{"id":17450,"title":"Split The Difference","description":"In analysing St Mirren\u2019s defeat to Rangers 4-0 defeat, it\u2019s hard to muster much more than a shrug. With Saturday\u2019s results going the way they did, Saints knew their top-six chances were dead in the water before a ball was kicked at the SMISA on Sunday. While it didn\u2019t render the game totally moot, the champions\u2019 (fairly routine) 4-0 win just felt a bit\u2026 shrug","content":"

\"\"
By Andrew Christie<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

In analysing St Mirren\u2019s defeat to Rangers 4-0 defeat, it\u2019s hard to muster much more than a shrug.<\/p>

With Saturday\u2019s results going the way they did, Saints knew their top-six chances were dead in the water before a ball was kicked at the SMISA on Sunday. While it didn\u2019t render the game totally moot, the champions\u2019 (fairly routine) 4-0 win just felt a bit\u2026 shrug.<\/p>

In Stephen Robinson teams, it is in the wide areas that the system lives and dies, and Sunday was firmly one for the latter. Giovanni van Bronckhorst\u2019s men targeted the half-spaces well, with both of Kemar Roofe\u2019s first-half goals (in the opening and closing minutes of the period) coming from the visitors being able to exploit the space in front of Saints LB Richard Tait. With Jordan Jones\u2019 reticence to track back, \u2018Gers RB James Tavernier had a field day, with 43 accurate passes, 2 key passes, 3 accurate crosses and 3 long balls adding up to an impressive day for the captain. Copy and paste the situation for Jay Henderson and Marcus Fraser on Saints\u2019 right side and similarly impressive attacking numbers for Rangers LB Borna Bari\u0161i\u0107 it was a pretty rough afternoon for the onlooking Paisley faithful.<\/p>

This, coupled with the pressing and movement of Roofe, proved too much for the St Mirren defence to deal with, and a commitment to marking memories rather than bodies allowed the Jamaican international to complete the easiest hat trick of his career just five minutes into the second half. Add a spectacular curled 76th minute Joe Aribo goal into the mix, and it was a game to forget for Robinson\u2019s men.<\/p>

I dunno though man, football\u2019s funny, isn\u2019t it? We\u2019ve played worse in games we\u2019ve got more from, and vice versa. So if you\u2019ll allow me to don my \u201cForm Isn\u2019t Actually A Thing\u201d hat, let\u2019s take a look at what the post-split fixtures hold for Stephen Robinson\u2019s one-in-eight army down in the depths of the bottom six.\"\"
23\/04
Hibs (H)
Form: DDLDL<\/p>

The weekend\u2019s Edinburgh derby could not have got off to a better start for Shaun Maloney\u2019s men \u2013 a Drey Wright strike putting them ahead with just five minutes on the clock. However, the Leith side\u2019s subsequent capitulation (and 3-1 loss) was one that mirrored their season as a whole. The Leith side have had trouble putting together performances over any extended period of time, struggling to adapt to Maloney\u2019s philosophy and footballing style.<\/p>

With Hibs\u2019 eight-point cushion over the playoff place all but guaranteeing their league status for next campaign, Saturday\u2019s Scottish Cup semi\/second crack at Hearts is a massive opportunity to salvage something from what has thus far been a season to forget.<\/p>

This season\u2019s ties between the sides currently sit at one St Mirren win and two draws. With two weeks to work out our own systemic issues, we should be going into this game confident of laying down a marker in the first game post-split.<\/p>

30\/04
St Johnstone (A)
Form: LDWWL<\/p>

Potentially\/unfortunately, this could be the big one.<\/p>

As things stand, six points separate us from the relegation playoff spot \u2013 currently occupied by Callum Davidson\u2019s St Johnstone. The 7-0 defeat to Celtic at the weekend aside, the Perth Saints are enjoying something of an upturn in results as they try to keep their heads above Premiership water.<\/p>

Recent victories against Livingston and Motherwell were the first consecutive wins for Saints since March of 2021, and although results are improving, they are finding themselves far too reliant on Callum Hendry in attack (the striker has netted six goals this season). The football on show has been a far cry from that which saw the Saints win both domestic cups last season, with many criticising Davidson for a reluctance to adapt and react to clear on the pitch failings.<\/p>

However, McDiarmid Park has not been a happy hunting ground for St Mirren in recent years, with our last win there coming all the way back in October 2014. A St Johnstone side with any kind of momentum behind them would certainly have the ability to make us sweat. The game in three weeks\u2019 time would be a great time to break the near six-year duck.<\/p>

