Stephen Robinson is delighted to be able to call on St Mirren’s two top goal threats again heading into a top six-defining clash with Dundee.
The Buddies are without a win in four in the league and their top half hopes hinge on tomorrow night’s trip to Dens Park, which is a game in hand on the rest of the chasing pack.
Robinson is delighted to be able to get Wolves loanee Connor Ronan, who was sent off 20 minutes into his first game in charge against Hearts, and star striker Eamonn Brophy back into his stuttering starting XI.
The talented pair, who have both bagged six Premiership goals so far this season, are both set to start against Mark McGhee’s relegation-threatened side.
And Robinson hopes the dangerous duo can help get his goal-shy Buddies firing in the final third again at a crucial part of the campaign.
Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “We had 60 per cent possession of the game on Saturday but it’s been a problem long before I took over in terms of creativity and scoring goals.
“The big plus for me is Connor Ronan being available again. I think he has a huge part to play in terms of creativity and goals.
“And also Eamonn Brophy. He’s not been fit since I came into the club but we’re hoping he’s getting close to full fitness now.
“That puts more goals into the team straight away with those two players being involved.
“I think Jim (Goodwin) previously flipped between a 4-3-3 and a 3-5-2 as well. There’s players that can play both formations.
“Brophy and Ronan are the creative spark in the team and are the proven goalscorers in the team.
“We haven’t had Eamonn available to start at all and not had Connor for the vast majority of it.
“We’re still finding the best way to score goals and I think it’s been a season-long problem.
“Those two will naturally add more goals and creativity to the team.”
St Mirren are one of seven sides still in with a chance of making the top six this season, with just five points separating Hibs and Livingston in fourth from Aberdeen in tenth.
Robinson wants to see his Saints make the most of the opportunity having worked themselves into a position to strike throughout the campaign.
Robinson said: “There’s no excuses. We go into the game with confidence and there’s still a lot to play for.
“It’s a tight, tight league and there’s absolutely nothing between any of the teams.
“It’s not about delivering for me, it’s about delivering for themselves. There’s a lot of clubs in the mix and they’ve worked hard to be in the mix.
“They need a win now. I made my frustrations clear to them (on Saturday) because I thought they were waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen.
“It’s about taking the game by the scruff of the neck and not waiting to go a goal down.
“We’ve got players who can create and who can go and win football matches.”
Despite being bottom of the Premiership table currently, Robinson isn’t expecting an easy game against a Dundee side fighting for their top flight survival.
Robinson added: “They’ll be very hard to beat. They’ve got a very good manager in Mark McGhee, you don’t get to 1,000 league games without knowing what you’re doing.
“He’ll have them really well organised. I watched their game at Motherwell and they’re hard to break down. They played a 4-5-1 and Mark changed the shape a few times as well.
“They may be down the bottom but they’re certainly not a bad team.”
