{"id":36492,"title":"The Back Five #4","description":"Join Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie as he casts an eye over the past week in the world of St Mirren FC.","content":"

\"yffwhruplkyuv2bapklcvuagtinlsar2izdftk6wfbgrl0vj.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/p>

One foot in the top six. Two feet out the Scottish Cup. Enough SFA ignominy to fill a stand we\u2019d rather leave empty than let either<\/em> of you lot in.<\/p>

Here are the last seven days in St Mirren Football Club, according to Misery Hunters\u2019 Andrew Christie.<\/u><\/a><\/p>

<\/p>

\"gpibur4ghra2wv6rcx7rmenohsrnlfimaglsw6qm7jqzyyhg.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Deh another Day<\/h3>

Following last weekend\u2019s romp in the capital, a midweek visit of high-flying Dundee gave Saints the opportunity of nine points worth of breathing space in the top six.<\/p>

It was another heavily one-sided affair, with the visitors failing to register a single shot on target.<\/p>

An action-packed end to the game saw two goals (one nearly disallowed for this<\/u><\/a>, if you can even imagine that) a red card (given for this<\/u><\/a>, if you can even imagine that) and Tony Docherty fully leaning into his role as the Most Rattled Man<\/u><\/a> (you can <\/em>imagine that).<\/p>

A great laugh.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"vxgahcr2av6ypefb1vcrz7d63wom4t3e6ejf6oyj7vriekx9.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Bolton Wanderer<\/h3>

When James Bolton joined St Mirren from the English lower leagues, it was an exit met not by the usual derisive \u201che\u2019ll smash it up there<\/em>\u201d but rather a \u201cfair play, he should have smashed it down here<\/em>\u201d. Most fans indeed conceded that had it not been for a series of injuries, the former Plymouth Argyle defender would be at a much higher level than he currently finds himself at.<\/p>

These are the types of players Robinson is attracted to. The misfit toys he collects. Hard workers. Lovely big boays<\/em>. Those looking to find their way in the game again.<\/p>

After a period of acclimatisation, Bolton has made the centre-back role his own, forming one of the league\u2019s premier backlines alongside Marcus Fraser and Alex Gogic. He\u2019s robust, versatile and a real threat from set pieces. He could also have had a couple of goals under different circumstances.<\/p>

Robinson will be frustrated to lose his defender for the next few games due to suspension, but expect the big man to play a huge part in the rest of our season.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"kulsv4soviyitcfnboyyofjnlamodpdsslaebcczpy2e5lag.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Air Goga<\/h3>

It was the Scottish Cup draw that no one wanted, as Brendan \u201cthis game is interrupting my usual Sunday routine of quoting lines from the High Performance podcast into a mirror like Travis Bickle<\/em>\u201d Rodgers brought his Celtic side to Paisley.<\/p>

While we ultimately fell to a 2-0 defeat, it was another spirited, battling performance against an Old Firm opponent. Never more apparent was the fight, the audacity and the complete lack of respect than with Alex Gogic\u2019s 45th-minute overhead kick, which drew a fantastic save from Hoops keeper Joe Hart.<\/p>

Imagine it went in. Bloody hell. The image of that big Cypriot airbourne frame would be going straight to the top of the \u201cTattoo Ideas\u201d Pinterest board that my wife goes in and deletes while I\u2019m asleep.<\/p>

Loved it from him. Deserved more.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"rfqavprftquhxm2hfnbrdaqennumqi5udh42pealslffeean.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"See sick Steve<\/h3>

Many Steve Clarkes have existed over the years. The national manager delivering our first major tournament in over two decades. The highly respected player and coach down south. The third-place-finish Killie legend.<\/p>

My favourite iteration of the man was his 200 games in the black and white of St Mirren, which Twitter\u2019s St Mirren Nostalgia<\/u><\/a> reminded us of on the 36th anniversary of a famous goal against Celtic.<\/p>

Look at him. That hair. Ridiculous. The little chain. Normal People is<\/em> a good watch. Iconic Adidas trefoil adorning classic Saints kit.<\/p>

What a ride.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"nxl3vb51whxogl1aqywb5bpmjcsainkik4jdt9q4ikcu6mxd.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Prodigal Son<\/h3>

Look, Trevor Carson was a brilliant keeper for us, and feelings around the Northern Ireland international\u2019s departure from Paisley in the summer shouldn\u2019t change that.<\/p>

However, seeing the ball go directly through the man\u2019s hands for Saints\u2019 first goal, and him calling it a night with the (very onside) Toyosi Olusanya bearing down on him for the second was very very<\/strong> funny.<\/p>

Raging, wasn\u2019t he?<\/p>

<\/p>","urlTitle":"the-back-five-4","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-4\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/the-back-five-4\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/miseryhunters.co.uk\/blog\/the-back-five-4\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1707683083,"updatedAt":1707728531,"publishedAt":1707728531,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":106606,"name":"Misery Hunters"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1quaxciusskof8q0wm8lcrkfb43ykw5vdov5p13iu81l7kfj.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1quaxciusskof8q0wm8lcrkfb43ykw5vdov5p13iu81l7kfj.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1quaxciusskof8q0wm8lcrkfb43ykw5vdov5p13iu81l7kfj.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"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},{"id":39500,"title":"The Back Five #18","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-18\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-18","division":106606,"description":"A look at the past week in European football's favourite sons St Mirren FC. With Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pz1dhf30obfexwh6pzxnc5fthivhxr24wgqmrrqz47hep8e7.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pz1dhf30obfexwh6pzxnc5fthivhxr24wgqmrrqz47hep8e7.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":17802,"title":"Dun-Deal","url":"\/blog\/dun-deal\/","urlTitle":"dun-deal","division":106606,"description":"A couple of games into Stephen Robinson's tenure at St Mirren it became clear the job was to salvage what he could from a physically and mentally spent squad, play to its strengths and get us across the line to league survival. With a healthy league position, and a decent run of results preceding Robinson\u2019s appointment - from the outside looking in anyway \u2013 this recalibration of expectations was a hard one for many fans to take. As Saints embarked on a run of just one win in nine games, frustrations rapidly grew, with the majority of noise being directed towards Robinson himself, despite the Northern Irishman\u2019s (admirable, in this humble writer\u2019s humble opinion) transparency about his own frustrations with the state of the squad left to him by his predecessor","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/atqyua45nlphzqg3mbeerqzx6nqrxd2xjd3ou2opw5h0wzxb.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/atqyua45nlphzqg3mbeerqzx6nqrxd2xjd3ou2opw5h0wzxb.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}