{"id":39273,"title":"The Back Five #17","description":"Join Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie as he casts an eye over the past seven days of St Mirren Football Club.","content":"

\"0cbjhsbh1meqha8frrvdgtoe1gsr6qtwd80cdfrelwy9pocr.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"What a week. What. A. Week.<\/p>

Join Misery Hunters\u2019 <\/span>Andrew Christie<\/u><\/span><\/a> - eight pints deep with the Duolingo owl on a Mortons roll - as he takes a look at the past seven days of St Mirren Football Club (<\/span>Q<\/u><\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>

<\/p>

\"hhzynviodve5pwkyruwiamrpifx5utzppkjjocfgm8veglcg.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"On the Continent<\/h3>

For the first time since 1987, the black and white of St Mirren will grace the continental stage. Stephen Robinson's side have secured a long-awaited return to European football by clinching 5th place in the Premiership - confirmed via Dundee\u2019s 5-2 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox last night.<\/p>

The result mathematically rubber-stamped the Buddies' participation in next season's UEFA Europa Conference League. An unforgettable achievement for this group of players and the St Mirren faithful who have dreamed of nights like these.<\/p>

Robinson, who has transformed the club's fortunes since arriving in 2020, was bullish in the build-up about using this as a platform to keep progressing. \"Our goal is to build on the previous season,\" he stated. \"We've not quite done that yet until it's official.\"<\/p>

Well, it's official now. We have booked our place in the Conference League qualifiers, with the draw for the 2nd round taking place on June 19th. It kicks off a summer of anticipation before competitive European ties arrive in late July.<\/p>

For long-suffering St Mirren supporters, some of whom watched that last campaign 37 years ago, this means an opportunity to create fresh European memories. To revel in new experiences and put this club back on the map.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"x17dag3lz6aqdr8fqemrghgzcys9x1efut5x0n2d9wbhafuy.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Euro Vision<\/h3>

Home and away wins over HIbs. The same against Aberdeen. Beating Hearts in Paisley. That victory at Dens. Just some of the moments that got us where we are.<\/span><\/p>

While our final two games against Hearts (H) and Celtic (A) may now be more beach balls and tequila than blood and thunder, it has been a season we can be immensely proud of, pulled off by a group of players that will go down in St Mirren history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

<\/p>

\"zetinfmzkcfls0qzrwx8u6v8pflnunqfofzjamf81p4agkwk.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"In Too Deek<\/h3>

Heat (1995) dir. Michel Mann. Derek McInnes is De Niro. Stephen Robinson is Pacino. I'll be... I'll be Val Kilmer. Coked up, paranoid and in a wig wondering what the actual hell we have to do to beat a side managed by <\/span>this guy<\/u><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

<\/p>

\"fjkhsxxrwgy7ak3hwgjho8tyzkdtejxqsg0qj7rdwtdeo5mp.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Could \u2018Well Be In<\/h3>

May 12th, 2007 - a day seared into the memories of every St Mirren supporter. 2-0 down at Motherwell with Dunfermline leading, we looked dead and buried in the top flight.<\/p>

Then Gus MacPherson rolled the dice, sending on John Sutton and Billy Mehmet for one last gamble. That 54th-minute double sub transformed the match and our season. First Sutton's trickled finish, then Mehmet's composed equaliser after a Kirk Broadfoot special.<\/p>

When big John arrowed that sweet left-footed third into the roof of the net, pandemonium ensued. We leapt from the depths of relegation to delirious survival in mere minutes at Fir Park. As news filtered through of Dunfermline's defeat, the day became one etched in history.<\/p>

Unforgettable drama on an afternoon where the Buddies spirit shone through. Top flight status was retained by the very skin of our teeth. What a feeling!<\/p>

<\/p>

\"jryjhmki0nckvqjbq1kindhnlgmqtey4vr5qktvvuw8pts0a.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Balmed and Dangerous<\/h3>

The Rory Delap type beat<\/u><\/a>. This bit<\/u><\/a> of his wiki. It looks like AFC Wimbledon and Northern Irish U21 Kofi Balmer may be in the black and white of St Mirren next season - and I'm all for it.<\/p>","urlTitle":"the-back-five-17","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-17\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/the-back-five-17\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/miseryhunters.co.uk\/blog\/the-back-five-17\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1715538130,"updatedAt":1715760136,"publishedAt":1715760135,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":106606,"name":"Misery Hunters"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5rmpi3sxctckcogh3ucbfxlilon3beet0fey829nyhonazei.png","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5rmpi3sxctckcogh3ucbfxlilon3beet0fey829nyhonazei.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5rmpi3sxctckcogh3ucbfxlilon3beet0fey829nyhonazei.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":17450,"title":"Split The Difference","url":"\/blog\/split-the-difference\/","urlTitle":"split-the-difference","division":106606,"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","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehqfsxzg83wxnfbghjl2bmvlbj1pvf8cwmrzwuvrmxbo2rik.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ehqfsxzg83wxnfbghjl2bmvlbj1pvf8cwmrzwuvrmxbo2rik.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":37338,"title":"The Back Five #8","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-8\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-8","division":106606,"description":"Misery Hunter's writer Andrew Christie casts a sideways look over the past seven days of St Mirren FC.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/trbqlmczribfrmz80djvzcyeopdmmr4tzvcvvto2b7brvt3x.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/trbqlmczribfrmz80djvzcyeopdmmr4tzvcvvto2b7brvt3x.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":16585,"title":"It\u2019s Business Time","url":"\/blog\/its-business-time\/","urlTitle":"its-business-time","division":106606,"description":"It has been another very fun week to be a St Mirren fan, with back-to-back league and cup wins turning the 2021\/22 campaign dial from \u201cI\u2019ll take that\u201d to \u201cYass, actually\u201d. Here are five talking points from the past seven days. Top Six on Track","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/2qhdllayiusdnubszrjh8gwaadqot5ht8b4mod4s669exvfy.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/2qhdllayiusdnubszrjh8gwaadqot5ht8b4mod4s669exvfy.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}