Powerhouse striker Curtis Main insists belief is the key ingredient surging St Mirren towards an historic top-six finish.
The Buddies took a gigantic step towards achieving that goal with a dominant 2-0 victory against Hearts on Saturday - their first win at Tynecastle in a decade.
Main slammed the Saints in front in the capital with a composed finish, his seventh goal of a superb campaign in which he’s been a major component of Stephen Robinson’s hard-working, high-pressing side.
With just two games left before the split, and a five point lead over closest top-six challengers Livingston, Main feels the confidence he and his teammates had of picking up a win in Edinburgh before kick-off played a huge part in bringing all three points back to Paisley.
Main told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “Everyone is buzzing. It’s a really good three points, there’s no denying that, and it’s what we came here to do.
“We wanted to take the three points and there’s two more games to go till the split, so we knew this one was going to be important and we’re delighted that we did what we set out to do.
“It shows where we’re at right now and the belief that’s in the dressing room. Like I say, we came here with a job to do and we really felt we could get the three points. We’ve managed to do that, so credit to everyone.
“Obviously we got the goal first, which gives you the ascendancy, and to double it so quickly afterwards just gives you a strong platform and we were able to see out the game.
“It was about game management and we did that really well.
“The goal was to finish in the top-six, that’s what we set out to do and that’s what we believe we are more than capable of doing.
“There’s still obviously a lot of football to be played and we’ve got a couple of tough fixtures between now and the split.
“So we’ll just take it one game at a time. Next week is going to be tough. We’ll just try to put as many points on the board as we can, but obviously today is a real statement of intent from the group.”
Despite another strong result to back up their dominant 3-0 win against Livingston, Saints boss Robinson revealed he was unhappy with the opening 20 minutes at Tynecastle in which he felt his side were too passive.
The tough taskmaster let his Buddies know from the touchline, with Main insisting that intensity and pressure helps drive the team on.
Main said: “Did you hear him? To be honest, we could have been 3-0 up and he’d still have done that!
“We’ve got a good relationship and I think there was a lot more in us after the first half and we all knew that.
“In the second half we came out and we showed it.
“That’s probably why he sometimes gets frustrated, because he knows there’s extra gears still in the team.
“I know we got the goal early, but the intent was there in the second half to go out and try to take over the game and obviously the first goal sets the tone.
“It was a great strike, and straight after that getting the second one let us really impose ourselves on them.”
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