mirren get top six, three years in a row, I’ve told the staff I’m going to make statues of them. If we can get into the top six again, then it’s a fantastic season. It would be a massive achievement and it’s going to be tough. Expectations have been raised and we have to meet them.
“Sometimes you are the victims of your own success and the criticism comes but we’re big boys and, when we lose, I expect it. I embrace it. I take the blame for it – I sometimes take the blame when I don’t think it’s me!
“My job is to take all the pressure off the players and make sure everyone believes we can get into the top six again. For a team like St Mirren to make top six three years in a row would be huge.”
Eighth-placed Saints are just a point off the top six but they are only four clear of the relegation play-off spot in one of the tightest Premiership campaigns fans can recall at this stage.
“You have to look at everything,” Robbo acknowledged when asked if those behind picking up points was something to be concerned about in the coming weeks. It’s all to play for. We believe we have a squad of players good enough to get into the top six.
“Getting a couple of wins can get you in the top six and losing a couple of games can have you looking over your shoulder. We’re looking upwards and we’re being positive. We’re looking to try and create history.”
Saints will be without centre-back Alex Iacovitti and winger Conor McMenamin for the visit of the Hibees. Wing-back Scott Tanser will be assessed after having an epidural on Wednesday.
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