A mid-table workforce within the Scottish Premiership won’t appear the likeliest candidate to be thought of Britain’s unluckiest soccer membership, however spare a thought for Stephen Robinson.
St Mirren are poised simply exterior the Premiership’s prime six however a rare run of participant issues and even an premature brush with the forces of nature have left supervisor Robinson to rue his fortunes to this point this autumn.
The Buddies’ house win towards St Johnstone final Wednesday was a uncommon oasis of calm underneath the floodlights in Paisley. All three league wins this season have been at house. The opposite two had been towards Hibernian and Hearts, the 2 Edinburgh sides propping up the desk with three wins between them.
St Mirren’s workforce choice has been unduly affected by personnel points
St Mirren supervisor Stephen Robinson is targeted on the soccer (Picture credit score: Richard Sellers) (Picture credit score: Richard Sellers)
Fan-owned St Mirren posted two consecutive membership statements on their web site final week, confirming that striker Kevin van Veen (charged with home abuse) and left-back Jaden Brown (awaiting sentencing for 3 driving offences) had appeared in court docket on the identical day and could be unavailable for Saturday’s fixture towards Ross County, which ended 0-0.
Van Veen and Brown additionally missed the win towards St Johnstone with the membership stating that the on-loan Dutch striker was absent by harm, although he appeared in court docket the next day and his case is ongoing.
A concourse at St Mirren’s SMiSA Stadium, October 2024 (Picture credit score: Chris Nee) (Picture credit score: Chris Nee)
Remarkably, St Mirren had already handled the same scenario. Late in September, new signing Shaun Rooney was charged with assaulting an 18-year-old girl in a takeaway in Glasgow and with a breach of the peace – handled as a hate crime – involving an 18-year-old man.
Rooney promptly left St Mirren by mutual consent final month and Robinson will need to have anticipated that to be the final time a participant would take himself out of competition by getting concerned with the authorities.
Then, on Monday, the SMiSA Stadium needed to be closed due to flood injury . Telephone traces and wi-fi had been taken out of fee, employees despatched house and the ticket workplace closed.
These are all distractions Robinson might do with out as he works to make sure the Buddies are within the prime six when the Premiership desk splits in two after 33 matches.
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“It’s been difficult on and off the pitch,” stated a philosophical Robinson . “[I’m paid to] fear concerning the soccer, decide the most effective workforce I can and get outcomes.
“We had a terrific consequence on Wednesday night time, an excellent efficiency at Ibrox [in the previous fixture], so issues on the pitch are transferring in the correct course and that’s my sole focus.
“I’m in charge of the gamers for 3 or 4 hours of the day. Individuals are grown adults, the soccer membership isn’t in charge of the gamers 24 hours a day. However everyone seems to be properly conscious of their duties, how they need to behave, and the overwhelming majority do.”
Robinson and St Mirren might be hoping their luck holds after they face Hibs once more on Saturday. Easter Street has been a contented looking floor for opponents to this point in 2023-24 and it might simply be the hosts who finish the day cursing the fates.