07\/05
Dundee (H)
Form: DLLDD<\/p>

With Mark McGhee currently loving the free life after his release from Gaffer Jail, Dundee are knuckling down to try and pull off what many consider the improbable \u2013 securing Premiership survival. Recent 2-2 draws against Aberdeen and Dundee Utd suggest that they are going to make a decent fist of it, but with five points currently separating them and eleventh placed St Johnstone, it looks like a big ask for the Dens Park side.<\/p>

The second-lowest scorers in the league with 29 goals, attacking flair has been something of a problem for the dark blues. One win apiece and one draw so far this season make it a slightly harder tie to predict. St Mirren must use any home advantage to try and claim all three points.<\/p>

11\/05
Livingston (H)
Form: WLLLD<\/p>

David Martindale\u2019s side lost out on a top-six place in the most heartbreaking fashion \u2013 a 94th minute Ricki Lamie ensuring it would be Motherwell and not the West Lothians in the top half of the table.<\/p>

Livi have very quietly gone about their business this season, playing some very nice football along the way. Rightfully disappointed not to make their goal of a top-six finish, they will be desperate to avoid their season petering out and will be looking to amass as many points as possible. Realistically there could be a couple of sides in the bottom six who end up with more points than fifth and sixth in the table, Livi being one of them.<\/p>

15\/05
Aberdeen (A)
Form: LLWDL<\/p>

Michael Mann\u2019s Heat (1995) but rather than Pacino vs De Niro it's Jim Goodwin vs the divine retribution that comes from me travelling 150 miles North to watch the mighty Saints shithouse Aberdeen into the relegation playoffs before inevitably forgetting to go to my work the next day.<\/p>

The home of the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup \/greener grass warehouse is typically a tough place to go for St Mirren \u2013 our last win there coming in May 2011. Whether this game will mean anything by this stage, both teams will be keen to end the season on a high, with Goodwin\u2019s men desperate to salvage anything from their worst campaign in over a decade.<\/p>","urlTitle":"split-the-difference","url":"\/blog\/split-the-difference\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/split-the-difference\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/miseryhunters.co.uk\/blog\/split-the-difference\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1649852192,"updatedAt":1649853793,"publishedAt":1649853793,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":106606,"name":"Misery Hunters"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehqfsxzg83wxnfbghjl2bmvlbj1pvf8cwmrzwuvrmxbo2rik.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehqfsxzg83wxnfbghjl2bmvlbj1pvf8cwmrzwuvrmxbo2rik.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehqfsxzg83wxnfbghjl2bmvlbj1pvf8cwmrzwuvrmxbo2rik.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":37584,"title":"The Back Five #9","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-9\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-9","division":106606,"description":"A sideways, irreverent look at the past week in the world of St Mirren FC, with Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/thoyoxksmd1dyrlapdrrepw0nyls0m2gjxkvpwgxr3fye2af.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/thoyoxksmd1dyrlapdrrepw0nyls0m2gjxkvpwgxr3fye2af.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":45710,"title":"Up for the Cup","url":"\/blog\/up-for-the-cup\/","urlTitle":"up-for-the-cup","division":106606,"description":"Experience St Mirren's Scottish Cup journey through the eyes of passionate supporters, from the historic 1987 triumph to modern-day memories. Featuring exclusive fan stories spanning multiple generations. Discover tales of away-day adventures, legendary goals, and unforgettable moments that define what the Scottish Cup means to St Mirren FC fans. Whether you're a die-hard Saints supporter or a Scottish football enthusiast, these personal accounts capture the magic, drama, and community spirit of Scotland's premier cup competition","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/jhxvt1ehpyn9cgg7jchjz2zymyek3z5jmy3dfm3subty2utl.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/jhxvt1ehpyn9cgg7jchjz2zymyek3z5jmy3dfm3subty2utl.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":35824,"title":"The Back Five #1","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-1\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-1","division":106606,"description":"In the first of a new weekly feature for Misery Hunters, our resident \u201cnoticer of things\u201d Andrew Christie takes us through five things that caught his eye in the last week of St Mirren FC.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wlhqxrmqinkq6hps4hleoyhtuq6hjjukmoailnpenequmgvs.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wlhqxrmqinkq6hps4hleoyhtuq6hjjukmoailnpenequmgvs.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}