Stephen Robinson is adamant he hasn’t been losing sleep over St Mirren’s crunch game with Kilmarnock.
That’s because the Saints manager believes his players have been prepared “within an inch of their lives” to pick up the result they need to secure a top-six spot tomorrow afternoon.
The Buddies know a draw or a win would guarantee them a top-half finish this season, something the club haven’t been able to achieve since 1985 when a young Frank McAvennie helped fire Alex Miller’s men to fifth.
With the home stands at the SMiSA Stadium fully sold out for the hotly-anticipated clash, Robinson could have been forgiven for heading into the weekend with a few nerves jangling.
But the Saints gaffer insists he’s fully confident his side are more than ready to take on Derek McInnes’ men who are battling for top-flight survival.
Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “There’s no switching off but there are only a certain amount of things you can affect.
“I know the staff have got this team prepared within an inch of its life. We go into this game with nothing left to do and leave no stone unturned.
“Then, if decisions, injuries or luck go against you, you can’t control it. I’m long over worrying about that kind of stuff.
“It’s a ruthless game where you see managers lose their jobs all the time, but I sleep well at night.
“Sometimes you’re not in control of situations, but this group go into every game as well prepared as anyone in the league.”
With just a point required to get the job done this weekend, nervous Saints fans can take heart from the club’s impressive record in Paisley this season.
St Mirren currently have the joint-second best home defensive record in the top flight, having conceded just 14 times in 16 matches so far at the SMiSA Stadium.
They have also only lost three games in Paisley, a stat only bettered by Celtic and Rangers who are yet to lose on home soil on league duty. Robinson was keen to stress it’s not just members of his defence that deserve praise for their impressive showings at the back – insisting it’s a team effort when it comes to stopping other teams scoring.
Robinson said: “This is definitely one of the best defensive units I’ve put together and that is as a team, not as a back five.
“Our defending starts from the two centre-forwards. They do an incredible amount of work.
“The midfield in front of the back five are vital to our defence as well.
“Then you have very good defenders and an excellent goalie too in Trevor Carson.”
He added: “As a team, our ethos is don’t concede and be very hard to beat. Thankfully that’s worked well for us so far this season.”
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