Ahead of St Mirren's final away match of 2024, manager Stephen Robinson has praised his side's start to the season given the challenges that have faced the club.
Saints head to Ross County sitting in sixth place in the William Hill Premiership and have won four and drawn one of their last seven league matches. That run includes two wins from our last three away games, the latest of which came last weekend following a dramatic 3-2 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
"We're actually in good form in general," the manager said at his pre-match press conference this morning.
"Everybody said it was the best start to a season for St Mirren in 35 years last year, we're actually only four points behind that and we've scored a goal more. If you consider everything we've faced, to be sitting where we are, puts into perspective how well this group of players have done.
With the challenges we've faced, we have to be pleased. A lot of players could have used excuses in everything that has been challenging, but they haven't. They've knuckled down, they've improved as we've gone. We've got the system we like and we're getting better with each game."
Ross County challenge
"Ross County are a good side. I watched their game against Hibs and I feel they were very unfortunate. I thought they were excellent in the first-half.
"Like ourselves, Ross County have got good players, they’ve got a good manager as well. And no one goes to Dingwall and has an easy game. You see even the top sides go and struggle there so we know what we will be up against.
It's forecast not to be a nice day either so we have to go there with a mentality that we win at all costs."
Squad Update
Alex Gogic returns to the fold after his suspension caused him to miss last Saturday's win over St Johnstone.
Saints, however, will be without Toyosi Olusanya whose yellow card last week means he is suspended, while a thigh strain sustained last week also sees captain Mark O'Hara ruled out. The manager also confirmed there are doubts over Ellery Balcombe, Scott Tanser, Richard Taylor, Conor McMenamin and Evan Mooney.
"It's been a challenging week." the manager told the media this morning.
Ellery [Balcombe] hasn't trained all week with a knee injury so we'll have to assess him today. Scott Tanser hasn't trained all week. Richard Taylor got stretchered off last week. He isn't quite as bad as we first feared, but again, he hasn't trained, so we need to look at Richard today as well.
"Evan Mooney took a knock to his ankle yesterday in training which we're hoping that he'll be okay with. Conor McMenamin looks like he could be struggling with a kick from the game last week that has really been playing up.
Mark [O'Hara] is going to be four to six weeks we believe after having a scan on him which again isn't quite as bad as we first feared, but it's been a reoccuring injury for Mark which is really frustrating."
Watch in full
The manager's full press conference is available to view now on St Mirren TV.
