{"id":36954,"title":"The Back Five #6","description":"Join Misery Hunters main man Andrew Christie on a whirlwind tour of the past seven days in the world of St Mirren Football Club.","content":"

\"bloxwlyiy0wlepen4aju8zxtmfr3uswq9gvyqcksbcvn9dty.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"It's been a pretty good week to be a St Mirren fan, all in all, with West Lothian heartbreak cast aside by an emphatic step<\/u><\/a> towards a European spot.<\/p>

So, armed only with a lust for life and a collection of hats to suggest there could<\/em> still be a head of hair under there, here's Misery Hunters\u2019 Andrew Christie <\/u><\/a>with the best of the last seven days of the Paisley Saints.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"tvwmgzfrm1pgqmt4trwiyfqeigkniyv4nz2sbqecsna8qng0.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Two Years Clear<\/h3>

This week marked the two-year anniversary of Stephen Robinson being announced as St Mirren manager. Despite the chilling portent of some absolutely rascal wallpaper<\/u><\/a> in his and assistant Diarmuid O\u2019Carrol\u2019s announcement photo, he's done alright for himself, hasn\u2019t he?<\/p>

Mon the Robbo. Mon the Mirren. Here's to many more years to come!<\/p>

<\/p>

\"bhsdfsentgnwvlol2ibsfpmyavccnyntze8jozrlqiu2hpub.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Firth of Fifth<\/h3>

St Mirren\u2019s 2-0 win over St Johnstone was as emphatic and comprehensive a win as we\u2019ve seen, and a massive statement in the club\u2019s quest to secure history with consecutive top-six finishes.<\/p>

We find ourselves fifth in the league (38 points), sandwiched between former companions Derek Mcinnes (fourth-placed Kilmarnock sit on 40 points) and Tony Docherty (sixth-placed Dundee sit on 32 with a game in hand).<\/p>

Like all former couples, one party is flourishing and the other doing alright, unless you, y\u2019know, really<\/em> look at it.<\/p>

The next few days see St Mirren take a trip north to face Ross County on Tuesday before hosting Aberdeen on Saturday, giving us a massive opportunity to push Killie down the table and reunite old flames.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"o9vloiefpgcebotrwt1okny33slzgmxrzusbjzgsurvtbk7c.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"9 Lives<\/h3>

For the second week in a row, Mika makes the list. Flying into the charts in a move that would make his late-2000s musical namesake stop and say \"don't look me up by the way, I'm just as shite as you remember<\/em>\".<\/p>

Forcing an own goal from St Johnstone keeper Dimitar Mitov, and then emphatically volleying home goal number nine of the season, Mandron answered his critics in the best possible way - with a smile on his face. Class to see.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"sy9fhxxpfgosh7ehldlblomwt4zucbqp97bgobiibl552uis.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Escapism<\/h3>

19\/02\/2017. Stephen McGinn scores from range to draw level with The New Saints in the Challenge Cup semi-final in a game we would go on to win 4-1. The goal that started it all. Momentum shifted, feelings grew and The Great Escape began. You remember it. 24 points taken from the next 30 in the league. Final day survival and Sunshine on Leith. The stick and poke \u201c7th\u201d tattoos we definitely didn\u2019t do in my brother\u2019s kitchen. All born from one that strike.<\/p>

<\/p>

\"dk52ufdkjwav9mplimsnbdse89pynxrwnraxvt214ewwzkae.png.png?w=1140&v=2\"Shut Out, To My Ex<\/h3>

Without hyperbole, a good goalkeeper<\/u><\/a> is the difference in multiple positions in a league such as ours. Replacing the departing Trevor Carson<\/u><\/a> in the summer was something St Mirren had to get right<\/em>. <\/p>

Middlesborough loanee Zach Hemming quickly set about winning over his early-day detractors <\/u><\/a>with aplomb. We have enjoyed game-winning saves, an impressive range of distribution and leadership qualities that bely his 23 years. Winning his tenth clean sheet of the season against St Johnstone on Saturday (his 15th in all competitions), Hemming has done away with a need to look at what came before<\/u><\/a>, creating his own benchmark by which he will be measured. <\/p>

With the vast majority of his career in front of him, questions must be being asked about extending his stay in Paisley.<\/p>

Aye.<\/u><\/a><\/p>

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