Robinson hails 'incredible achievement' of St Mirren still being in European contention

Stephen Robinson has hailed his St Mirren squad for getting themselves back in contention for a European place going into the last two games of the season and said it would be a “massive milestone” if they manage to get over the line.

The Paisley side were nine points adrift of Dundee United when the league split, and their hopes of qualifying for Europe were hanging by a thread.

However, a 2-2 draw with Rangers followed by back-to-back wins over Aberdeen and United puts them just two points off Jim Goodwin’s men with six points still to play for.

They are preparing to host Hibernian on Wednesday night, knowing a win could potentially put them in the driving seat going into the final games of the campaign.

“We are focused on trying to get another three points on Wednesday. We have put ourselves in a position that, with two games to go, people are still talking about us getting a European place.

“That’s an incredible achievement from this group of players, as we have continually said, and we will be doing everything in our power to win the game.

“It will be a tough game against a very good Hibs side, but one we are more than capable of, and we have beaten them on previous occasions, so why not again?

“It can make a difference with maybe one extra player, if we get into Europe. We struggled earlier in the season with our points tally, because it can be a struggle for clubs like ourselves that don’t have big squads as it can be a really testing period.

“But we have managed to recover from that and have picked up a lot of points since, especially since Christmas, when we were able to rejig the squad.

“If we do manage to get European football again, then it would maybe mean one extra player, possibly two, just to fill the squad.

“We are quite set in stone in what we can and can’t do, so we are talking maybe the difference of one player or two at the very best.

“If we got in, it would be a massive milestone for the football club. It also helps attract players if you are in Europe, so recruitment can be easier, crowds are bigger, merchandise sales increase, and these things help in this day and age.”

After the game against Hibs in Paisley, St Mirren face a trip to Parkhead to take on champions Celtic on the day they lift the Premiership trophy.

Meanwhile, Dundee United play Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday before ending the season at home to Aberdeen.