Stephen Robinson keen to share praise after St Mirren secure top-six spot

Stephen Robinson heaped praise on the dedication of St Mirren’s behind-the-scenes staff after they sealed their third successive top-six Premiership finish.

The race for the final spot went right to the wire, but in the end the Buddies prevailed courtesy of Roland Idowu’s 86th-minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Ross County, coupled with Hearts being held to a goalless draw at Motherwell.

As a fan-owned club, Saints continue to punch above their weight without splashing the cash.

Since taking over in 2022, Robinson has guided the club to their highest finish since 1985, then ended their 37-year wait to qualify for Europe.

“You always have hope but just winning to get 41 points was a huge achievement for us,” Robinson said.

“That hasn’t been done on a regular basis. We are now a consistent top-six side and that has been done by so many people trying to take the club forward a percentage at a time.

“From Keith Lasley, Jim Gillespie, the board and all the football staff – there are too many to name.

“We have pushed every day to be better. We haven’t thrown millions at this. It has been done prudently and you always have that hope – we now have the icing on the cake.”

Idowu was the hero for Robinson’s men after coming off the bench to blast home the winner from outside the box.

The Irish striker joined the ranks at the SMISA Stadium last summer after arriving on loan from Shrewsbury.

In the aftermath, Idowu admitted he is unsure as to what his future may hold, but Robinson insists he is determined to make his stay in Paisley permanent.

Robinson added: “The hardest thing is finding a position for Roland – he’s a maverick.

“Roland is talented and he lost his way a little bit during the season, but for a lot of players, it takes time to adjust to the levels.

“I told the board I wanted to sign him even when he wasn’t in the team, so over to them now.”

Ross County manager Don Cowie is hoping his team’s experience of staving off the threat of relegation can help them escape trouble again this season.

The Staggies have survived after prevailing in the Premiership play-off final in the past two seasons.

Cowie’s men have lost their last four matches, leaving them one point above second-bottom Dundee, and he admits they must address their slump if they are to avoid more drama again this term.

He said: “We have to get ourselves ready. We will see what the fixture list brings and how it looks.

“We know the job at hand. It’s five big games, and it’s so tight in that area.

“We have faced it before, we have experience of it, and we just need to get ready for it again.”