A mid-table group within the Scottish Premiership won’t appear the likeliest candidate to be thought-about Britain’s unluckiest soccer membership, however spare a thought for Stephen Robinson.
St Mirren are poised simply exterior the Premiership’s high six however a unprecedented run of participant issues and even an premature brush with the forces of nature have left supervisor Robinson to rue his fortunes thus far this autumn.
The Buddies’ residence win in opposition to St Johnstone final Wednesday was a uncommon oasis of calm beneath the floodlights in Paisley. All three league wins this season have been at residence. The opposite two have been in opposition to Hibernian and Hearts, the 2 Edinburgh sides propping up the desk with three wins between them.
St Mirren’s group choice has been unduly affected by personnel points
Fan-owned St Mirren posted two consecutive membership statements on their web site final week, confirming that striker Kevin van Veen (charged with home abuse) and left-back Jaden Brown (awaiting sentencing for 3 driving offences) had appeared in court docket on the identical day and can be unavailable for Saturday’s fixture in opposition to Ross County, which ended 0-0.
Van Veen and Brown additionally missed the win in opposition to St Johnstone with the membership stating that the on-loan Dutch striker was absent by way of harm, although he appeared in court docket the next day and his case is ongoing.
Remarkably, St Mirren had already handled an identical state of affairs. Late in September, new signing Shaun Rooney was charged with assaulting an 18-year-old lady in a takeaway in Glasgow and with a breach of the peace – handled as a hate crime – involving an 18-year-old man.
Rooney promptly left St Mirren by mutual consent final month and Robinson should have anticipated that to be the final time a participant would take himself out of competition by getting concerned with the authorities.
Then, on Monday, the SMiSA Stadium needed to be closed due to flood harm. Telephone strains and wi-fi have been taken out of fee, employees despatched residence and the ticket workplace closed.
These are all distractions Robinson may do with out as he works to make sure the Buddies are within the high six when the Premiership desk splits in two after 33 matches.
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“It’s been difficult on and off the pitch,” stated a philosophical Robinson. “[I’m paid to] fear in regards to the soccer, choose one of the best group I can and get outcomes.
“We had a terrific end result on Wednesday night time, a superb efficiency at Ibrox [in the previous fixture], so issues on the pitch are shifting in the best course and that’s my sole focus.
“I’m in command of the gamers for 3 or 4 hours of the day. Persons are grown adults, the soccer membership will not be in command of the gamers 24 hours a day. However everyone seems to be properly conscious of their tasks, how they need to behave, and the overwhelming majority do.”
Robinson and St Mirren shall be hoping their luck holds once they face Hibs once more on Saturday. Easter Highway has been a contented looking floor for opponents thus far in 2023-24 and it may simply be the hosts who finish the day cursing the fates.
