Robinson aims to drive St Mirren on after facing 'biggest challenges'

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson believes his side can look forward with optimism after coming through what he described as one of the biggest challenges of his time in charge, both on and off the pitch.

The Paisley side has finished in the top six for the past two seasons and qualified for Europe, as Robinson has taken the team from strength to strength. But after a positive start to this season, the team has just one win in its last 12 games.

Robinson has also had to contend with the club suspending, and then parting company with, summer signing Shaun Rooney after he was charged with assault on an 18-year-old woman and a hate crime after an incident in Glasgow city centre.

The manager alluded to that problem and others “that you’ll never be aware of” when reflecting on a difficult spell in charge.

While Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Rangers continued a tough run of results, the manager was delighted with the performance and believes it can be a turning point after he had promised a “reset” following a 4-0 thumping at Hearts the week before.

“If you play like that at this level, you’ll win 80% of them,” Robinson said. “But you need a bit of luck along the way.

“A lot of things have gone against us off the field: some that you’re aware of, some that you’re not aware of and some that you’ll never be aware of.

“It’s mitigating circumstances to the teams I’ve picked, the systems I’ve gone with but a lot of it is our doing as well.

“Sometimes we’ve believed our own hype, that we’ll win games in a certain way when we don’t. But we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet, pulling in the same direction and that will prove in my belief that we’ll win football matches.”

The manager said that the difficult spell helped “bring people together” and that he was getting to a place where he felt the team could settle and get back to their best.

“It’s been the biggest challenges I’ve faced here,” he said. “It’s been a six-week period and two-and-a-half of those we didn’t have any football for.

“There’s been a lot of challenges, some I’ve spoken about and some I haven’t. But it makes you stronger, it brings people together and focuses you on what you’re good at.

“Consistency is the key in football so picking the same team on a regular basis, not making four or five changes every week, keeping consistency in the systems and not being affected by injuries or availability (will all help).

“But we’re getting there with injuries and with the system and shape I want to play. You need the right personnel to press and play like I want to but we’re getting there.”

After tough trips to Tynecastle and Ibrox, St Mirren face St Johnstone in Paisley on Wednesday before hosting Ross County on Saturday.

Robinson is targeting maximum points but said it won’t be easy against two capable sides.

“100% but we’ve no divine right to that,” he said. “People think you can automatically turn up and beat St Johnstone and Ross County for I’m not sure what reason.

“They’ve done very well in recent weeks, both teams. St Johnstone have had two great results and climbed up the table.

“They’ve got a new manager, a nice style of play and some really talented boys.

“It’s two tough games and we’re under no illusions. They’re two games we want to win and two big games for us.”