{"id":38046,"title":"The Back Five #11","description":"Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie takes a sideways look at a massive week in St Mirren's race for the Top Six.","content":"

\"cmnhz9wxnlnjc64meturt80fjojvh0djmdjh0kk7u7wclxqg.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Welcome to this week\u2019s edition of The Back Five: A bit of sample robbery, hook burglary, noise thievery and wholesale piracy.<\/p>

Join Andrew Christie<\/u><\/a> - cult classic, not bestseller - as he casts his eye over a massive weekend in St Mirren\u2019s quest for the Top Six.<\/p>

Lock down your aerial.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"dyqipmfyzon9dfunwz58evzidfbe4r6zoao7klfdxxvknhp1.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"She\u2019s been better.<\/h3>

Motherwell currently find themselves in the no man\u2019s land of being basically safe from relegation, but too far off sixth to mount a top-half challenge. You could forgive Stuart Kettlewell\u2019s side for sticking their feet up and looking towards the summer.<\/p>

The Well, however, contributed to an entertaining game on Saturday, if a bit lacking in goalmouth action. We restricted the home side to very little in the final third, ceding possession for long periods and controlling the game from an off-the-ball position. Our own shortcomings in front of goal however meant that the 1-1 draw was probably a fair result overall.<\/p>

On one hand, it is an important away point in the quest for top six\/Europe, but with the remaining pre-split fixtures looking the way they do (Hearts at home and Celtic away), one hopes the points dropped don\u2019t come back to haunt us.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"or0qceupi4fx9w9tc5tzjqzrahecsayfmwqfzj9yy81qggq4.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Magic Marcus<\/h3>

We all love Marcus Fraser, don\u2019t we? He\u2019s the pal in school that gets on with the teachers enough to get yous away with setting fire to the PE changing rooms. He organises the logistics of the stag do but still gets right in about it when the shots come out. He\u2019s consistent, reliable and by all accounts an incredible asset to have around the dressing room. Seeing him score his first Saints goal<\/u><\/a> since October 2021 on Saturday was the highlight of what could have been a drab day out otherwise.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"3datrnlyubnukl0odvsjlbwdp5y22b4dc6iqao9rafc56tay.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Bair Jordan<\/h3>

Look man<\/u><\/a>, I don\u2019t know what a handball is. You don't know what a handball is. They<\/em> don\u2019t know what a handball is. The best we can muster is a half hearted \u201cooh I reckon they\u2019ll check that<\/em>\u201d. Over and above that we\u2019re all just raging idiots bouncing around society like a DVD loading screen, not knowing what a handball is.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"xytixiulkpvsdh6jdjbien6tezywyti5mxmo7inghr6ffcgv.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Strainger Things<\/h3>

He started for the first time since November. He hit the crossbar with a free-kick. He turned a big dial that said \u201cMINUTES IN THE LEGS\u201d while looking back at the audience for approval like a contestant on The Price is Right.<\/p>

Welcome back Ryan Strain.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"cdljr6mqtrcev702shnltceasptjsir9za3u7il5n6myfkd0.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Split the Difference<\/h3>

With Hibernian beaten by Rangers on Saturday, a win at Fir Park would have guaranteed us a top-six finish. Instead, we settle for a five-point cushion over the Easter Road side as thoughts now turn towards the remaining pre-split fixtures:<\/p>

St Mirren (5th, 43 points): Hearts (H), Celtic (A)<\/p>

Dundee (6th, 39 points): Motherwell (H), Rangers (A), Aberdeen (A)<\/p>

Hibs (7th 38 points): St Johnstone (H), Motherwell (A)<\/p>

If we\u2019re being totally honest, there is a world in which each of those three teams misses out, but with St Mirren in the driving seat, Saturday brings the chance to guarantee consecutive top-half finishes for the first time in our history.<\/p>

Not that it will be an easy task; Hearts have once again cemented themselves as the league\u2019s third force by some margin. Paisley is a tough place to visit for any team, however, with 63% of our 43 points this season have come at the SMISA, including a win over the Gorgie side back in September. St Mirren vs Hearts is a fixture that has given us some famous results in the past (including one<\/u><\/a> almost a year ago to the day). Let\u2019s hope Saturday will be one to add to the list.<\/p>

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