There’s been a lot of talk about levelling up in UK politics recently.
And that’s exactly what Jim Goodwin believes St Mirren have managed to do after bringing in a talented trio who have helped maintain their unbeaten run in 2022.
The Buddies signed bustling young New Zealand striker Alex Greive, wing king Jordan Jones and midfield marshal Alex Gogic to bolster their squad last month.
All three have contributed to extending the Paisley side’s seven-game unbeaten streak, with Greive bagging two goals in his last two games and Jones emphatically picking up his first strike for the club with a stunning effort against Kelty Hearts last weekend.
Gogic has helped run the show in the middle of the park after forming a dominant partnership with Alan Power, a match likely made in heaven in former battler Goodwin’s mind.
And the Saints manager feels the squad now have the capability to kick up a gear in both the Premiership and the Scottish Cup having suffered near-misses in both competitions last season.
Speaking after St Mirren's win over Kelty, Goodwin told Express Sport: “That is two in two for Alex. He’s led the line brilliantly and uses his body really well.
“He holds onto the ball so well, wins free-kicks and rolls defenders. He’s playing with confidence.
“Since Jones has come in he has been a breath of fresh air. He’s real quality.
“He carries a real attacking threat and every time he gets the ball good things happen.
“The attacking boys get a lot of the plaudits because we want to see goals and creativity.
“But having been a defensive-minded player myself, I’m always very quick to credit the boys at the back.
“I think Alex Gogic has been outstanding. Alongside Jones and Greive, he hasn’t needed any time to bed in.
“They were fit and training all the time and we were very lucky to get them.
“I had to work hard to get them, I had to release five or six guys to make it happen.
“But we were willing to reduce the squad because we knew what these boys would bring.
“You can see it already. They take us as a team to a different level.”
As well as the three new boys shining in Paisley in their 4-0 Scottish Cup demolition job of Kelty Hearts, there was an added bonus as centre-back Conor McCarthy made a welcome return from injury.
He hadn’t featured since going off with an ankle problem against Livingston in November, and Goodwin was delighted to see the young Irishman come through the tie unscathed.
He said: “The game-plan was always to try and get Conor half an hour against Kelty and get him back out there moving his legs.
“I thought he did well and came through the afternoon quite comfortably, thankfully.
“Everything about the Kelty game was perfect, to be honest. I couldn’t fault a single player and long may this run continue.”
St Mirren learned on Monday night they would face a trip to Tynecastle to take on Hearts in the next round as their reward for thumping Kelty in the last-16.
Goodwin insists his in-form side are capable of beating any team they face right now, with confidence soaring at the Paisley club.
He added: “Obviously we’re in a good place at the moment.
"I think we deserve to be where we are in the league and the only disappointment is the lack of points we picked up in the first half of the season.
“We should have won at least three games, we drew which would have a huge impact on the league table right now.
“This team, this group of staff and players are capable of great things.
“The boys are confident and we do go into every game with belief in the group that, regardless of who we’re playing, we’re capable of getting a result.
“We beat Celtic and Rangers last season so we really shouldn’t be fearing anybody.”
